Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft -- Pick #18 by the Houston Texans

by Chris Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 2:40 PM CDT in 2008 Draft Comment 11 comments

And with the #18 pick in the 2008 Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Houston Texans select:

Virginia OG Branden Albert

houstonvince with the pick:

Ideally the Texans were targeting Cromartie from Tennessee State. They want a CB because Dunta Robinson has surgery on both his MCL and ACL and will be out till mid year. However, selecting Flowers or Talib is too much of a reach.

The Texans therefore move in another direction and pick. Brandon Albert from Virginia. He is a versatile blocker who can play Offensive Guard, yet may have the talent to play offensive tackle. They hired the guru of zone blocking, Alex Gibbs to head up the offensive line. They need fast lineman, under 300 pounds that can get to the second level. Brandon has the speed Alex covets.

1. Miami Dolphins - QB Matt Ryan
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland Raiders - DE Chris Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - DL Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin
12. Denver Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall
15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Philip Merling
18. Houston Texans - OG Branden Albert

On the clock: Philadelphia Eagles (styg50 - Tuesday AM)

Full list of AP mock draft participants

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Comments

I like this pick

and I love Albert - my dream scenario for the Chiefs would be to trade down into the middle of the first round and take Albert, then address RT with the first of our 2nd round picks.

by PVChiefsfan on Mar 31, 2008 2:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

RE

Who do you see playing left tackle next year?

by Chris Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

I could see Herb Taylor there next year. Everyone keeps hollering about left tackle this, Jake Long that, but McIntosh is the least of our worries (well second least, behind Waters). Next year, I could see the left tackle competition being between McIntosh, Taylor, and maybe a sleeper draft pick (I like Barry Richardson from Clemson in the 4th round)

Barry Richardson
Height: 6-65/8 | Weight: 320 | 40-Time: 5.42

Official Bio

Strengths:
Outstanding size with a huge frame and long arms...Terrific athleticism...Very light on his feet...Great lateral mobility and range...Gets to the second level...Excellent pass blocker...Good body control...Once he locks on the battle's over...Has a lot of experience against big-time competition...Offers some versatility...Still has upside.

Weaknesses:
Plays soft...Lacks a killer instinct and is not aggressive...Has to get stronger...Gets pushed around and doesn't play to his size...Poor technique and he does not play with good leverage...Gets caught reaching too often...Effort is pretty inconsistent.

Notes:
Graduated from high school in just three years..A four-year starter at left tackle in the ACC...Held future #1 overall pick Mario Williams without a sack in '05...Classic case of a prospect who "Looks like Tarzan, Plays Like Jane"...Has all the physical tools you look for but is an underachiever...Could be a steal if some coach can get him to be more nasty but it's difficult to change a guys demeanor and personality.

Doesn't that just sound like a prime candidate for Herm Edwards? - a prospect who has tremendous athletic ability (and size for that matter) but who shows inconsistent effort? If Herm can't motivate him, no one can, and if he doesn't pan out, he'll be a solid back-up. 4th round isn't exactly breaking the bank either.

Even if we do somehow manage to land Jake Long, I could see us putting him at RT and forgetting about that position for a decade.

by PVChiefsfan on Mar 31, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't be surprised

if Taylor was a sleeper on the o-line this year.

And he's a 6th rounder. Definitely not breaking the bank.

by Chris Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Taylor?

I have never understood this, in my opinion, unfounded, faith in Herb Taylor. We know absolutely nothing about this guy.

The only thing I know about him is that with a head coach that loves to play rookies and takes perhaps too much pride in finding hidden gems late in the draft, and during a season when our offensive line was SOOO horrible and guys were being cut during the season and guys going down injured, that STILL Herb Taylor didn't get into a game until the last game or two of the season, and only then in spot plays here and there.

To me, that says that he probably doesn't have the skills necessary to be an NFL lineman. He was a 6th round pick and probably taken as a project. Far from being a Left Tackle, I predict he'll be on the practice squad or released this year.

I personally am not putting Herb Taylor in any of my plans for the offensive line. I'd love to be wrong, but I think that if he was any good, he would have been playing a whole lot sooner last year.

by DJ on Mar 31, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Admittedly

I'm entertaining the idea of him playing next year almost purely out of hope. I do think he has a decent chance over any of the new guys coming in. But that's less on Taylor's talent and more on the fact that we're probably bringing in true rookies.

by Chris Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Project

"He was a 6th round pick and probably taken as a project." I agree...but a project means somebody that you are going to need to develop, over time, and then you hope to end up with a good player. Herm saw something in this kid he liked, even if it may take awhile. I am only mentioning him in case this is his year to blossom and then I'll look like a genius :)

(plus it would be cool for LJ to run all over the Donkeys behind an o-line made up of some 6th rounders and 2 undrafted FA's (Waters and Niswanger))

by PVChiefsfan on Mar 31, 2008 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs