Branch to return kicks vs. Chiefs

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ALAMEDA -- It's no secret Tyvon Branch is one of the fastest guys on a team full of fast guys.But the strong safety's kickoff return skills? That was a new one on Raiders coach Hue Jackson, who said Branch would again return a kick or two at Kansas City on Saturday after his flash of brilliance against Detroit."Wow, was that spectacular," Jackson said. "I didn't know he had that in him."With Bryan McCann sidelined with a concussion, Branch took the second half-opening kickoff from five-yards deep in the left side of the end zone, followed a crushing block from Jerome Boyd and scooted up the right sideline to the Lions' 35-yard line."Then, everybody told me, 'Hey, coach, that's what he used to do,'" Jackson said. "I was shocked. I looked back there because McCann was hurt and I go, 'What are we doing?' That's when they told me we had to put him back here because the guy was hurt."Branch's 70-yard return, though, was nullified as Boyd was called for a personal foul on the block at the 10-yard line.Whatever Hue asks me to do, Im going to do it, Branch said. Its just one of those things that if I think it could make the team better, Im going to do it.Thats all that returning is...running your fastest and try not to get hit.Still, Branch's return skills opened Jackson's eyes."I was standing there and I think it was Shane (Lechler) or T.J. (Houshmandzadeh), somebody, said, 'Coach, watch this, because it might be a touchdown.' I go, 'What are you talking about? I'm just worried about the guy getting the ball, catching it and making sure we get to the next down with the ball," Jackson said. "You guys are talking about touchdown.'"He comes running down the sideline, I go, 'You got to be kidding me.' This guy's electrifying returning the ball. So, if anybody can help us score a touchdown, I'm all for putting him back there. No doubt."The issue, then, is in Branch not surrendering touchdowns on defense. According to STATS Inc., he was charged with giving up six completions in the eight passes thrown his way for 111 yards, including two touchdown passes.

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