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.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by milkman

Cassel has played QB for years.
Niswanger has played Center for years.
Legget, corner, years.

Cassel has played for two years.
Niswanger has been in the league for four years and started for two.
Legget was part of the same draft as Dorsey and Albert.

Jackson and Dorsey converting to 34 ends are as close to Albert in terms of transitioning, but still haven't gone through the same number of changes that Albert has been through.

Your point fails, cause when it comes to foot speed, that, or lack thereof, is the biggest red flag for a potential LT.

And that's why I put up those vids, so you can take a look at his foot speed. Looked pretty good, especially compared to other top tackles in this draft. But I'd hate to have you form your own opinion versus reading a mock draft site...

When Albert was drafted, this team was making a commitement to rebuilding, and they didn't need players who could come in and contribute right away.
They needed guys with potential to become the core group in three years, and Albert's potential and athletic ability was exactly the type to fill that bill.

I'm glad you had/have such a high opinion of McIntosh. So, what you are saying is that he's got one more year to reach that potential of a first round, franchise left tackle? And then what? Say he performs to the exact same level in 2010 that he did in 2009 - what's your viewpoint of the position then? Do we go after the top tackle next year, which looks to be Barksdale? I mean, next years line class is going to be pretty damn weak. Are you hoping that we'll find some diamond in the rough this year? Next year? Would you be happy with the Chiefs soldiering on with mediocrity at the LT spot for the next decade?

No, they are questioning Okung's potential because of a lack of foot speed.

Who is? He had better footwork than Davis, Bulaga, Iupati, Campbell and looked even better than Brown. I don't have zeroed in game evaluation tapes, but he looked substantially better than the other guys people are touting as top tackles.

I feel it's my duty to bludgeon dumbassery.

You've got to be a major masochist.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Cassel has played for two years.
Niswanger has been in the league for four years and started for two.
Legget was part of the same draft as Dorsey and Albert.

Jackson and Dorsey converting to 34 ends are as close to Albert in terms of transitioning, but still haven't gone through the same number of changes that Albert has been through.

Don't be dense, dumbshit.

Whether they actually started and played in games, they have been working at their respective positions since high school, for the most part, and to play that card is disingenuous, at best.

And that's why I put up those vids, so you can take a look at his foot speed. Looked pretty good, especially compared to other top tackles in this draft. But I'd hate to have you form your own opinion versus reading a mock draft site...

I've seen Okung, and formed my own opinion.

He doesn't have elite foot speed, and looks like a RT on the next level.

I'm glad you had/have such a high opinion of McIntosh. So, what you are saying is that he's got one more year to reach that potential of a first round, franchise left tackle? And then what? Say he performs to the exact same level in 2010 that he did in 2009 - what's your viewpoint of the position then? Do we go after the top tackle next year, which looks to be Barksdale? I mean, next years line class is going to be pretty damn weak. Are you hoping that we'll find some diamond in the rough this year? Next year? Would you be happy with the Chiefs soldiering on with mediocrity at the LT spot for the next decade?

JFC.

The fact that we were in rebuilding mode means that we didn't need Albert to be all pro overnight, and has not a ****ing thing to do with my opinion of McIntosh.

If Albert doesn't improve, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
But for now, I'm prepared to move forward with Albert.

Who is? He had better footwork than Davis, Bulaga, Iupati, Campbell and looked even better than Brown. I don't have zeroed in game evaluation tapes, but he looked substantially better than the other guys people are touting as top tackles.

You provided the link where it was suggested that others might be better prospects because of foot speed.

Go read your own damn links.

You've got to be a major masochist.

Perhaps.

[BossChief]

Get ready for the dynamite Sac....

Pittsburgh
Indianapolis
New Orleans
New England

Ya know what all these successful teams have in common? Keep in mind that these are four of the most successful teams in the entire NFL.

Ill give ya a hint, it has to do with not having to spend first rounders on offensive linemen.

***7 superbowls in the 2000s combined in those 4 teams and only 1 offensive linemen drafted in the first round, combined, for all the four teams starting lineups (and that was Logan Mankins that was the last player drafted in the first round of his respective draft.)

BOOM goes said dynamite!

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Get ready for the dynamite Sac....

Pittsburgh
Indianapolis
New Orleans
New England

Ya know what all these successful teams have in common? Keep in mind that these are four of the most successful teams in the entire NFL.

Ill give ya a hint, it has to do with not having to spend first rounders on offensive linemen.

***7 superbowls in the 2000s combined in those 4 teams and only 1 offensive linemen drafted in the first round, combined, for all the four teams starting lineups (and that was Logan Mankins that was the last player drafted in the first round of his respective draft.)

BOOM goes said dynamite!

You aren't going to find much in common if you want to copy what they did. You have two teams that were primarily a 34 and two that were a 43. You have 2 1st round QBs, a free agent 2nd rounder and a late round pick. There isn't a single way to build a team.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by RustShack

LT's who need help against speed rushers aren't great. And if it weren't for his coaches recognizing that and giving him help that an elite LT shouldn't have then he wouldn't be a top LT or in any Pro Bowls because he wouldn't LOOK nearly as good. As of now sure hes the best pick of the draft, but only a complete ****ing idiot would judge a draft class after two years. Also being the top LT doesn't make you elite and if we are replacing Albert it better be with a HOF LT otherwise its a complete waste. You don't use a top five pick for a minimal upgrade. Hell I would be shocked if Okung was even an upgrade at all in our system, sure another position would be upgraded but those are positions that don't warrant top 5 picks. Jesus its crazy how draft reeruned the majority of Chiefs fans are.

IF you look back, this is my point as well. Okung is NOT enough (if at all, he never impressed me much) of an upgrade over Albert to warrant picking when we have far bigger issues to address.

My post was simply regarding the hatefest for Jake Long that exists on this board. Those same people were creaming over Dorsey , who I never liked and instead wanted us to trade down at damn near any cost. Herm actually wanted to as well but was overruled by Carl. btw I STILL hope I was wrong on Dorsey and he was just horribly miscoached by us so far.

[Quesadilla Joe]

RT @DerekHarshner: Is Okung really a top 5 caliber player? Everyone keeps predicting KC for him.>> Yes, he has all the tools to be NFL LT

https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/status/9146334818

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

You aren't going to find much in common if you want to copy what they did. You have two teams that were primarily a 34 and two that were a 43. You have 2 1st round QBs, a free agent 2nd rounder and a late round pick. There isn't a single way to build a team.

What does that have to do with the massive point that I just made?

If you want to win the superbowl, you dont spend first rounders on the offensive line.

How far back does one have to go to find a superbowl winner that invested two first rounders on the offensive line?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Brock

You're saying he's elite, then that he's not Roaf, who was the definition of elite. He was not worth the number one pick, and there's no way Miami would make that pick again.

Willie Roaf was the best to ever play the game. Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden were elite, but they weren't Roaf.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Willie Roaf was the best to ever play the game. Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden were elite, but they weren't Roaf.

Roaf was good, but wasnt the best to ever play the game.

Top 5? Probably.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Roaf was good, but wasnt the best to ever play the game.

Top 5? Probably.

...but the point still holds... ELITE just means one of the top 5 in the game at that time... I think you are thinking I meant ELITE as in Hall of Fame all time elite... I did not.

I hold to my point that Long is on the cusp of (maybe even is there after only 2 seasons) being an elite LT, which is what he was drafted for.

2.5 sacks as a rookie then 4 sacks last year. 2 Pro Bowls (not that they mean as much)

[L.A. Chieffan]

how many times does it need to be said? its much easier to find an effective OL father down in the draft, or UDFA even, than it is to find effective playmakers. can this be disputed?

[ChiefGator]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

how many times does it need to be said? its much easier to find an effective OL father down in the draft, or UDFA even, than it is to find effective playmakers. can this be disputed?

I don't have an agenda here, but the New Orleans receiving corp disputes it. Miles Austin disputes it.

I'm not sure what exactly "father down in the draft" means (not a joke on your typo.. okay.. maybe partly).. but you still can't wait until the 5th round. Well, we can't with such a need.

I'm NOT a fan of spending the first on a RT. Oops.. I mean LT.

But, we need to be spending some 2nds, 3rds, 4th on O-Line, and stop with this wait until the 5th, 6th round to pick up some scrub shit.

[BossChief]

Take a guess:

how many first round draft picks at offensive line are on the last ten superbowl winners starting lineups?

then guess how many 3rd round draft picks to UDFAs were on those lineups.

ASTONISHING!

[ChiefGator]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Take a guess:

how many first round draft picks at offensive line are on the last ten superbowl winners starting lineups?

then guess how many 3rd round draft picks to UDFAs were on those lineups.

ASTONISHING!

Take a guess:

how many first round draft picks are on the last ten superbowl winners?

then guess how many 3rd round draft picks to UDFAs were on those lineups.

It's amazing there are more in the later category than in the prior....

You'ld think the offense for the saints would be:

WR - 1st round
TE - 1st round
OT - 1st round
OG - 1st round
OC - 1st round
OG - 1st round
OT - undrafted
WR - 1st round
QB - 1st round
HB - 1st round
FB - two first round picks

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by ChiefGator

I don't have an agenda here, but the New Orleans receiving corp disputes it.

3 of the top 5 Saints leading recievers WERE ALL DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND

Not to mention the guy throwing the ****ing ball to those guys was the 1st pick in the 2nd round.



Backfire.