Andre Branch – August 28, 2017
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Monday, August 28, 2017
DE Andre Branch
(A couple of things on two of the rookies you’ve worked with obviously. How has DE Charles Harris dealt with just the ups and downs of being a rookie in preseason – ups and downs in production – and thoughts on what DT Davon Godchaux has done at defensive tackle? Those two guys.) – “Charles is great. (He’s) a student of the game; (he) wants to learn. He knows it’s not an easy league to play in, but he has all the talent to be successful in this league, that’s for sure. And Godchaux, he’s also great. Both of them are working their tails off and we’re just getting those guys acclimated and they’re going to help us a lot this year.”
(Are you surprised how good DT Davon Godchaux has been to come in, now that he’s been with your first team for three weeks?) – “The whole group has been great. I think the best thing about it is that they come in and they work each and every day.”
(You call them students. Do you older guys enjoy being the teachers of that group? I see you talking to them a lot.) – “I’m a student also. I learn from Cam (Wake) each and every day and Will Hayes. For us, we help one another. I think we have a room full of students, if you want to say that. We have one teacher in there, and that’s (Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams); but everybody can help each other.”
(How anxious are you for the regular season to get here?) – “I’ve been ready for that for a while now.”
(You say that Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams is the teacher. Is DT Ndamukong Suh like his teacher’s assistant because he’s chatty there when you guys are going over stuff.) – “I think we all are. Suh is a very smart guy. He gets it. He knows every concept. He knows all the games and he knows every opponent that he goes against, so it’s great.”
(Defensive end could be the deepest unit on the team. What do you think about you guys as a group?) – “It’s great. We need a lot of depth. Last year some guys got tired towards the end, myself included. Just knowing that you don’t have to go as many plays back to back is awesome; but we prepare like we do.”
(What are you guys doing better as a group? Last year I know that setting the edge was a concern early in the season. What are the things that you can do better this year?) – “Communicate, and everybody does their job. I think accountability is the main thing for us. If everyone stays accountable and does their job, then the sky is the limit.”
(As far as the d-line, how do you compare it to the previous ones you’ve been on?) – “Probably the most talented group that I’ve been on. I’ve been on a lot of talented groups, but the younger players are extremely talented. We have the perfect veteran guys in our room. It’s great and everyone are brothers. We talk each and every day after we leave here. That’s the good thing. You never want to let your brother down and that’s how we look at ourselves.”
(I was wondering if you guys thought you were more talented this year than you were last year. Last year, a lot of the same guys, a pretty high-profile line but…) – “I think last year, no one knew who I was. We had a lot of talented players that had played at very high levels in this league; but at the same time, they were a little bit older. For us, just having that youth in our room is going to be great.”
(DT Ndamukong Suh seems like he has lightened up this year?) – “He’s always been. He’s been light with me since I got here. I’m going to force Suh to be light with me. (laughter)”
(So you all have seen this type of DT Ndamukong Suh?) – “I’ve seen this Suh since I got here. I’m going to talk to everybody. No matter who you are or where you come from, I’m going to force you to talk to me. It’s great. Those are my brothers and you can really see this thing getting together.”
(Is DT Ndamukong Suh funny?) – “Hilarious guy.”
(There’s like this whole side of DT Ndamukong Suh that we don’t know?) – “Yes, for sure. You might not meet it.”
(You might never meet that side of DT Ndamukong Suh, like for all of life.) – “Yes, but just take my word for it.”
(Is it just because DT Ndamukong Suh is intense and he’s focused on the game?) – “All day. Now when we step on that field, it is four killers out there, that’s for sure.”
(Are you amazed at what people ask you to take pictures and autographs for?) – “Yes, like sign a baby’s head. I’m not going to sign your kid’s head when he’s six months. There are some crazy things out there, but there are some diehard fans. It’s awesome. My mom once told me ‘sign every autograph you can because there’s going to become a time and place where people will stop asking.’ So I always sign them.”
(With the social media era, I’m sure people have asked you to take some pictures in weird places as well?) – “Yes, it’s crazy; but they get stopped too. It’s the way the world is now. You’ve just got to go with it.”
(There’s no way someone asked you to sign a baby’s head.) – “No question. Clemson University.”
(Back in college, someone actually asked you to sign a baby’s head?) – “Head. The baby couldn’t speak, wasn’t making any noise, literally probably four months. (laughter)”
(It’s good that you had more sense than the parents.) – “Yes, who’s going to wash this off? No, I’m not signing a baby’s head. (laughter)”
