A few months ago I said that Branden Albert might be the best lineman PERIOD in the draft. I've been quiet on the forums for a month or so, checking and double checking and late night film watching and fast forwarding and re-winding and whilst I think Jake Long has the best overall skill set, I think the two linemen with the biggest upside are Jeff otah and Branden Albert. Every time I put on a tape to watch Chris Long, I ended up watching the Cavs on offense because big #71 was just absolutely dominant. Dominant. His mobility for a 6'7 inch, 309lber is phenomenal and at the point of attack....wow. You look at his base; it's perfect, he drives through his knees and his arm use is ridiculous. He was obliterating linebackers and defensive backs at the 2nd level. Against Virginia Tech down at the goal line, he abuses Cam Martin to spring a touchdown, pulls to the right and puts him on his keester. Another play, he pulls to the outside and he drives Xavier Adibi 20 yards down the field before shoving him into the safety and knocking them both on their butts. It was like watching an adult block a child. He slides like a left tackle and he played there twice this past season. I've read a couple of people saying he can play there in the pros and when you see him in pass pro and when you see him in space out in front, watching his feet, I'd have to say that they have a case, although I’d like to see him start his NFL career at his more natural spot. Albert himself thinks his long term future is at left tackle and so does Al Groh and you can see why he was so highly rated on the hard wood; sweet feet. I always think that you don't want a guy who's 6'7 clogging your passing lanes, but I'm telling you, when you concentrate on this kid on every snap......he's just an outstanding player. He's also a great kid, a Hargrave kid which means he's mature and he'll work like a pack horse. And talk about fitting the Sparano mentality, he loves it when teams pound the ball because it allows him to get physical and smack some people on their backs. There's a play that NFL Network ran of his, a little screen pass and the back is racing down the field and you take your eyes off the back and see this 6’7 inch monster out in front, literally signaling for the back to change angles and cut back inside. Astounding. He has good hips and uses his hands very well. I think he'll come off the board early and he's just a phenomenal athlete.
