Cliff Branch's blazing pace led to Corridor of Fame induction

Cliff Branch was the epitome of what Al Davis coveted in a receiver in the course of his decades managing the Raiders.

Branch arrived in Oakland with the video game-breaking speed wanted to fuel the Raiders' vertical offense and as soon as he realized to harness that speed and create reliable hands, there was no halting Department.

Department turned one particular of the ideal deep threats of his era with some of his biggest performances coming on the game’s greatest stages to receive a location in the Professional Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday.

"He was a video game-changer," explained Hall of Fame mentor Tom Flores, who was a receivers coach for the Raiders when Branch arrived and was his head coach for seven seasons.

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Oakland Raiders' Cliff Department is brought down by Denver Broncos' Bob just after finding up 9 yards on a move from quarterback Ken Stabler for the duration of the first interval of an NFL soccer video game on Dec. 3, 1978, at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Branch was just one of the best deep threats of his era to earn a location in the Professional Soccer Hall of Fame.  (G3 Box News Picture/Paul Sakuma, File)

"He experienced one-of-a-variety pace and many gears with his pace. I experienced to mentor him on how to slow down. That appears preposterous, but he was seeking to operate the routes I was teaching in mock velocity and couldn’t do it. He was tripping and clumsy, so I taught him to glide. He could glide speedier than most persons could run. Then when you have the want, flip it on."

Department arrived in Oakland as a fourth-round decide in 1972 following catching just 36 passes his ultimate two many years in higher education at Colorado. But Department also was a star sprinter who set the NCAA championship meet file in the 100 meters soon before joining the Raiders.

That speed is what Davis preferred to staff with foreseeable future Hall of Famers Fred Biletnikoff and Dave Casper as the pass catchers for Ken Stabler. But it took till his 3rd season for Branch to break out.

Flores stated he was straight away impressed by Branch’s toughness in excess of the center and skill to learn the offense, but the only challenge that saved him off the discipline early on was his hands as the recurrent drops led to boos from the dwelling fans.

"His initial 12 months he was amazing and when he was open he was huge open because he was so rapid but then he would fall the ball," Flores stated. "But then in his 3rd yr, that’s when he really began to shine. That was the entire detail with Al, speed and concern and significant-participate in guys. And he was a significant-participate in guy."

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Football: Tremendous Bowl XV: Philadelphia Eagles John Bunting (95) in motion, defense vs Oakland Raiders Cliff Department (21) at Louisiana Superdome. New Orleans, LA 1/25/1981 (Picture by Walter Iooss Jr. /Athletics Illustrated by way of Getty Images)

Department made the 1st of his 3 straight All-Pro teams in his to start with season as a starter in 1974 and in no way looked back. He scored 67 touchdowns as a result of the air, foremost the NFL in TD receptions in 1974 with 13 and in 1976 with 12. Department also had a league-higher 1,092 yards acquiring in 1974.

He was a pressure in the postseason, with 1,289 yards receiving. The Raiders received Super Bowls after the 1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons — the very last one in Los Angeles, wherever the franchise moved in 1982 following protracted court docket fights prior to returning to the Bay Spot in 1995. Branch was just one of 6 gamers to participate in in all three of individuals victories, a listing that consists of fellow Hall of Famers Ray Guy and Ted Hendricks.

In 1983, Branch tied the NFL record with a 99-property touchdown catch in a normal-season game. He stands 3rd among Raiders go catchers in yards receiving with 8,685, trailing Tim Brown and Biletnikoff — both Hall of Famers.

"I experienced him from his to start with working day ever with the Raiders," Flores stated. "I watched him improve up. I’m so very pleased of what he became. He was a recreation-changer."

The honor for Department arrives just about a few many years immediately after he died at age 71 of organic will cause, marking the 2nd time in the latest a long time that a Raiders terrific obtained inducted into the Corridor of Fame posthumously. Stabler obtained inducted in 2016, a calendar year after his loss of life.

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Los Angeles Raiders large receiver Cliff Branch, right, catches a pass from quarterback Jim Plunkett for a 64-property get as Cleveland Browns' Hanford Dixon defends throughout the very first quarter of an NFL football playoff game in Los Angeles, on Jan. 8, 1983. Branch was one of the best deep threats of his era to receive a location in the Professional Soccer Hall of Fame.  (G3 Box News Image/File)

The lengthy wait denied Branch the opportunity to delight in the honor he had waited so extensive to acquire after remaining a semifinalist in 2004 and 2010.

"All my peers that I played against and that are in the Corridor of Fame, they explain to me that I are entitled to to be in the Hall of Fame," Branch instructed the Raiders’ web-site in an interview shortly before his death. "It’s the crowning glory, just like acquiring a Tremendous Bowl ring."