Welp, that's the dumbest thing you've said in a while.

Apparently a lot of teams do.

Something to do with the team not winning anything in spite of having one of the best OL's ever assembled.

Which, of course, we all know didn't propel KC's offense into the most dominant group in the NFL. We just couldn't win playoff games and it was totally the offense's fault.

If you blamed one of the worst defenses ever assembled, you're just making excuses. /sarcasm

People here are straight WEIRD about offensive linemen. Listening to some folks you'd think they're all just throw away positions you could fill with overweight hobos and not suffer for it.

Of course there's also the fact that fans have watched KC, for decades, treat the OL as if it is more important than Quarterback.

I think the reality lies somewhere in between. OL matters... especially if you have a franchise QB you want to keep off of IR.

Probably. The real point is that Zack Martins are available in every draft. And realistically, they're available in every round more than any other position.

I'm fine if Dorsey just wants to nibble around the edges at our potential hole at guard. Maybe we'll get lucky and find a Larry Warford.

But **** spending a 1st round pick on a ****ing guard.

If we spend a first round pick in this draft on a guard, that might be the most infuriating pick I've ever seen this team make. At least when we burned picks on Tyson Jackson and Eric Fisher, those draft classes were weak.

I might be wrong, but didn't our offensive renaissance happen around the time we started Schwartz at G? All of the sudden Smith had time to throw and running lanes were wide open. Not saying that's all him, but it seems like he's priority A-1 in terms of retaining anyone.

I just don't understand how the team can value the OL so high that they took a RT first overall, but during the following offseason are letting 3 linemen walk in free agency.

It's just very strange.

Albert wants too much money, Asamoah sucks, Schwartz we don't know if we are going to lose or not for sure but, it is going to be costly since other teams are wanting him as well.

they never intended the #1 overall pick to be a RT

#1 they wanted to trade albert, but failed
#2 they expected fisher to be better and move to LT, putting his RT stint as nothing more than temporary learning curve
#3 if he doesn't quickly develop/improve, then we can say they spend #1 on RT, for now, it's too early


signed,

somewhere between truefan/waitandsee and damnitcarl/fupioli

Judges?




We'll allow it.

1) Fisher is getting 5.5 million per year...the difference between that and what Albert wants isn't some wide Chasm. If the pick had been used elsewhere, signing Albert wouldn't be a big deal.

2) Asamoah doesn't suck, that's silly. His only off year was this year where he was learning a brand new blocking scheme. He only gave up 2 sacks all of last year.

3) Starters get starter pay. I'd bet ANYTHING that he doesn't sign some crazy deal. He will get average starter pay and that's money we should be giving him IMO.

If we could prorate alberts pay for the time he is actually on the field that would be OK.

Not that it matters but I don't agree with most of this...

1. It's gonna cost twice as much as Fish is getting paid to sign Albert and that is a wide Chasm. Plus he's missed a lot of games the past two seasons. Not a good trend.

2. Asamoah does suck. Schwartz was learning the same scheme and played head and shoulders above Asasuckamoah. He was also hurt a lot last season, so you never knew when you could count on him. True he only gave up two sacks, BUT how many pressures did he give up? How many more sacks would he had given up had Alex Smith not been mobile? How many times was the run stuffed because he didn't block his man? No way I go out of my way to sign this guy.

Considering that Andy Reid puts the highest priority when building a team (outside of QB) on the guys in the trenches (OL, DL) and corners, there's no way there isn't a plan in place to make improvements in those areas. Especially considering his last year in Philly fell apart because of lack of healthy OLinemen.

I suspect we just aren't hearing much about the Chiefs plans with the line because they don't have anyone with loose lips in the front office, and Dorsey plays it close to the vest...

That's exactly the case. Dorsey and Reid have both learned first hand how important an OL is and how not having talent/depth there can and will kill your football team.

That's why we should spend average starting guard money on Schwartz.

It's WAY the **** cheaper than burning draft stock + 1st round salary on the position for a dude who might suck ass or not be able to contribute to close to his full potential until 2-3 years in his career.

You hit the nail squarely on the head right here.

You're right, the truth is somewhere in between. But this is KC, we're not average in the slightest. Working on a quarter century without a playoff win.

And Fisher is getting paid twice as much as Donald Stephenson, who is a better LT.

GROSS oversimplification.

Albert has turned down offers that average over 10 mil a year. That is a pretty big difference. Especially when Albert is nothing more than an average LT with health issues. Evidently this coaching staff didn't think much of him, Asamoah, by the middle to end of the season. Asamoah might be better in another system but, it doesn't appear that he is going to be back here because of the way he played in the system we currently use. I too hope we resign Schwartz.

He's not an "average" tackle. Give that shit a rest..

Bad play by Vick, turnovers, defensive failings, etc. But a lot of it centered around OL injuries, which led to Vick getting pounded, which led to turnovers, etc. It was a big factor in that record...

Big John played better in a zone blocking scheme. Reports (and late season games) suggest that we're moving towards more of a zone blocking scheme this season and doing away with the system we used last year.

Vick gets pounded because he has zero pocket presence. Yes, the line had injuries but that team had more warts than just the o-line.

I think it's a coping mechanism.

"I never wanted that ****er anyway! Glad he's gone!"

Joe Thomas
Jake Long
Ryan Clady
Jordan Gross
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Michael Roos
Jason Peters
Nate Solder
Duane Brown
Russell Okung
Joe Staley
Trent Williams

You think he is better than these guys?
Albert is not the worst or anything, but he is not elite either. He is very much the definition of average.

Yeah actually. I think he is better than quite a few of those guys.

I do think he's better than a few guys on that list, yes.

And by the way, Jake Long doesn't belong on that list at all.

Here's an excerpt from Neil Hornsby over at PFF - he wrote this last year when the Chiefs talked about trading him to the Dolphins.

Albert has turned down contracts similar to the one that Ryan Clady recently signed. Do you think Albert is worth that 10 mil a year average like Joe Thomas gets? I sure don't.

Yeah, he's worth that to somebody.

To the Chiefs, who have Stephenson and Fisher under contract? No, probably not.

over/under how many years people will complain about Albert being gone?

every block he makes for his new team
every missed block by his replacement


will they bitch more about Pioli,Cassel or Albert going forward?

we need a poll.

I think Direkshun is right about one thing: we are taking an OL fairly early. Wouldn't be shocked to see that in the 3rd rd

ROFL

Of course, people just bitch for the hell of it. The team never makes any mistakes...

Truly depends on how Fisher does replacing him at LT and how the team fairs from that position.

Albert may not be elite, but he's certainly an above average player, he's a second tier guy... the only thing wrong with that is he wants first tier money.

Someone else can go ahead and give it to him.

Over/under on how many people bitch and moan that "Albert never played like that" when he's succeeding with another team?

It's pretty much guaranteed at this point unless Reid and Co are comfortable with having to start one of our depth guys. I'd like to see Watkins, Johnson, and Kush get some snaps. All talented players, just limited experience.

But, that doesn't change the fact that we really do need a potential starting caliber swing tackle though. If Fisher and/or Stephensen goes down at any point and we don't have a capable replacement in the fold like we did last year, we're screwed with the schedule that we have coming up.

The problem with Branden Albert is that we've seen elite. After watching Willie Roaf for those glorious years, it is next to impossible for me to say Albert is elite. He isn't.

He might be one of the best in the league right now, but that doesn't make him elite. He still struggles against speed rushers and frankly doesn't dominate his position the way you expect a franchise left tackle to. You don't look at Albert lined up against a talented pass rusher, then move down the line because you have sheer confidence in him. At least, I sure as hell wouldn't if I were QB.

It's just that you have to pay top dollar for a top tackle, even if he isn't "historically" elite - that is, he isn't elite for the position compared to the benchmark set by guys no longer in the league. But compared to the rest of the guys now, yes... he is "elite" and he commands a lot of money as such.

To put it another way, Branden Albert is a B+ tackle who will be paid like an A+ tackle. And for me, I'd rather have a B or B- tackle, but paid accordingly, and use that money elsewhere to get rid of a C player.

But that's me. I'm 100% in favor of dumping guys who are overpaid for their skill level, though they might not be overpaid according to their ranking in the league.

Thank goodness.

Jamaal is going to rape again next season.

if you think Willie Roaf to Brandon Albert is bad

just wait for the transition from Albert to Fisher/Stephenson, when Alex Smith is getting blind sided from a clean edge rusher that whichever one of our slap dick LTs just alligator arms.

If that's the case then the playoff game will be the most productive Chiefs offense we might see for another year.

They played games without Albert last season and Alex had adequate protection.

I hope it's not the case, but that

"elite LT" argument is stupid, because we are about to see a major drop off with two guys that have a total of 3 years NFL experience between them. They will have major growing pains. And our QB might pay for it.

They should really bring in a veteran swing tackle as insurance.

Too many high scouting grades on each, too much potential between them, atleast one of those two will be fine at LT... Albert is not only replaceable, its possible to upgrade from him.

Alex got sacked 5 times when Albert sat out that Colts game Stephenson played LT at.

I heard this about Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson on the defensive line and all we got out of them was a bunch of losing seasons and 1 contract departures.

The potential thing sucks when you have a 30 year old QB and the top 2 RB in the league with a NOW window.

Eric Fisher has to look like a pro bowler TODAY not tomorrow. Not potential and high grades. They have to have the best offseason program ever. So I hope that's the case.

Stephenson is a much smaller drop-off than Fisher at this point.

Great post.

How many of those sacks were given up by Stephenson or Fisher?

I'm not gonna spend a half hour digging them up, but Sacc has posted some scouting reports on Stephenson that had him very highly rated, but dropped down teams boards for some reason, might've been coming out too early in a very strong class or something along those lines.

Point is that none of us will really know how to gauge things until camp/preseason... I'm sure both guys know whats at stake not only for the team but for their careers, so I'd bet both are working like mules to get ready.

We'll see, guess I'm just more optimistic.

ed* WOW cant believe the filter edited out that word, its not at ALL anything bad... that's ****ing stupid.

Imo THIS is how you build a roster. Including the B range QB, who I certainly hope will note be receiving an A range contract. Frankly tho every QB seems to get an A+ contract these days, so I shouldn't be surprised...

This is looking like a 5-11 6-10 team

2004 Chiefs all over again.

surprised ChiefsandOs hasnt posted the Darnell Dockett tweets on Albert yet (or did he?)

I'm guessing Dockett is calling for Albert to come to the Cards?

Correct.

The tweets have been removed.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...lbert/related/

yea asked everyone to follow his future teammate Albert lol

Funny that he had to delete the tweets, while in the NBA Noah had a meeting with Carmelo Anthony telling him to come to Chicago.

I was the first to say The Chiefs would draft an olinmen this year lol

What about the other games he was out?

My reaction when it happens.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DK_9uBR0NAQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

8 sacks and 4 fumbles in 3 games.

Albert was never respected following in Roaf's shadow.
Like Hali wasn't respected following in Jared Allen's shadow.
Now the next LT is a POS that has to follow in Albert's ROFL

CP gets crazier than normal around FA time.

Is that Doug Flutie smoking a cig in your avi?

**** no, that's Lenny at sb1.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jets plan to make an offer to Jon Asamoah <a href="http://t.co/cfgvlsidwZ">http://t.co/cfgvlsidwZ</a></p>&mdash; ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/statuses/442312295335489536">March 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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They better be using ZBS