Chiefs Babb: Chiefs rookie Albert is making himself heard

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-19-2008, 12:15 AM

Chiefs rookie Albert is making himself heard
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

It wasn’t long ago that Branden Albert was a shy, quiet rookie who slipped into and out of the Chiefs’ locker room without being noticed, difficult as it might be to hide a 316-pound left tackle.

It wasn’t long ago that Albert was another name on the injury list, a foot and then an ankle and then an elbow, another player who seemed destined to carry that dreaded tag: “injury-prone.”

Now in struts Albert, bellowing across the Chiefs’ locker room toward a teammate or serenading a few dozen unlucky souls with his falsetto rendition of an R&B song. In walks a new man, a confident man, who carries a team’s expectations on his broad shoulders.

“We told him: ‘Hey, it’s OK to be you,’ ” says veteran guard Brian Waters, Albert’s mentor and former training camp roommate.

That’s not a problem anymore. Albert is confident and outgoing, and he says that comes with settling into the comfort of a new position and the end of a 16-game adjustment period. A writer asked Albert this week about how satisfied he is with his rookie season. It’s been solid, coaches and teammates will say. And the fact that Albert’s name doesn’t come in news conferences or team meetings is a good thing for a left tackle.

“What,” Albert says, his eyes wide, “do you think I should’ve made the Pro Bowl?”

He’s kidding, but coaches say that could be possible in Albert’s future. He was a first-round pick this season, and his rookie year has been one of a few bright spots for the 2-12 Chiefs. Albert is expected to finish this season as one of a handful of rookies to match performance with hype.

His road hasn’t been easy, of course. Weeks after injuring his ankle during offseason practice, Albert hurt his foot during training camp. He missed the preseason. Coaches expected him to play part of the Chiefs’ opener at New England, but sure enough, he played all but a few snaps. Didn’t even look winded afterward.

A few weeks later, he dislocated his elbow, causing the big man to miss a game. He said watching his teammates practice and play was torture to him, and it made him question whether he really was cut out for the NFL’s grueling demands and schedule.

“I was like: ‘How can this happen to me again?’” he says. “Everybody is saying, ‘Well, he’s hurt again. How can he stay on the field if he’s always hurt? You drafted a left tackle who’s always hurting.’ That was on my mind. You can’t walk out there with your teammates. You’re a rookie, and you can’t battle with your teammates each week.

“You kind of start second-guessing yourself. I really thought: ‘Maybe this is going to be how my career goes.’ ”

He was quiet during those weeks, slipping out of the locker room and into the training room without much fanfare. But it was during that time that he made an impression on coaches and teammates. He didn’t beg out of obligations or skip workouts. Instead, he kept showing up and kept staying awake. That’s what Waters noticed.

“When he was hurt,” Waters says, “he was watching more film than anybody. He didn’t go to sleep like some guys do. ‘I’m not playing for a couple weeks, not practicing; I might as well relax.’ He wasn’t like that. He was very uptight about the fact that he wasn’t practicing. That type of character and that type of motivation, you rarely see it in young guys.”

Waters says there was something he liked immediately about Albert when he met him at training camp. Albert was focused and determined; he played guard at the University of Virginia and wasn’t taking his move to left tackle as too simple or too difficult. He was willing to work and learn from the veterans around him.

Waters took an interest in Albert and made it a point to keep him grounded. It might have been the easiest job Waters ever had.

“For a guy who’s a first-round draft pick; for a guy with all the ability,” Waters says, “normally those guys come in with a little bit of an air of confidence — overconfidence, to be exact — and he never has, ever, showed that. He’s as long-term as they get.”

Waters should know. He was selected this week for his fourth Pro Bowl in five seasons. Albert noticed and congratulated his friend and teammate.

Albert says he wants to be at that level someday, too. Coaches say they’d like him to be the Chiefs’ left tackle for a long time and if he keeps developing as he has this season, he’ll be headed to some of those Pro Bowls.

Albert says that he’s healthy now, and he’s finally comfortable in where this season has taken him.

“If they’ve penciled me in,” he says, “I want that to be in pen. In magic marker – they can’t erase that.”

Albert says he has learned when to be serious and when to be playful. Waters helped him with that, too. Albert says there are a few more things he’d like to learn from Waters during the next few seasons.

“I want to make the Pro Bowl along with him,” Albert says.

“That right there motivates me to be a better player. It shows me that now it’s time for me to be serious and work.”

Hammock Parties · 12-19-2008, 12:18 AM

If you watch this guy on the field, he's very demonstrative and "into it" after big plays. Seems like someone who might be a future leader.

Hoover · 12-19-2008, 12:22 AM

Probably one of our best 1st rounders. Love this kid.

**KcMizzou** · 12-19-2008, 12:27 AM

Excellent.

He's already got Water's respect... and that's good enough for me.

Keep up the good work, Brandon.

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-19-2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

Probably one of our best 1st rounders. Love this kid.

Well their were two this year

Pitt Gorilla · 12-19-2008, 12:32 AM

I still like the Dorsey pick long term, but Clady and Albert would have made nice bookends.

**KcMizzou** · 12-19-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I still like the Dorsey pick long term, but Clady and Albert would have made nice bookends.

People are down on Dorsey way too early.

And really, everyone who was anyone liked that pick.

Mecca · 12-19-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

People are down on Dorsey way too early.

And really, everyone who was anyone liked that pick.

It will probably help when Tim Krumrie gets fired.

InChiefsHeaven · 12-19-2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

It will probably help when Tim Krumrie gets fired.

DINGDINGDING!!! Exactly...

Extra Point · 12-19-2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I still like the Dorsey pick long term, but Clady and Albert would have made nice bookends.

Denver's coached Clady well: saw him deliver a great chop block out of the box this past Sunday.

HypnotizedMonkey · 12-19-2008, 04:26 AM

this kid is awesome. Future pro-bowler.

**J Diddy** · 12-19-2008, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypnotizedMonkey

this kid is awesome. Future pro-bowler.

teedubya · 12-19-2008, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Excellent.

He's already got Water's respect... and that's good enough for me.

Keep up the good work, Brandon.

Most people named Brandon suck... but Albert seems like one of the good ones.

**the Talking Can** · 12-19-2008, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

Probably one of our best 1st rounders. Love this kid.

yup

Chiefs=Champions · 12-19-2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

If you watch this guy on the field, he's very demonstrative and "into it" after big plays. Seems like someone who might be a future leader.

yer ive noticed that.. hes always the first one there celebrating touchdowns...

12-19-2008, 12:15 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	Babb: Chiefs rookie Albert is making himself heard Chiefs rookie Albert is making himself heard By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star It wasn’t long ago that Branden Albert was a shy, quiet rookie who slipped into and out of the Chiefs’ locker room without being noticed, difficult as it might be to hide a 316-pound left tackle. It wasn’t long ago that Albert was another name on the injury list, a foot and then an ankle and then an elbow, another player who seemed destined to carry that dreaded tag: “injury-prone.” Now in struts Albert, bellowing across the Chiefs’ locker room toward a teammate or serenading a few dozen unlucky souls with his falsetto rendition of an R&B song. In walks a new man, a confident man, who carries a team’s expectations on his broad shoulders. “We told him: ‘Hey, it’s OK to be you,’ ” says veteran guard Brian Waters, Albert’s mentor and former training camp roommate. That’s not a problem anymore. Albert is confident and outgoing, and he says that comes with settling into the comfort of a new position and the end of a 16-game adjustment period. A writer asked Albert this week about how satisfied he is with his rookie season. It’s been solid, coaches and teammates will say. And the fact that Albert’s name doesn’t come in news conferences or team meetings is a good thing for a left tackle. “What,” Albert says, his eyes wide, “do you think I should’ve made the Pro Bowl?” He’s kidding, but coaches say that could be possible in Albert’s future. He was a first-round pick this season, and his rookie year has been one of a few bright spots for the 2-12 Chiefs. Albert is expected to finish this season as one of a handful of rookies to match performance with hype. His road hasn’t been easy, of course. Weeks after injuring his ankle during offseason practice, Albert hurt his foot during training camp. He missed the preseason. Coaches expected him to play part of the Chiefs’ opener at New England, but sure enough, he played all but a few snaps. Didn’t even look winded afterward. A few weeks later, he dislocated his elbow, causing the big man to miss a game. He said watching his teammates practice and play was torture to him, and it made him question whether he really was cut out for the NFL’s grueling demands and schedule. “I was like: ‘How can this happen to me again?’” he says. “Everybody is saying, ‘Well, he’s hurt again. How can he stay on the field if he’s always hurt? You drafted a left tackle who’s always hurting.’ That was on my mind. You can’t walk out there with your teammates. You’re a rookie, and you can’t battle with your teammates each week. “You kind of start second-guessing yourself. I really thought: ‘Maybe this is going to be how my career goes.’ ” He was quiet during those weeks, slipping out of the locker room and into the training room without much fanfare. But it was during that time that he made an impression on coaches and teammates. He didn’t beg out of obligations or skip workouts. Instead, he kept showing up and kept staying awake. That’s what Waters noticed. “When he was hurt,” Waters says, “he was watching more film than anybody. He didn’t go to sleep like some guys do. ‘I’m not playing for a couple weeks, not practicing; I might as well relax.’ He wasn’t like that. He was very uptight about the fact that he wasn’t practicing. That type of character and that type of motivation, you rarely see it in young guys.” Waters says there was something he liked immediately about Albert when he met him at training camp. Albert was focused and determined; he played guard at the University of Virginia and wasn’t taking his move to left tackle as too simple or too difficult. He was willing to work and learn from the veterans around him. Waters took an interest in Albert and made it a point to keep him grounded. It might have been the easiest job Waters ever had. “For a guy who’s a first-round draft pick; for a guy with all the ability,” Waters says, “normally those guys come in with a little bit of an air of confidence — overconfidence, to be exact — and he never has, ever, showed that. He’s as long-term as they get.” Waters should know. He was selected this week for his fourth Pro Bowl in five seasons. Albert noticed and congratulated his friend and teammate. Albert says he wants to be at that level someday, too. Coaches say they’d like him to be the Chiefs’ left tackle for a long time and if he keeps developing as he has this season, he’ll be headed to some of those Pro Bowls. Albert says that he’s healthy now, and he’s finally comfortable in where this season has taken him. “If they’ve penciled me in,” he says, “I want that to be in pen. In magic marker – they can’t erase that.” Albert says he has learned when to be serious and when to be playful. Waters helped him with that, too. Albert says there are a few more things he’d like to learn from Waters during the next few seasons. “I want to make the Pro Bowl along with him,” Albert says. “That right there motivates me to be a better player. It shows me that now it’s time for me to be serious and work.”
Posts: 42,032

12-19-2008, 12:18 AM	#2
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4750478	If you watch this guy on the field, he's very demonstrative and "into it" after big plays. Seems like someone who might be a future leader. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,636

12-19-2008, 12:22 AM	#3
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $1698179	Probably one of our best 1st rounders. Love this kid.
Posts: 17,342

12-19-2008, 12:27 AM	#4
KcMizzou Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Parkville MO Casino cash: $10005170	Excellent. He's already got Water's respect... and that's good enough for me. Keep up the good work, Brandon.
Posts: 54,695

12-19-2008, 12:32 AM	#6
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $2990194	I still like the Dorsey pick long term, but Clady and Albert would have made nice bookends. __________________ Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting.
Posts: 46,000

12-19-2008, 04:26 AM	#11
HypnotizedMonkey usually hooplah is involved Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Casino cash: $10004925	this kid is awesome. Future pro-bowler.
Posts: 1,311