Oakland Raiders Give Star Safety Tyvon Branch New 4-Year Contract

July 14, 2012   ·   James Dudko   ·   Jump to comments

NFL.com is reporting that the Oakland Raiders have a agreed to a new four-year deal with premier safety Tyvon Branch. The contract is said to be worth $26.6 million, with $17.1 million in guaranteed money.
Retaining Branch for the long term is a smart move by the Raiders' new regime, as rookie head coach Dennis Allen will need the versatile safety to make his multiple defensive schemes work. Branch has been outstanding during the last three seasons, emerging as a true playmaker at his position.
The 6'0", 210-pounder is a force around the line of scrimmage. He is stout in run support and possesses excellent blitz skills. In 2010, under the tutelage of then-defensive coordinator John Marshall, Branch was a crucial part of the Raiders' blitz packages.
Allen can make similar use of the 25-year-old as the Raiders move to a more attack-minded and diverse defensive scheme than the one run by Chuck Bresnahan in 2011. By moving to secure Branch, who was already under a franchise ...

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