Brian Branch recaps the final play against Ole Miss

Alabama‘s defense came up big for the Crimson Tide on Saturday in their 30-24 win over Ole Miss as they entered the fourth quarter tied and held the Rebels scoreless, allowing their offense to put points on the board to finish the game and secure a victory. The Crimson Tide had two crucial fourth down stops on their last two defensive possessions of the game, with their last one sealing the deal as defensive back Brian Branch broke up an attempted game tying pass in the end zone.

“It was a big, huge stop,” Branch said. “They had trips, three was on the ball, we were playing cut, we had two high safeties. He was only running two routes in my head, it was either a corner or a middle read and if he would’ve ran a corner I would’ve gave it to my safety, but he ran a middle read and I was able to play underneath.”

Branch’s football IQ and execution played off for the Crimson Tide, as he just barely was able to make contact with the Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart‘s pass.

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“Yeah I got a little finger on it, hopefully it would’ve been a better thrown ball, probably could’ve gotten more fingers on it,” Branch said. “But I’m just glad he didn’t catch it.”

Branch’s pass breakup may not have been the most pretty, but it was effective, as he perfectly played his inside leverage, man coverage technique with safety help, a textbook play that only a perfect pass and catch likely would have beat.

“I was able to look back at the quarterback because I was in phase, but usually if I’m not in phase I can’t look back at the quarterback. Just have to play the man through his hands,” Branch said.

Brian Branch has hilarious reaction when asked about Emil Ekiyor’s pancake block

Alabama‘s 30-24 win over Ole Miss was filled with highlight plays, which typically feature skill players. But offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor took the spotlight this weekend following a viral pancake block he made on a Rebel’s defensive back when he was pulling on a run play. Crimson Tide defensive back Brian Branch gave some commentary on Ekiyor’s big block, and was asked if he’s ever pancaked him in practice before.

“Emil has tried to do that to me in practice, but it doesn’t go like that,” Branch smiled and said.

Ekiyor’s block came as no surprise to Branch, as he spoke more on his teammate’s ability to execute on plays where he pulls not only against defensive backs, but on any defender.

“Seeing that, I’ve seen it happen before and Emil is a strong offensive lineman and that would be scary for any defensive player to see an offensive lineman pull, especially a DB,” Branch said. “You can’t avoid it, you got to go meet him.”

An offensive guard blocking a defensive back is a clear physical mismatch that sometimes occurs on certain designed run schemes, but Branch gave some advice from his own experience as a defensive back on how to make the most of the difficult situation when it does occur.

“Like I said, you’ve just gotta go get him before he gets you and that’s the best way to put it. It’s football so stuff like that’s going to happen and you work out for a reason,” Branch said.

Branch was lastly asked if he had any commissaries for the Ole Miss defender that was the victim on the receiving end of Ekiyor’s vicious block, which he kept short and sweet.

“Hey, thats Emil for you,” Branch said.