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.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Albert is a talented player? As a LT? And what are you basing this on?

His rookie year he did a pretty nice job..... and considering the circumstances this season I thought he improved as the year went on......

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by cdcox

No, you don't get it. If you give Cassel 3 seconds, he'll take 4. If you give him 4, he'll take 5. No receiver is quite open enough for him to throw the ball to him. He's not decisive. Probably because he doesn't have confidence in his arm/accruacy.

The solution to better QB play is not to get a better OL, the solution is to get a better QB. Just like Jamal Charles made the run blocking look a whole lot better than LJ did. The OL is adequate. You can make it better over time by drafting good players in rounds 3 and later. You need to use your early picks for playmakers, cause you aren't going to stumble over those in the later rounds very often.

Well said.

Cassel took 8 sacks in the final 6 games, yet played his worst football over that timeframe.

I'm sick of everyone else getting blamed for the failures of our QB.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Why does he have to be a Pro Bowler?

Christ, the PB is nothing more than a popularity contest.

Michael Roos is one of the better young LT's in the game, and he's been to ONE Pro Bowl.

You lost what little credibility you had left when you compared Okung to Joe ****ing Thomas.

yeah where the **** did that come from

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

yeah where the **** did that come from

His ass.

Okung is the (arguably) best OT in a bad class. Period.

[WildTurkey]

Not just the QB the WR's take a lot of the blame as well for not getting open as well... we need playmakers it doesn't matter how good you block if your WR's aren't getting open and the QB is holding on to the ball to ****ing long

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by BossChief

No player in this draft at LT is

a) as good a prospect as Albert for the position.

Bullshit. Albert was a college guard. He was a complete and utter PROJECT at left tackle. It would be like taking Mike Iupati at #5 this year and forcing him to play LT his rookie season. (And I don't think Albert has Iupati's athleticism.) And Albert isn't a goddamn prospect. He's going into his third season in the NFL. His ****ing career is 25% over and he hasn't shown shit so far.

b) as good at his position as Berry, McClain or at least five others are at theirs.

He is exactly McClain at his position. Solid, a very good player. He'll be a very good pro for a long time (depending upon injuries). However, I'm assuming that you watched the National Championship game and got all giddy when Musberger said McClain watched game film and immediately thought he was then the best MLB prospect ever. Regardless of the fact that the Albama defense let Texas back into the game and it was Shipley over the middle (McClain's area) that was making it happen. He's no better than Brandon Spikes, and he's not as good as Spikes in reading and reacting to the play and shooting the gaps to get to the ball. I like McClain a lot, but don't make him out to be Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert and Willie Lanier all rolled into one.

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.

So, who's that guy? That "rare" prospect that we'll get a chance at at five? Because if Berry is there, he is it. Otherwise, you get your pick of a lot of good players. McClain fits the system perhaps better than anyone else other than his teammate Cody, but he's not "rare."

[Saccopoo]

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!

If he's as good as Tait was, then he's well worth the #5 pick.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Bullshit. Albert was a college guard. He was a complete and utter PROJECT at left tackle.

Wrong.

Someone doesn't understand that college skill-sets and pro level skill-sets aren't necessarily the same.

Every scout, writer, draftnik, talking head - all said that Albert's best position in the pros would be at LT.

Which is why he was taken 15th overall.

Show me the last guy that was drafted 15th or higher to specifically play guard.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

If he's as good as Tait was, then he's well worth the #5 pick.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

If he's as good as Tait was, then he's well worth the #5 pick.

you mean John Tait the right tackle?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

She's divorced.

Evidence A that no matter how hot the chick, someone is sick of her shit.

Either that or she married some douchey schmuck of a guy who was equal to Haley Berry's husband (who cheated on her with some skank), Mutt Lange, who cheated on Shania Twain, even though he is an old, ugly as hell ate up roadie, Hugh Grant who decides to get a blow job from a street corner hooker rather than go home to Liz Hurley, or Kim Cattrell's ex-husband who thought he was such a lady killer that he'd try to make the moves on all her friends.

I'm glad it's always the chicks fault though.

[OnTheWarpath15]

A mod should re-name Saccopoo - "FindTheOkung"

Seriously, he's that bad.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

Okung wishes he was left handed like Tait

Dude, don't be stupid in an effort to make the "Don't draft a offensive lineman/Big 12 player ever" crowd think you are cool.

Tait was an excellent offensive lineman.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

If he's as good as Tait was, then he's well worth the #5 pick.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Dude, don't be stupid in an effort to make the "Don't draft a offensive lineman/Big 12 player ever" crowd think you are cool.

Tait was an excellent offensive lineman.

So awesome that he went to a whopping TWO Pro Bowls, your so-called standard for success.