Alan Branch on reduced playing time: 'That's a question to ask Bill'

FOXBOROUGH — Defensive lineman Alan Branch on Wednesday deferred all questions about his reduced playing time in Sunday’s win over the Saints to Bill Belichick.

Branch, who played 60 percent of the snaps last season with the Patriots, was in on just six defensive plays on Sunday. He said he was healthy enough to play.

“That’s something you’ll have to ask Bill,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s not my pay grade or for me to talk about. That’s a question to ask Bill.

“Every player wants to be on the field. It is what it is.”

Branch was asked if he anticipates playing more this Sunday against the Texans.

“I don’t know what they plan to do with me. I just know I have to go in there and keep my (nose) to the grindstone and work,” he replied. “They have a lot of weapons — (Deshaun) Watson, (Andre) Hopkins and a stable of running backs. We definitely have our work ahead of us.”

One thing that is important to remember about Branch is that he’s traditionally a slow starter. He was asked about potentially building toward more snaps and more action down the line.

“You don’t want to peak at the beginning of the year,” he said. “Having more plays and having more consistent, day-in-day-out football makes it a lot easier. In the offseason, you can’t put on pads and hit your local grocery store clerk in practice playing three-technique.

“You can but you might get arrested,” he added with a smile. “But that’s the plan. Just get better throughout the year and peak at the right time.”