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

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 a good offensive lineman.

FYP, and I am not saying he wasn't good but he was not worth a top 5 pick and neither is "Black John Tait" and I am a Big 12 fan... even if Okung was from my beloved Jayhawks I still wouldn't want him at 5

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by RustShack

You should just give up watching football.. but then again based off how your talking it appears you don't watch it in the first place. Stats and draft "experts" don't know the whole story.

Well, I'm glad we've got such a brilliant football mind like yours around here to set us all straight.

Without your years of analytical, objective insight and understanding as it relates to football, this place would be a maelstrom of chaos.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

yeah where the **** did that come from

This guy for one:

Russell Okung Scouting Report
By Matt McGuire

Strengths:
Very good height with long arms
Thick, strong lower body
Extremely high level of athleticism
Patient pass protector; does not overextend
Great lateral agility
Quick kick step
Consistent footwork
Nice ankle/knee flexion
Surprisingly physical run blocker
Light on his feet
Highly experienced since true freshman year
Very durable - 34 straight starts
Understands angles
Recognizes stunts and blitz assignments
Gets to second level
Leader
Tremendous upside
Week 1 starting left tackle
Franchise player
Potential No. 1 overall pick

Weaknesses:
Occasionally gets too high in his stance
Needs to gain a little more upper body strength
Sometimes loses focus (bored with competition?)
Can be inconsistent with leverage
Room to improve hand punch
Must redirect at a higher level in NFL

Summary: I noticed Okung last summer when watching tape on Brandon Pettigrew and I pegged him as a potential star in 2008. He has all the makings of a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle and has the upside to potentially warrant a No. 1 overall pick. If he can hone his technique slightly over the summer, I would be shocked to see him fall out of the first five picks next year barring injury. Okung has practically everything you look for in an offensive tackle. Last name pronounced OH-KOONG.

Player Comparison: Joe Thomas. Thomas and Okung have very similar frames with very good intangibles and the upside to dominate at the next level. Both had polished pass protection skills in college.

[RustShack]

You draft for safe players who produce right away. Guys like Tamba Hali are right up your ally. But I, like most other people would rather go the route of the talented guy who can be great rather than just a "good" player. I understand it takes time to develop, and don't give up on second year players. You on the other hand, are being counter productive because you fail to realize the adjustment Okung has to make coming from the spread is the same reason you don't want Albert. You are just a dumbass that doesn't understand the difference between schemes and the adjustments that need to be made. Also Albert is more talented that Okung. You do realize that if Iowa ran the Spread offense then their LT would be the #1 LT in the draft right now don't you? He is bigger and more athletic, but he doesn't play in a scheme that makes you look better than you really are.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

This guy for one:

Thank you for proving you have never watched him.

[Saccopoo]

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.

Jesus OTW, you really have to quit taking things so literally. You get completely worked up on minutia.

How about All-Pro? Does that work for you better than Pro Bowl?

The dude said he had a high ceiling. Higher than anyone in this draft. A guy with that high of a ceiling should be considered an All-Pro level type of guy, right?

So I want to know, from the schmuck that originally said it, what he thinks gives Albert that high ceiling potential.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by 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

And a middle linebacker with the #5 pick should help us tons in that department, right?

[RustShack]

Campbell has a much higher ceiling than Okung...

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

And a middle linebacker with the #5 pick should help us tons in that department, right?

yeah our Defense especially up the middle is awesome.... so that would be a reach of course.....

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

And a middle linebacker with the #5 pick should help us tons in that department, right?

It helps your defense, and you know defense wins championships right? You do know when Weis was with the Patriots Brady was a game manager and won games because of defense right? You do know that since the Patriots lost Weis, and went the great offense route they haven't won a Super Bowl right? You do know that every post you make more and more people are realizing you don't actually watch football right?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

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

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.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

This guy for one:

I've read a lot of his stuff... He flip flops a lot just read his Dez Bryant report, he compares him to Chad Ochocinco but then says that he doesn't think he is a number 1 receiver kind of makes me question his player comparisons, and I still don't agree with his opinion that A. Benn can't catch

[RustShack]

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.

You do know that Albert was going to start over future first round pick Monroe right? You do know the only reason he didn't start at LT as a rookie is because future first round pick Ferguson was there and they wanted the best players on the field right? You do know Albert stayed at LG only because of an injury of who was going to start at LG so they left Albert there because he already had starting experience there and was more versatile than Monroe. Do you remember this year when Wade was starting at LT then there was another injury and they moved Wade to that spot and then Richardson stepped in at LT? Of course you don't because you don't watch football but its the same story there.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Thank you for proving you have never watched him.

I watched four Oklahoma State games this past season and discussed them in detail during and after the game with a couple of people who are OSU fans/boosters. (The owner of the Sports bar I hang out at is an OSU alumni, so they are always on at his joint.) But since you have no ****ing knowledge of what I watch, I readily expected something snide, ignorant and irrelevant from you in response.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

yeah our Defense especially up the middle is awesome.... so that would be a reach of course.....

You were bitching about our offense and how Okung wouldn't help it, but didn't provide anything of merit in terms of potential draft picks on the offensive side of the ball. That our wideouts can't get open. That Cassel sucks.

So are you advocating a guy like Bryant with the first pick? Or Bradford? Or are you just happy being the parrot on OTW's shoulder?