Chiefs LT Albert is Silent After Loss to the Bengals
by Joel Thorman on Dec 28, 2009 8:54 AM CST
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign
Email
PrintLT Branden Albert made a couple of mistakes early on in the Chiefs 17-10 loss to the Bengals yesterday. One of those mistakes, took over 40 yards and potentially some points off the board.
How did Albert respond?
He didn't.
Per Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star, Albert wouldn't answer any questions following the game (which begs the question of 'Why?' when NFL rules mandate he be available for the media following games).
Albert's first gaffe came on the second play from scrimmage. Facing a 2nd and 8, Albert was called for jumping early pitting the Chiefs at 2nd and 13. The next play went for 9 yards but, instead of that being a first down, it put the Chiefs in a third and short (which they converted).
The second gaffe was a big one. With just a couple of minutes left in the first quarter, the Chiefs were driving at their own 29 yard line. The Chiefs called a run for Charles which he broke off for 42 yards into Bengals territory and on the edge of field goal territory.
Flag. Holding on Albert.
What should have been a 1st and 10 from the Bengals 29 yard line was now a 1st and 20 from the Chiefs own 19.
Babb sums up the Chiefs predicament well.
"In the handful of games that Kansas City has been competitive in during the second half of the season, it has needed something close to perfection to keep it that way," Babb writes. "On the rare occasions that it happens, the Chiefs usually win. When it doesn’t happen, players grab their bags from a losing locker room and head toward another somber bus."
As Todd Haley has said before, this Chiefs team can not overcome a 52 yard field position swing.
38 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
That call looked somewhat suspect to me
It seemed like the Bengals were getting away with much worse throughout the entire game.
Check out my blog on software development:
http://www.turnleafdesign.com/
by Scaryclouds on Dec 28, 2009 8:58 AM CST via mobile reply actions
yes that call was BS
that happens on every play in the NFL, there was no need to call that one, if it were the Colts i bet that flag doesnt come out.
Does sophomore slump apply only to QB's?
There is no denying it: Albert has taken a step backwards from his rookie campaign.
I don’t know about a “sophomore slump,” I guess he could just be having a bad year…unlikely…IMO it has more to do with his dramatic weight loss. I dont really see how being much lighter, and thus weaker helps a LT. I can understand wanting your players to be in shap,,,but only to a point, there is a such thing as losing too much weight, and it looks like thats exactly what Albert did.
Or maybe he just isn’t going to be the all pro LT we drafted him to be.
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Dec 28, 2009 9:10 AM CST reply actions
I think Clady has taken a few steps back
This year as well. Though granted it is hard to top his rookie campaign of allowing only half a sack.
Check out my blog on software development:
http://www.turnleafdesign.com/
by Scaryclouds on Dec 28, 2009 9:18 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Getting beat on technique doesn't have anything to do with weight.
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
lighter doesn't make you weaker
just lighter. that being said there probably is something to his lighter weight affecting his play but it has everything to do with leverage and not strength. when you are smaller and light, you are fast more agile but you lack the weight to plant your feet and be an unmovable wall. i think in the end BA will be fine, maybe better then what he was, but it’s not surprising he took a step back this year because not only is he learning to block in a new scheme, but the techniques he’s using are completely different as well.
UCrawford will eventually calm down and realize that Haley isn't a bad coach.
Will embrace the Fire Haley Bandwagon if we lose to the raiders by more then a TD...
..But we aren't going to lose.
LJ will not land in Pittsburgh
The Chiefs will not be the number one pick in this years draft
The Chiefs first pick of the draft will NOT be a OL
Thinks UCrawford just needs a hug... offer is there when you are ready UC :p
Clady is also slipped some.
I’m hoping Albert is just having an off year.
You are right about that call Scaryclouds
That was a bogus call. You see shit like that on almost every play in the NFL but, we get called on it week after week. There were also NUMEROUS times when pass interference should have been called against Cincy and they just let them get away with it.
I am TIRED of seeing the refs pull this shit on us week after week. It’s hard enough to get a bad team to play well enough to win let alone having the refs pencil whip the Chiefs and call back big plays when it was a pretty clean play. I don’t know why it is but, I swear it’s not my imagination when I say this but, I swear the refs are showing favoritism and it always goes against the Chiefs. Is it because we are a small market team and nobody cares or does the NFL have a problem with the Chiefs? Something is going on because it’s been like that for a long time now.
It’s not just me, is it?
I think it has more to do with our reputation right now
The NFL knows the Chiefs suck. The refs expect us to get a bunch of panalties so they watch more closely. It would be like if you invited a kleptomaniac over for dinner. You know that eventually they’re going to steal something, so you watch more closely for them to do it.
My sentiments are likely to be summed up with one of these 2 quotes:
"Shut the f--- up."- Matt Cassel
"WHAT THE F---?!?!"- Todd Haley
R.I.P. C.H., #15
by Red N Gold Beast on Dec 28, 2009 9:32 AM CST up reply actions
Are you challenging Ed Hulkulee to a fight?
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
Every team has fans that see it this way involving their team.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
yeah
its a bit nuts
even my father who is not a KC fan and has cable not directv like me, but even HE can see through highlights or the few times that they are on, he will say…wow, KC really gets the short end of the stick on penalties…and its very true…
that hold was so weak, Id love to see them tell us why tamba was never “held”
Charles didn't run for 42 yards if Albert was flagged for holding
Holding occurs on virtually every play in the NFL. That Albert was called hardly counts as a 52-yd swing. It could very well have been the hold that freed up Charles to make that run. Absent the hold, maybe he only goes 4 or 5 yds…
I take it you didn't see the play.
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Dec 28, 2009 9:33 AM CST up reply actions
Holding
Holding on every play is a myth. The rules for interpreting holding have been adjusted in the NFL and has much more to do with staying within the frame of contact on the opponent being blocked. People are correct that individuals grab on every play, but as long as they stay inside the frame holding is seldom called in the NFL. I said this yesterday and I still believe it today, seldom is what Albert did called holding in the NFL. Could the official call it? Yes, but there are many times when identical actions by NFL players are not considered holding. This officiating crew (the umpire) must be known for making this type of call, because it was noted in a post here on AP before the game ever started yesterday.
Yep
The defender was in no way in a position to tackle Charles on that play. Unless you think a defensive lineman is going to catch Charles from behind in the open field with a 5 yard headstart.
Red and Gold, I understand what you are saying but, that still doesn’t explain why our opponents don’t get called for BLATANT PI penalties. Also, this season, the Chiefs have been very good about not committing penalties so, you wouldn’t think the expectations from the refs would be that all of a sudden we would be committing a bunch.
It makes me wonder if the Chiefs can do anything about it? I think the Chiefs should put together a highlight reel that shows all of the questionable calls as well as the no calls against our opponents and submit it to the league formally. Then, they should file grievances against the officiating crew every week that it happens until they finally back off and start calling fair games against us. There are a lot of bullshit calls every week.
I believe they already do.
I’m not positive on this one, but I believe the league asks each team to put together a list of what they believe was missed-or bad calls each week for the refs to review.
by Lost in Denver on Dec 28, 2009 9:47 AM CST up reply actions
Yes, but it does cut both ways.
For example, I didn’t think that the play where the Bengals were penalized for running into the kicker was the slightest bit different than the play where the Chiefs partially blocked a Bengals punt. I was a little surprised the Chiefs weren’t flagged for it on that play – especially when the Bengals were flagged later.
Both teams were flagged six times yesterday. That’s more than the Chiefs have been flagged in a number of games this season… but it’s still less than in many other Chiefs seasons. Shottenheimer’s teams averaged 7.3 per game, and in 1998, averaged 9.8.
John
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"
I might be misunderstanding this...
but if you’re saying that the Chiefs got away with one because they hit the punter after a partial block, that is a good no-call. If a player touches the ball, he can legally contact the kicker with no penalty.
Cantaloupe? More like wontaloupe. Lazy ass melons.
Yep. That was a correct no-call.
Even though, it still surprises me that we weren’t flagged for that.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Dec 28, 2009 10:12 AM CST up reply actions
the pass interference makes me angry
but really for this reason…Flowers…the guy….he knocks down 3-4 passes a darn game, some he doesnt get credit for in the stats, but he is never there early, almost always at the exact perfect moment…Its unfair that other teams have to literally jump down our backs to get called.
We get our big plays taken away...
It isn’t the first time and won’t be the last. I never get excited for a big play anymore until I look around and see no flags. I just know what will happen if Charles breaks a big one.
Hali, Johnson, Vrable, Mays, Williams, Studebaker, Belcher
-Come Get Some-
What a sorry excuse for a backside left tackle...
He’s done the same thing all year and just when the chiefs get a good pass play or run play he gets a penalty majority of the time. this is why he should play guard. thats where his glory days were put him there. Also, they need a coach thats always on him just to discipline him more cause i dont see any with fat albert at all
or we could play him at his "natural" and best position
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
I still think that was a bogus call.
It is pretty well documented that a holding penalty could be called on any given play. They just choose to call them against us when it effectively negates a big play and they don’t do the same against our opponents. THAT is my point.
So after the refs saw Charles break a big run,
one of them thought “screw the Chiefs” and threw a flag?
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Not necessarily like that but...
when they see that they have an opportunity to call a penalty against the Chiefs, they ALWAYS do it. I see our opponents getting away with holds that are much more blatant than the ones we get called for on nearly every play. Also, in damn near every game this season, there have been at least 3 times when defenders are DRAPING our WRs before the ball get’s there and they hardly ever get called. Most have been on TDs or 3rd down conversions. It’s easy to see. It’s not even like the officials are trying to hide it.
The Chiefs won’t improve until they stop getting pencilwhipped by the refs. You can beat other teams but, you can’t win a game when all the calls go against you.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Dec 28, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
ive been saying put albert back to guard for years now
He played it in college for a reason I don’t think he’s horrible at his job but he really is the only person on this team right now that can play his position I still say we shoot for a solid L. T in the draft and move brandon inside or right tackle move ocally inside and we r set. Oh and get rid of rudy.
FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.
by sexassassin on Dec 28, 2009 10:33 AM CST via mobile reply actions
The reason he played it in college
Is because he was next to Ferguson, and then Monroe and Albert is a team player. He was fine last year, has had fewer penalties than Waters this year, and will be fine at LT. If we are forced into Okung (and i would have to be forced) then fine, but no reason to throw Albert under the bus. He is a very gifted athlete and will be a solid LT for years.
I'm not a smart man
+1
It’s not because I don’t think Albert can do the job. It’s just because I think he will play better as a guard. If we have a shot at Okung and Berry is off the board, we should use that pick to upgrade the O-line. Albert will be the best LG in the league.
agreed, people call albert a cornerstone...ok...I say if he is going to be an all pro, he must switch to guard.
and looking at that draft, we may be in a position where we are almost forced into taking a LT
Anthony Davis or Ciron Black before Okung
Okung is not impressive, he is overhyped and a reach in the top 5 or even 10. My favorite OT in this draft is Vladimir Ducasse, and we can get him with ine of the 2nd round picks. Given his experience and where he is at right now he has way more upside than any other OT in this draft. KC is building for the future, Okung will be no better at LT than Albert so the pick makes no sense to me.
I'm not a smart man
Let me see if I can help you make sense of it...
Bringing in a talented OT (whether or not it’s Okung) helps not only give you a top prospect at the LT position but, would also get a guy ( Albert) into the LG position where he would be the most dominant player at that position in the league. Our entire left side of the line would be the best in the league. The addition of Waters on the right side would also bring much needed stability to that RG position. The acquisition of a great Center in the draft would give us an O-line that could potentially be one of the best.
It’s not just about upgrading LT. It’s about all the other areas that would improve by upgrading that position.
Okung wouldn't be an immediate upgrade over Albert
And that would set us back a few years at that position in terms of development.
It is best to just stick with Albert for now. I think he is servicable, but it is safe to say Albert has regressed quite a bit. RG and C should still be our top priorities though.
If Waters isn't here next year (which is very possible)
Then, LG is a gaping hole as well. That’s why I think taking an early OT could be the best move for us.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Arrowhead Pride
Related FanShots on Arrowhead Pride
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
