The Kansas City Chiefs will embark on their 2014 season without Branden Albert at Left Tackle. Branden has held down the Left side for 6 years now in Kansas City. The Chiefs selected him as their 2nd 1st round selection in the 2008 NFL draft.

Compares To: MAURICE WILLIAMS-Jacksonville-Built more like an offensive tackle, Albert is surprisingly effective sinking his weight and firing off the snap. He lacks the change-of\-direction agility to be isolated on the outside as a tackle, but does show good straight-line movement skills to widen and sustain rush lanes. He works well with his center on combo blocks and has a strong punch to shock and jolt. He has worked hard to improve his conditioning, going from 340 to 315 pounds over the last two years, but he needs to improve his stamina. He tired late in games, getting into trouble with penalties or overextending. With a very weak offensive guard crop, he could sneak to the top of this position with solid postseason workouts.

CBS Draft evaluation

via broncotalk.net

Branden has been the butt of a long standing meme. Let's move Branden to his natural position of..........

In the 1st few years, draft analyst were always ready for the Chiefs to select a high round Offensive Tackle to let Branden move to his collegiate position of Guard. CBS draft experts thought Albert would not be able to play in space. Herm Edwards and Carl Peterson saw otherwise. Scott Pioli and Todd Haley never moved him either. John Dorsey and Andy Reid spent the franchise tag on him rather than let him walk. In 2013, Branden was selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl for the 1st time in his career.

Branden Albert has had a rocky road in Kansas City over the years.

Total Disaster = Sacks 16, Hits 24, and 74 hurries combined from the Philadelphia Eagles 2012 Offensive Tackles.

• LT (0), RT (8) Todd Herremans PHI
• LT (11), RT (1) King Dunlap PHI
• LT (0), RT (8) Dennis Kelly PHI
• LT (7), RT (1) Demetress Bell PHI

Why bring up the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Tackle situation? Andy Reid got fired. The Chiefs without Branden Albert are (at this point) fielding Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson as the 2014 starters at Offensive Tackle. Donald played well enough later in the season but in the 1st 4-5 games he was not good at all on the Right side. 3 Quarterbacks hits and 10 hurries in 147 snaps. Stephenson forced into starting duty at either RT or LT down the stretch played better. 1 Quarterback Sack, 3 Hits, and 16 hurries. Troubling though was 5 hurries against the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs as the starting Right Tackle.

Donald Stephenson appears to play LT better than Right. Which begs a huge Question in regards Eric Fisher, can he play Left Tackle any better than he does Right Tackle. Eric surrendered 7 Sacks, 5 Hits, and 35 Pressures in 14 games. Stephenson and Fisher combined played 1434 snaps. Branden Albert played 800 total snaps.

Is it possible that Andy Reid might be a little gun-shy of a total Tackle failure in 2014 similar to the one that cost him his job in 2012? Does John Dorsey feel the Tackle position is more or less important of other needs in the 2014 off-season? The 2014 draft is not deep in Offensive tackles at all. College tackles like

Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Height: 6-8. Weight: 302.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2014): Top-20 Pick.

Cameron Erving*, OT, Florida State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 310.
Projected 40 Time: 5.28.
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.

Antonio Richardson*, OT, Tennessee
Height: 6-6. Weight: 332.
Projected 40 Time: 5.31.
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.

and

La'el Collins*, G/OT, LSU
Height: 6-5. Weight: 321.
Projected 40 Time: 5.40.
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.

are all possibly available at pick #23 in the 2014 NFL draft.

Well Branden Albert is moving onto his natural position now... LT for the Arizona Cardinals or Miami Dolphins.

Good luck Branden!

Geaux Chiefs