Hustle and Smarts: Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Deion Branch Returns

In 2007 the Branch-Hasslebeck connection was off to a fine start producing a few hundred yard receiving games against the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately the receiving connection broke in Pittsburgh when Deion Branch suffered a sprained foot that sidelined him for five games. The connection reconnected against Chicago and continued unabated from there until it suffered a more severe break in the snow in Green Bay when Deion Branch tore his ACL while running a route early in the second half.

After 8 months of rehabilitation we will once again see the Hasslebeck-Branch Connection on the field this Sunday October 5th against the New York Giants. This is yet another chance to see if it was worth giving up our 2007 first round draft choice. Deion has shown flashes of greatness during a bumpy two, going on three, years with the Seahawks. He’s shown flashes of the promise that made GM Tim Ruskell feel that trading a valuable first round draft choice was worth it for a player of Deion’s quality. The flashes have been brief, and with too many interruptions to know how much we got for what we gave up, but they’ve been white hot at times.

If Deion Branch can endure, we may see the promise he brought with him from New England fulfilled. He was on pace to a near 1000 yard season in 2007 before his foot sprain sidelined him. In the eleven games he started, he accumulated 661 yards, roughly 60 yards a game, in an offense that spreads the ball around to many different receivers.

This Sunday he won’t be expected to save the team, but he should provide Matt Hasselbeck with a more reliable receiving option than he has had since Nate Burleson went down in Week 1 against Buffalo. It won’t hurt to have Deion’s hustle and smarts on the field as well, especially if Matt makes a mistake when the pressure comes from the New York Giants impressive front four led by Defensive End Justin Tuck.

 So let’s get hyped. Deion is back.

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