How about Branden Albert

[foozball]

I know he's a guard, but alot of the scouting services believe he can play LT. He's 6'6 310lbs and ran a 5.17. From a physical standpoint he looks like he can be a very good LT with his size, long arms, and athleticism. He's shown that he's mobile and can get to the second level. He's a really good pass blocker and he's still got a ton of upside. If we are dead set on taking an OL in the 1st and Chris Williams is off the board, Albert may get a look, although he's probably not as high on the big board as some of the CB's might be. He's slated as going to 23 to the Steelers, so 18 isn't too big of a stretch.

[willieg52]

I've never been a fan of trying to switch a guy from one position to another. Especially with that being our 1 first round pick. I think that i'll pass on that idea!

[zanth91]

300+ lbs - failed
5.1+ 40 - failed

[foozball]

watch the video on him, its quite impressive

charles spencer was an OG in college with 1 year of experience at OT

albert played OT in highschool and did play OT for virginia for a few games. its not like he has zero experience there.

[foozball]

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806b5815

watch the vid, its about the top 5 OT's and OG's

his 10yd and 20yd splits were better than Chris Williams and the same as Jake Long. Same as Duane Brown and pretty much the same as Heath Benedict. I'm talking .01-.02 seconds here. Rarely, if ever, will you see an OT needing to actually run 40yds downfield.

[TheLBCoach]

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806b5815

watch the vid, its about the top 5 OT's and OG's

his 10yd and 20yd splits were better than Chris Williams and the same as Jake Long. Same as Duane Brown and pretty much the same as Heath Benedict. I'm talking .01-.02 seconds here. Rarely, if ever, will you see an OT needing to actually run 40yds downfield.

Just the other day you were trying to tell me that Rinehart and Greco weren't good options at OT because of their slow 40 times. ;)

Good to see you agree with me.

[foozball]

Just the other day you were trying to tell me that Rinehart and Greco weren't good options at OT because of their slow 40 times. ;)

Good to see you agree with me.

i was just pointing that out. 5.17 is a noticeable difference over 5.31 for greco. the splits at the combine were a step slower as well. .01 seconds is negligible, but once you get into that .05 second range for the splits is when it starts separating guys in my opinion. greco ran much better at his proday, so i guess its a moot point now. alot of scouts still think greco fits better at guard as well. friggan 29 5/8 inch arms bro...that's TRex right there.

as for rinehart...5.49...now that is a big difference, especially in the 10yd and 20yd splits (around .15 seconds for 10yd and .17 seconds in the 20yd). i really dont think he fits in well, mostly because of his lack of speed and athleticism along with short arms (33 inches compared to 35 for albert). he's also being looked at as an OG anyways.

[bsofa04]

He's the only 1st round guard worth taking so I wouldn't be happy, or upset if we selected him. He's as athletic as it gets for a guard.

[foozball]

its looking like branden albert will be our 1st rounder if denver passes on him. with us signing chris brown, resigning demps, signing reeves, and bringing in more DB's, albert looks like the pick. unless derrick harvey is there or we decide to go with keith rivers if he's there. but yea albert will probably be the target.

[TheLBCoach]

its looking like branden albert will be our 1st rounder if denver passes on him. with us signing chris brown, resigning demps, signing reeves, and bringing in more DB's, albert looks like the pick. unless derrick harvey is there or we decide to go with keith rivers if he's there. but yea albert will probably be the target.

If that's the pick, I would be ecstatic. For years, we've ignored the offensive line on Day 1. It's about time. Branden Albert would be an EXCELLENT pick. It's not going to be the sext pick that Texans fans will want to hear on Day 1, but he will go a long way in helping solidify our front 5 once and for all. fooz, do you know what his 40 time/5-10-5 (shuttle) time was at the combine?

Kevin Smith
Xavier Omon
Tashard Choice

all good mid-round RB choices

[Tejas]

Xavier Omon

all good mid-round RB choices

this guy will be there in the 6th, 7th or even non drafted

[outofhnd]

I think we still can go DB, or even LB it just depends on what happens in the 17 picks leading up to ours.

[foozball]

If that's the pick, I would be ecstatic. For years, we've ignored the offensive line on Day 1. It's about time. Branden Albert would be an EXCELLENT pick. It's not going to be the sext pick that Texans fans will want to hear on Day 1, but he will go a long way in helping solidify our front 5 once and for all. fooz, do you know what his 40 time/5-10-5 (shuttle) time was at the combine?

40yd 5.17-5.22 depending on where you look
10yd split- 1.71
20yd split- 2.96

23 reps
26inch vert
9'03 broad
4.78 20yd shuttle
7.97 3 cone

compared to jake long, who pretty much blew up the combine, albert's 10yd split is .04 seconds faster and their 40yd time is the same

long's vert is 27.5 compared to 26

long's broad jump was 8'06 compared to 9'03

long's 20yd shuttle was 4.73 compared to 4.78

long's 3 cone was 7.44 compared to 7.97

he compares really well with chris williams. pretty much better numbers in the agility and broad jump and vert

[outofhnd]

Ill say we have really opened ourselves up for a trade down or a deal involving picking up draft picks by addressing our needs with startable free agents.

[TheLBCoach]

40yd 5.17-5.22 depending on where you look
10yd split- 1.71
20yd split- 2.96

23 reps
26inch vert
9'03 broad
4.78 20yd shuttle
7.97 3 cone

compared to jake long, who pretty much blew up the combine, albert's 10yd split is .04 seconds faster and their 40yd time is the same

long's vert is 27.5 compared to 26

long's broad jump was 8'06 compared to 9'03

long's 20yd shuttle was 4.73 compared to 4.78

long's 3 cone was 7.44 compared to 7.97

he compares really well with chris williams. pretty much better numbers in the agility and broad jump and vert

4.78 is very good for an OL his size. I'd be happy to call him a Texan.

The only L-Drill time that matters is the last one. Players normally run 3, and if you see a big drop off in time from the 2nd to the 3rd...you might have something to be concerned about. I'd be interested to see his first 2 times.

[NBT]

its looking like branden albert will be our 1st rounder if denver passes on him. with us signing chris brown, resigning demps, signing reeves, and bringing in more DB's, albert looks like the pick. unless derrick harvey is there or we decide to go with keith rivers if he's there. but yea albert will probably be the target.

How the heck do you draw that conclusion from the FA's we signed? If anything it just highlights our need to upgrade the defensive secondary and that RDE position. Jeez!:(

[foozball]

How the heck do you draw that conclusion from the FA's we signed? If anything it just highlights our need to upgrade the defensive secondary and that RDE position. Jeez!:(

because OT is a bigger need right now...JEEZ! so we sign all those guys at positions of need right? well LT is a need...but we havent signed any FA's there. hmm...bigger need...50 year old LT or secondary where we've already signed reeves and with dunta probably coming back? ill take LT in the draft please. as for DE, it's a relatively weak crop this year. Harvey and Merling are the only DE's who could possibly be there...actually just Merling since Harvey will be gone at 17. merling isnt the pass rush specialist we need and is more of a run stuffer right now. with that said, branden albert fits the biggest need and fits in the ZBS

also, not many people take into account that pass blocking has also been a huge problem. most people just assume that with the ZBS, everything is solved. the ZBS has nothing to do with pass blocking, so we cant just take a late round OT because he can run. he still has to pass block. Albert is an excellent pass blocker. in fact, hes a better pass blocker than run blocker. however, with his athleticism, you plug him in a ZBS, then his weaknesses wont be so apparent.

[Tejas]

How the heck do you draw that conclusion from the FA's we signed? If anything it just highlights our need to upgrade the defensive secondary and that RDE position. Jeez!:(

well i kind of understand what Foozball is saying. Hes saying we brought in vets for depth. Now we still have holes at DE and in the secondary. However i am not totally sure if that means we will take a DE or CB/DB in the first since Houston loves to throw curve balls at us but as it would seem, Harvey or Merling or maybe even Balmer would be there we when pick if we decide to go DL. If we decide to go CB Jenkins, Cromartie, and even Cason should be gone leaving Talib or Smith still left. I think we do need a OL the most. Maybe this is the year we break the OL in the first round trend. If Williams is there hes a great pick if not i think we wait til the later round.

[Coach]

i know there are a lot of football people out there that believe albert can be a LT in the pros...i'm one of them...i've seen about 5 of his games on tape now and he really plays with a nasty attitude...something i love lineman to have...he has really good feet...something most guards don't...he has the great size that's for sure...but personally i don't see him getting past pittsburgh...he has been the guy they have targetted from practically day one...so if we trade down past them we won't have a shot at thim...smith will only pull the trigger on him at the 18th spot if he fills he can play LT

[outofhnd]

I don't feel we go OT if we stay at 18, I think a quality DB will be there at that pick and it will be too much to pass up if we trade down then yes I can see us going OL.

[foozball]

why does everyone want a DB who isnt worth that high of a pick?

mckelvin will be gone
DRC will be gone

that leaves jenkins, cason, and talib. jenkins has no ballskills, doesnt play very physical, and doesnt support the run. he's a one dimensional corner. cason is a late 1st-2nd rounder and will be there later. no need to take him at 18. while i would love to have him, i wouldnt even think about taking him at 18. talib sucks. he has no man skills and is gonna get burned constantly, especially since we dont have a good cover safety over the top.

[Neo]

Ill say we have really opened ourselves up for a trade down or a deal involving picking up draft picks by addressing our needs with startable free agents.I would draw the conclusion that trading down would only add more depth when depth has been already dealt with in free agency. Now would be the time to use your resources to get a "difference maker" or playmaker that Kubes says we need.