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One of the names that has been shooting up the draft boards of late is Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert.
He primarily played guard at Virginia, and he spent only one game at left tackle. But he is being projected by many teams as a left tackle in the NFL.
And some league insiders believe that he had leap-frogged Ryan Clady as the No. 2 left tackle on the board.
Then again, maybe it’s all bullsh-t.
Stay tuned.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:51 am
His college coach Al Groh is one of Belichick’s friends. It wouldn’t surprise me if Albert goes #7 to the Patriots and replaces Nick Kaczur on the O-Line in New England.
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April 17th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Then again, if he’s projected as a potential Steve Hutchinson type LG he could be a very high pick anyway.
Bengals?
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April 17th, 2008 at 9:37 am
A solid left tackle is like a left-handed pitcher. They never have to say goodbye.
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April 17th, 2008 at 10:37 am
The Pats would be reaching for him at 7th pick.
The Pats should be able to get better value at the 7th pick, via a trade.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 17th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Branden Albert is considered by scouts, various draft
boards, and people who have seen film on him as a first
round Left Tackle pick. This is not B.S. Bill Parcells
should consider taking Albert instead of Jake Long if
he does not want to pay Long’s #1 draft price. Thinking
out of the box is what Parcells likes to do. Pick a LT
who is not a projected top five player but who can give
solid LT play. Parcells and the Dolphins will not have to
pay Branden Albert what they pay Jake Long…and so it
might go with think out of the box Bill.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Albert could likely start as a rookie at guard, and if he is versatile enough to slide to left tackle and start, he is worth of a top 10 pick. I had originally hoped the vikes would nab him at 17 to play alongside Steve Hutchinson (and possibly replace Mount McKinney)- but evidently he won’t be lasting that long.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:48 am
From what a lot of people are saying, he’s not a reach at 7. His footwork and technique is supposedly phenomenal, he’s a bruiser, and he was a 3-year starter (he’s only a junior). And don’t forget that one of the reasons he didn’t start out as a left tackle is because a certain top-4 pick was already playing that position when Albert showed up at UVA.
In fact, if Jake Long goes #1 I’m not sure the Pats will even have a chance to draft Albert at #7 (oh, and Q-man, you’re crazy if you think the Pats are in a position to get good value via trade for that pick…).
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 17th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I think Brendan Albert is the best LT anyways, (maybe Sam Baker) but Jake Long is a Robert Gallery therefore may one day be a good RT or more like a decent LG in a perfect system. Ryan Clady is another system guy and probably a RT. Id take Albert for his footwork and aggressiveness over Long and his heavily run blocking style all day. LT protects a QBs blind side and thats what you draft them high to do, not block the run thats just bonus, Jake Long is chump change.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
The only question I have is if Albert projects as an LT in the NFL, why didn’t he project or play as one in college? I know D’Brickashaw was at UVA in ‘05, but I don’t understand how that would preclude Albert from switching to LT in ‘06 and ‘07.
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April 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Anybody think it is possible that Andy Reid will package Lito Sheppard and draft pick(s) to move up to New England’s spot at #7 and draft Albert?
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April 18th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I’m with Matt. If he was so good, why didn’t he play LT at Virginia?
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