New Chiefs safety Tyvon Branch is confident in more than his tackling skills

Tyvon Branch takes pride in his ability to play near the line of scrimmage and help in run support.

But while Branch is certainly comfortable as a box safety, he's not necessarily comfortable with being put in a box, so to speak.

“Back in 2012, I was outside nickel, too,” said Branch, who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs on Tuesday. “I guess when you start making big hits and stuff, they automatically categorize you as a box safety, but I have some coverage skills. I match up on tight ends. I match up on wide receivers. I’ve had some success with that.”

So much so that when asked if it was fair to characterize Branch as a box safety, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey pushed back, noting the fact that Branch — who ran a 4.31 40-yard dash coming out of Connecticut in 2008 — has, in fact, flashed one-on-one coverage ability during his seven-year career.

Specifically, Dorsey cited Branch’s 2011 matchup against New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, who only caught one pass for 15 yards in a 31-19 win over Branch’s Raiders, as proof.

“He covered (Rob) Gronkowski man-to-man when they played the Patriots,” Dorsey said. “He’s got some cover skills.”

In that game, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady targeted Gronkowski (No. 87) four times with the 6-foot, 210-pound Branch (No. 33) on the coverage. Three times, the pass fell incomplete.

The matchup happened in the midst of a season in which Branch racked up 109 combined tackles for the third year in a row. He was then rewarded with a four-year, $26 million extension by the Raiders, who were quickly repaid with a 94-tackle campaign in 2012.

It marked the end of a four-year stretch in which Branch played all but two games and averaged a Pro Football Focus grade of plus-4.3 in each season.

The next two years, however, he was less fortunate. In 2013, Branch broke his leg and had five combined tackles in two games. In 2014, Branch had 30 combined tackles in only three games before suffering a season-ending foot injury.

Branch was released in February, creating $3 million in cap space for the Raiders.

And the question now is whether the 28-year-old, former fourth-round pick can recapture his aggressive, versatile form of only a few years ago.

“I mean, the way I’ve been training and the way things are going right now, I’m still in great shape,” Branch said. “I’m still very agile, still moving well and like I said, I’m out here to work hard. I’m going to bring all that to the field and hopefully share the weight.”

Physically, Branch insists he feels good. He expects to be ready for organized team activities, which begin in May.

“I’m just going out there every day training hard and taking care of my body, getting massages, doing things that help in the maintenance of my body,” Branch said. “I’m confident that I can go out there and play hard. I’ve just happened to have run into some freak injuries.”

If he’s right, Branch should, at the very least, help the Chiefs’ depth at safety. While two Chiefs who started at the position in 2014, Husain Abdullah and Ron Parker, are slated to return, star safety Eric Berry’s status is up in the air as he battles lymphoma, and fourth safety Kurt Coleman is an unrestricted free agent.

“It’s a very aggressive defense,” Branch said of the Chiefs. “They play downhill. They’ve got Justin Houston and Tamba Hali coming off the edges. That’s like a DB’s dream to have two guys like that rushing the quarterback. I’m just excited to be a part of it, however I can help.”

Provided he’s healthy, Branch is positioned to do so in myriad ways, even special teams. Prior to his ascension as the Raiders’ starting strong safety, where he really got an opportunity to utilize his coverage and run-stopping skills, Branch was one of their best gunners on special teams.

“I’m just going to go out there and grind hard and let the chips fall where they lay,” Branch said, when asked if he’s been told what kind of role the team has in mind for him. “I’m just ready to compete, and however it plays out is however it plays out.”

This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 6:10 PM with the headline "New Chiefs safety Tyvon Branch is confident in more than his tackling skills."