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.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

One thing you have not considered, mr. Saccogoo, is how much does cassel contribute to the sack issue, either through a poor cadence or holding on to the ball too long. Check how many times he was sacked in new england last year behind their line. As I recall, it was a staggering figure.

Further, you assume albert can successfully transition to the right side - which is a substantial risk. Further still, you want to draft in the top 5 against the strengths of this draft class. Okung is a value-reach at best at 5.

Those are my arguments.
Posted via Mobile Device

You're wasting your time. He doesn't consider anything. He's already decided that Albert is trash because he has a poor 8 games in two years.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Funny how you clipped the Walter excerpt, when they said that Albert played almost flawlessly the second half of the year.

Branden Albert improved over the season and was pretty flawless in the final month. But I'm not convinced that he's a franchise left tackle. There's a chance that he could be, but I don't think anyone can seriously say that he's a lock to be one.

Neg rep for intellectual dishonesty.

Additionally, Walter most likely didn't watch the majority of Chiefs games and didn't know that Albert was

A) Struggling with weight
B) Learning new technique.

Funny how once he got both those down, his play improved. But let's give up on him after two years.

Nice find.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Additionally, Walter most likely didn't watch the majority of Chiefs games and didn't know that Albert was

A) Struggling with weight
B) Learning new technique.

Rinse, repeat for all of the national guys and most people constructing a mock.

Joe Douchebag sees high sack numbers and pencils in a LT, blindly moving Albert to the right side without considering if he has the makeup to allow this to be possible.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Rinse, repeat for all of the national guys and most people constructing a mock.

Joe Douchebag sees high sack numbers and pencils in a LT, blindly moving Albert to the right side without considering if he has the makeup to allow this to be possible.

Bingo.

Or, it could be, like I think it is in Walter's case, that people think our GM is a ****ing dumbshit, and mock the dumbest possible move.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Bingo.

Or, it could be, like I think it is in Walter's case, that people think our GM is a ****ing dumbshit, and mock the dumbest possible move.

Agreed. Dude can't let an update pass without taking a shot at Dayton Pioli.

[ChiefsCountry]

Here is the argument for taking a LT - A) Albert dies or B) Albert suffers a Sly Morris or Percy Snow type injury this off season. That is it. Besides all of the LT's in this draft do not have the ceiling that Albert has.

[Mecca]

I like how he posted a guy calling Okung safe as a positive. Lets get all jazzed up about a guy who is basically described as not being a great athlete or an elite prospect but he's safe. Drafting a black John Tait at 5 man lets get pumped!

And for that other point, you could put Cassel behind the Chiefs line Green had and he'd still get sacked 40 times, it's who he is.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I like how he posted a guy calling Okung safe as a positive. Lets get all jazzed up about a guy who is basically described as not being a great athlete or an elite prospect but he's safe. Drafting a black John Tait at 5 man lets get pumped!

And for that other point, you could put Cassel behind the Chiefs line Green had and he'd still get sacked 40 times, it's who he is.

"Black" John Tait... I like that.. I think that is how I will refer to Okung from now on..... rep

[WildTurkey]

You know since this team has so few holes to fill lets pick a player in the top 5 at a position where we actually have a talented player... makes sense to me

[Mecca]

Hell lets draft Charles Brown with are high 2nd rounder, you can never have to many LT's.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Hell lets draft Charles Brown with are high 2nd rounder, you can never have to many LT's.

I was thinking trade our 2 second round picks to move back up in the first so we can take Bulaga as well as Okung.... JIMP

[DeezNutz]

FFS, that is a distracting ****ing sig.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

FFS, that is a distracting ****ing sig.

Too bad it's an old iPod.

A Shuffle would be more appropriate.

[BossChief]

No player in this draft at LT is

a) as good a prospect as Albert for the position.
b) as good at his position as Berry, McClain or at least five others are at theirs.

At 5, we have to get a player that a rare prospect that has a chance at being an all pro at his position and make the team around him better and Okung isnt that guy. Not from what Ive seen.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Too bad it's an old iPod.

A Shuffle would be more appropriate.

a Shuffle would be nice but I would settle for a nano