Q&A: Branch Already Training for 2024, Hutchinson Optimistic
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and safety Brian Branch are ascending building blocks on a roster that’s ready to win. Together, Hutchinson and Branch helped lead the Lions' defense to significant improvement throughout the 2023 campaign.
After all, Detroit’s season reached the NFC Championship Game. With young talents like Hutchinson and Branch in tow, the sky’s the limit for 2024 and beyond.
Hutchinson and Branch recently joined All Lions for an exclusive conversation while discussing their partnership with Bounty ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
Millions of chicken wings will be consumed on Sunday! Hutchinson and Branch had fun rounding off their favorite flavors.
They also discussed what they learned from reaching the NFC Championship Game, retaining Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator, how their practice habits translate to Sunday, their offseason plans and more.
JM: You’ve teamed up with Bounty ahead of Super Bowl LVIII to discuss how football fans around the world can stay clean while consuming their body weight in chicken wings this weekend. Talk to me about this partnership and why it’s been so much fun for you guys.
Hutchinson: Bounty has always been so reliable. I mean, it’s the "quicker picker-upper," right? (laughs). You can’t have football without wings, and you can’t have wings without Bounty.
Branch: It’s an everyday essential, and that statement never rings truer than it does on Super Bowl Sunday. America is definitely going to need a roll or two of Bounty close by this Sunday (laughs). You have to clean up that mess.
JM: Keeping in spirit, I have to ask you both. What are your favorite flavors? Are you sauce guys, or dry rub guys?
Hutchinson: We’re both BBQ guys when it comes to saucy wings. Dry rub? What’s our dry rub?
Branch: Lemon pepper?
Hutchinson: Lemon pepper. 'BB' [Branch] and I are very alike. We’re in sync on this, just like on the football field (laughs).
JM: Flats or drums?
Branch: I’m a drum guy.
Hutchinson: Oh, we finally disagree. I’m a flats guy.
JM: You can’t beat the crispy skin on a flat!
Hutchinson: No doubt about that, dude! Tell ‘em!
JM: I love that (laughs). What a season it was for the Detroit Lions, which reached the NFC Championship Game. It didn’t end how you wanted, but that experience can be so valuable for a young team. What did you learn from it?
Branch: I learned the importance of playing four complete quarters. That’s the God honest truth. We didn’t play a complete game until the conclusion of the fourth quarter. That was our mistake. You can’t take anything for granted in this league. Nothing is handed to you. Every quarter is a dogfight, especially in an NFC Championship Game where the stakes are so high. That’s what I take away from it.
Hutchinson: Honestly, it’s hard for me to have takeaways from that game, because we dominated throughout the first half. Once they [San Francisco 49ers] got going, we just couldn’t stop their momentum. We couldn’t stop the bleeding in the second half.
That’s where we went wrong. It’s hard to pinpoint it. We could look back in hindsight and say this or that. If we made this play here, if we made that play there, whatever. I’m not going to lie to you, it’s tough. I think the biggest thing we got from this game and the season, in general, is we all have playoff experience now. We all know what it takes to go on a run in the playoffs. I think that’s going to be huge for us, especially as a young team.
JM: What were your individual exit interviews like with head coach Dan Campbell?
Hutchinson: Did you meet with Coach Campbell?
Branch: I didn’t
Hutchinson: I didn’t, either. We just said goodbye. It was an interesting week for us because we thought we might be losing both of our coordinators. There was a lot going on. We didn’t know if they were going to come back or not. Now we know that Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are staying put.
We had a moment of reflection with 'AG' [Aaron Glenn]. We sat there and looked back on the season together. We looked back on the NFC Championship Game, specifically. We talked about what could have been, and what could not have been. I can tell you this, both Ben and AG are so excited to be back. All of our core players are back. We’re excited for what’s to come, and we’re more motivated than ever.
JM: I want to expand on that. You’re going to be retaining both coordinators as you said, which is huge. That’s big considering at one point, it looked like you might be losing both. Expand on keeping coach Glenn.
Branch: I’m especially excited, because I know he’s going to keep drawing up those blitzes for me (laughs). I love playing in his aggressive defense. Coach Glenn’s scheme, how he calls plays, it took me a minute to fully grasp what he’s looking for. I feel like I’m all grown up in his scheme now. He’s such a smart human being, in general. That’s why he’s one of the best defensive coordinators in the league.
JM: Aidan, I imagine Brian motivates you in practice. Brian, I imagine Hutch does the same for you. Talk to me individually about how the other guy’s practice habits keep you going on a daily basis.
Hutchinson: It’s interesting because 'BB' [Branch] and I are definitely the quieter types. Actually, BB is super quiet on the practice field (laughs). I’m not the loudest guy myself. Despite that, I think you can always feel both of our presences out there. It’s the same thing on Sunday’s. That’s the most important thing, at the end of the day.
When BB is coming on a blitz, as he just told you he loves to do, he’s going to make a play. He places that same trust in me, too.
JM: We've appreciated your time. We know that Bounty will be keeping you guys clean this weekend, as you hopefully join the rest of America in the chicken wing-eating tradition. How do you plan on attacking the offseason?
Branch: I’m already training and getting ready for the 2024 season. We know what our goals are. We fell just short of achieving that this year. I’m already getting prepared for what’s to come. I’m going to have a little bit of fun here and there, but I’m training.
Hutchinson: The offseason represents yet another opportunity for me to try and find ways to get better. I’m always searching for different edges. This game is about the minor details. On and off the field, mentally, spiritually, and physically, it’s about doing the little things right. I’m looking everywhere.
