Cliff Branch was the epitome of what Al Davis coveted in a receiver during his decades running the Raiders.
Branch arrived in Oakland with the game-breaking speed needed to fuel the Raiders' vertical offense and as soon as he learned to harness that speed and develop reliable hands, there was no stopping Branch.
"He had one-of-a-kind speed and several gears with his speed. I had to coach him on how to slow down. That sounds ridiculous, but he was trying to run the routes I was teaching in mock speed and couldn't do it. He was tripping and clumsy, so I taught him to glide. He could glide faster than most people could run. Then when you have the need, turn it on."
Flores said he was immediately impressed by Branch's toughness over the middle and ability to learn the offense, but the only issue that kept him off the field early on was his hands as the frequent drops led to boos from the home fans. He was a force in the postseason, with 1,289 yards receiving. The Raiders won Super Bowls after the 1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons — the last one in Los Angeles, where the franchise moved in 1982 after protracted court fights before returning to the Bay Area in 1995. Branch was one of six players to play in all three of those victories, a list that includes fellow Hall of Famers Ray Guy and Ted Hendricks.
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