Arguments for a Left Tackle in the 2010 Draft.

[Saccopoo]

While the vast majority of drafturbators around here think that Branden Albert is doing a remarkable job and had a great last half of the season, some people believe that adding a competent offensive left tackle would be a prudent and viable selection for the Chiefs with their first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Some supporting arguments for a left tackle:

Wes Bunting: Well, after Suh, McCoy and Berry, Russell Okung's a pretty safe pick. Sure, he might not be the sexiest of guys, but honestly Branden Albert was one of the highest rated guards I'd seen and yet he hasn't yet had the type of career because he's be a run-of-the-mill tackle. You'd be surprised how quickly that offensive line would improve if you got a legit offensive tackle in there and kick Branden Albert inside. Some good things could happen.

From Walters 2010 Mock:

Fortunately, Pioli, who is a big believer in positional value, can take Okung without sacrificing too much of his team's payroll into the left tackle position. Albert makes less than $1 million in each of the next two seasons, and was a guard at Virginia anyway.

Okung is the real deal. He could take the Chiefs' offense to the next level, though the team will ultimately struggle in the playoffs because of Cassel's limitations.

From Walters/Matt McGuire's Mock:

Russell Okung - This pick is a no-brainer and barring a huge screw-up, I think we can all be 99-percent assured the Kansas City Chiefs are handcuffed to taking a left tackle at this pick. It will be interesting to see whether it ends up being Okung, Anthony Davis or Bruce Campbell, as the battle for the No. 1 tackle spot is one of the best storylines of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Okung was the most consistent lineman in the nation this year and he will test out on a very high level athletically.

From Draftcountdown:

The Chiefs have plenty of needs and could go in a number of different directions here but their offensive line play has been particularly troubling. In fact, Kansas City ranked among the worst in the league when it comes to sacks allowed. Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung isn’t an elite prospect in the mold of Tony Boselli, Jon Ogden or Orlando Pace but he has clearly emerged as the top offensive tackle in this class and will likely be a Top 10 pick. With good size, long arms, great strength, above-average athleticism and feet as well as top-notch intangibles, Okung is just a very good all-around blocker. Okung could slide into the starting lineup at either left or right tackle for the Chiefs and any investment in keeping franchise quarterback Matt Cassel upright is money well spent.

From Mel Kiper:

I think the Chiefs could use help at safety as well, but Berry likely won't fall this far, and they'd be reaching on either of the two other safeties with first-round grades. Okung could solve two problems, making him a good value -- he could step in at LT and allow the Chiefs to move Brandon Albert to the right side. A pick that can pay immediate dividends for the Chiefs.

From Don Banks/Sports Illustrated:

If Berry should get this far, the Chiefs would be the benefactors, but Okung seems like the right fit in the right spot for Kansas City. The Chiefs have tons of needs, but in Okung they would be getting a franchise left tackle, allowing them to shift Branden Albert back to his more natural right tackle position.

It's damn near a cultural universal!

Also in opposition to people who believe that Branden Albert had a very good last four games, in the Buffalo game, he was penalized three times (tied for most in a game in 2009) and gave up a whopping five quarterback pressures. In the Cincinatti game, he was penalized twice and allow a hit on the quarterback. In actuality, taking out the fluke Denver game, which was a drive block fest as Jamaal Charles racked up a Chiefs single game rushing record, Albert did not perform well in the last quarter of the season. Yes, he didn't give up any sacks, but there were a lot of qb pressures and penalties.

[Mecca]

Also I've seen every single game Charles Brown has ever played, I could probably discuss what he can and can't do and what he is for 30 minutes.

[Saccopoo]

And if the Vick to St. Louis thing has any sliver of truth to it, they'd definitely take Suh.

[Mecca]

Here's what I'll say since I think Brown going to our team actually has a good chance of happening.

He was recruited as a TE/OL/DL since he did all 3 in high school, he came in as a TE redshirted and switched to OT halfway through that year so he never lined up as a TE in college.

His feet are about as good as you could ask for, the agility is top notch for an offensive lineman. He sets up extremely quickly, he almost always gets to the 2nd level in run blocking, he does a really good job on tosses and sweeps. He also loves to throw cut blocks, probably a bit more than he should, but that's zone blocking. His initial punch to defenders is very strong and he does a good job of keeping guys off balance.

Now the weaknesses he has are he can be overpowered and pushed into the backfield at 6'6 and only 285, he needs to add about 20lbs for the next level. He doesn't offer any versatility because he is a pure finesse player so he is a LT or nothing.

Just in general is a guy who is a finesse playing zone blocking LT. Good pass protector probably will never be a better than above average run blocker.

[Saccopoo]

That about sums up what I saw from him in the games I watched.

[Mecca]

He probably is a perfect fit for a zone blocking team that prefers it's linemen to be athletic though.

He also has considerable upside. probably more than any other OT in the class, if you coach up his natural talent to where it could get him we're talking one of the best pass protectors in the league.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

The only mystery around here is how you manage to remember to breath.

[Sfeihc]

Ugoh?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Besides Brandon Albert?

I don't know why you are being so protective of a bad Carl Peterson pick. You are defending him being a legit LT as if he was your own flesh and blood.

Funny you say that, considering I'm actually open to the idea of several players with the 5th pick - while you're married to one - and at a position where there's not a hole, no matter how much you want to try to create one.

And reading is fundamental.

Who's been drafted 15th or higher SPECIFICALLY TO PLAY GUARD?

Not "played guard in college and moved to tackle."

Drafted to play guard in the NFL.

I'll wait.

[DumbHillbillies]

Honestly, this wouldn't be the worst case scenario and I could live with the pick. Overall the oline will be better. I could definitely see pioli going this way seeing as how much value he puts on line play.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Who's been drafted 15th or higher SPECIFICALLY TO PLAY GUARD?

WHat does that have to do with Albert?

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by DumbHillbillies

Honestly, this wouldn't be the worst case scenario and I could live with the pick. Overall the oline will be better. I could definitely see pioli going this way seeing as how much value he puts on line play.

What makes you think Pioli values line play?

[DumbHillbillies]

T-Jack picked at 3 when he was projected to be a mid to late first round pick.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by DumbHillbillies

T-Jack picked at 3 when he was projected to be a mid to late first round pick.

A lot of final draft rankings had him in the top 10. I thought you were referring to OL play, not DL.

[DumbHillbillies]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

A lot of final draft rankings had him in the top 10. I thought you were referring to OL play, not DL.

No, that's why I just said line. Really, it is just my guess that he is a line first guy. But, we will no more soon. His first draft that he is in total control of he goes Dline so it has me wondering.

[DumbHillbillies]

Not that it bears absolute weight but sometimes bias plays into the philosophy. This is his early bio.

Pioli played defensive tackle at Central Connecticut State (1983-87), where he was a three-time Division II All- New England selection. In 1988, after graduating with a degree in communications, he accepted a two-year graduate assistant position at Syracuse University, where he also earned a master's degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

He accepted a full-time coaching opportunity at Murray State, where he spent one season as the offensive line coach (1990) and one season as the defensive line coach (1991). He left the coaching ranks to join the Browns personnel department in 1992.