Look at the number of tackles an edge player makes. A DE normally is not among the top 5 tacklers on his team. Linebackers and safeties are the top tacklers but both Branch and curry were among the top 3 tacklers on their teams. Each had 77 tackles. Compare that to chandler Jones who only had 38 tackles for Syracuse. Perry had 55 for USC. Not a number you can judge a guy with alone but Curry and Branch run sideline to sideline chasing down plays. Those guys are a cut above.
