Is Brandon Albert proving some of the draftniks here right?

[Frankie]

So far this season he has not looked very good. What do you think it is? Is he a LG and not a LT (like some draftniks here insisted)? Is he going through sophomore jinx? Is it the weight loss?

You know what? I think I'll make a poll about it.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Do not underestimate the power of autism....

[salame]

Originally Posted by milkman

I think the problem starts with the feet.

He's trying to learn the proper footwork for a LT.

Last year, he didn't get his feet wide enough, and didn't slide his feet properly, but his natural athletic ability allowed him to get away with it.

Now, however, in attempting to correct that, he is overcompensating and getting his feet too wide, getting off balance, resulting in getting to high, not getting under the pads, and lacking punch.

When he gets the footwork corrected, he should really start to grow.

not to nitpick
but if he were a natual left tackle wouldn't he have his footwork down already?
Look at Joe Thomas

[Rausch]

I think his problem is being the best guy on the line.

I don't care what your job is when you are by far more talented and performing much better than everyone else you tend to slack back to the pack.

Unless you're a naturally driven person.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by salame

not to nitpick
but if he were a natual left tackle wouldn't he have his footwork down already?
Look at Joe Thomas

Joe is a career left tackle

Brandon has played the position for 16 games, 3 playbooks, 2 head coaches, etc etc etc.

My point is that he will get adjusted again and under this staff will hopefully grow into one of the elite left tackles in the game. He has flashed that type of ability since his first start when he played very well against an all pro Richard Seymour.

He will have more learning experiences and hopefully he continues to learn from each of them.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by salame

not to nitpick
but if he were a natual left tackle wouldn't he have his footwork down already?
Look at Joe Thomas

Not necessarily. You know, a lot (if not all) highly touted players achieve success, to a large degree, in their college career based on overwhelming physical talent as compared to that of their competition. Those are the guys who are drafted high and the ones whom most people will describe as "natural" talents.

Things change when they reach the NFL level, though. Suddenly, they find themselves playing against guys with equal, if not superior, physical size, speed, and strength. At that point, proper technique is not only something that is absolutely necessary for success, it's something that has to be either learned or re-learned - as they find themselves dealing with more countering "techniques".

For example, premier, NFL defensive ends have a variety of moves they can use to defeat a left tackle. They can speed rush, they can bull rush, they can "swim" or "spin" through blocks and they can be very, very fast and very strong. The great ones also use their hands very effectively to keep the offensive man at a distance or "club", "rip", or "swim" through blocks. In his entire college career, a young lineman may encounter players skilled at, perhaps, only one or two of those moves. In the NFL, they get it all and they get it all the time. Not only that, but defensive lines deploy any number of schemes designed specifically to free up a pass rushing player and space for that player in the line. These are schemes that college players don't often see. Plus, the speed of the game is entirely different in the NFL. Proper technique is the only thing an offensive lineman can rely upon to "slow" down the game. Therefore, coaching proper technique into a "natural" talent is key to turning an average NFL player into a great one. (Something, by the way, the Chiefs have stunk at for years, in my opinion.)

Nevertheless (and to your point), I think Albert's additional problem is that he's actually learning a new position. He's on an island out there at LT and his coaches are presumably teaching him how to become a better player. If Mr. milkman is correct (and I do not doubt his assessment), Albert's not just "playing" anymore, he's "thinking", then "executing". Those are quite different concepts and, if true, a contributing reason as to why he's losing those 1 on 1 battles.

FAX

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by FAX

Not necessarily. You know, a lot (if not all) highly touted players achieve success, to a large degree, in their college career based on overwhelming physical talent as compared to that of their competition. Those are the guys who are drafted high and the ones whom most people will describe as "natural" talents.

Things change when they reach the NFL level, though. Suddenly, they find themselves playing against guys with equal, if not superior, physical size, speed, and strength. At that point, proper technique is not only something that is absolutely necessary for success, it's something that has to be either learned or re-learned - as they find themselves dealing with more countering "techniques".

For example, premier, NFL defensive ends have a variety of moves they can use to defeat a left tackle. They can speed rush, they can bull rush, they can "swim" or "spin" through blocks and they can be very, very fast and very strong. The great ones also use their hands very effectively to keep the offensive man at a distance or "club", "rip", or "swim" through blocks. In his entire college career, a young lineman may encounter players skilled at, perhaps, only one or two of those moves. In the NFL, they get it all and they get it all the time. Not only that, but defensive lines deploy any number of schemes designed specifically to free up a pass rushing player and space for that player in the line. These are schemes that college players don't often see. Plus, the speed of the game is entirely different in the NFL. Proper technique is the only thing an offensive lineman can rely upon to "slow" down the game. Therefore, coaching proper technique into a "natural" talent is key to turning an average NFL player into a great one. (Something, by the way, the Chiefs have stunk at for years, in my opinion.)

Nevertheless (and to your point), I think Albert's additional problem is that he's actually learning a new position. He's on an island out there at LT and his coaches are presumably teaching him how to become a better player. If Mr. milkman is correct (and I do not doubt his assessment), Albert's not just "playing" anymore, he's "thinking", then "executing". Those are quite different concepts and, if true, a contributing reason as to why he's losing those 1 on 1 battles.

FAX

Good post man!






.......for me to poop on!













just kidding, good post!

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I think his problem is being the best guy on the line.

I don't care what your job is when you are by far more talented and performing much better than everyone else you tend to slack back to the pack.

Unless you're a naturally driven person.

there is some truth to that. He could have the "even if I block my guy the SOB on the right is gonna give up a sack so why bother?" attitude

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by ILChief

there is some truth to that. He could have the "even if I block my guy the SOB on the right is gonna give up a sack so why bother?" attitude

That'd be pretty damned disappointing.

I think people are making a mountain out of a mole hill. The season's barely begun.

[ThunderChief]

Well,

The guy was an OG in college with Monroe being the choice at LT which, interestingly enough, the Chiefs passed on in this past draft. It must have been one of about three things going on in Pioli's thinking during the draft:

1) Is Albert capable of playing LT? If so, let's address other areas.

2) Is drafting Monroe a better option than re-building our D for 3-4 capability in 2009? Evidentally not.

3) If Albert struggles at LT, do we have someone, or get someone to plug in there until we can again address the position in the next draft?

Where's that thinking today? Somewhere between 1 and 3 above, I would think.

[salame]

Hey Milkman called him a "Natural left tackle" which is why I posted what I did
I know Joe Thomas was a career LT
I know Albert converted to LT
I know he was a guard
these things are not news to me
I was saying you can't really call him a natural if his fundamentals in his position are poor.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by salame

Hey Milkman called him a "Natural left tackle" which is why I posted what I did
I know Joe Thomas was a career LT
I know Albert converted to LT
I know he was a guard
these things are not news to me
I was saying you can't really call him a natural if his fundamentals in his position are poor.

If I did call him a natural LT, and I don't remember using that exact phrase, though it's possible, it would have been alluding to his natural physical ability.

However, even with the natural physical ability, he still has to be fundamentally sound technically in order to reach the potential that natural physical ability presents.

[Tribal Warfare]

despite some false starts he had fairly good game today

[Tribal Warfare]

I hope he refines his counter for a inside counter move he was having trouble with that in the Eagles game.

[Deberg_1990]

Bump.....is Albert truly a stud LT, or should he be moved back to the inside????

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Bump.....is Albert truly a stud LT, or should he be moved back to the inside????

He wasn't a stud today. It'll be interesting to see what the o-line looks like next year. BW & CW both have one foot out the door. (If there is a next year.)