Could the Chicago Bears Add Branden Albert AND Barrett Jones?

January 01, 2013 11:40 PM EST
Branden Albert and Barrett Jones aren't household names to many football fans. To a team like the Chicago Bears they are the concrete needed to rebuild a long-since crumbled offensive line.
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Phil Emery Knows His New Coach Will Need a New Offensive Line
The Bears and their fans haven't even cooled down from the news of losing Lovie Smith before GM Phil Emery put the next phase of his plans in motion. While finding a new coach is priority one, many analysts already want to look ahead to what Chicago must do to fix their maligned offense. Despite a presence of playmakers at wide receiver and a streaky quarterback who can take over games at times, Emery freely admitted they lacked any consistency at tight end and of course on the offensive line. The 2013 free agent class and draft crop will grant him the chance to make up for the fact he didn't upgrade either last season in favor of finding a pass rusher and better receivers. Early mock drafts are almost never accurate since collegehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png All-Star games haven't happened along with Pro Days and the Scouting Combine. Too many things can change between now and then. That hasn't stopped some from pondering. Many fans have a faint hope star linebacker Manti Te'o will fall to them at the 20th pick so he can take over for franchise staple Brian Urlacher. Most however stay focused on the offensive side with a range of tackle names coming up. On the other hand, they may have an opportunity to make a serious upgrade at not one but two spots.
Alabama and Kansas City Chiefs About to Unload Some Underrated Talents
Offensive talent doesn't belong in the vocabulary of the Kansas City Chiefs lately. Their quarterbacks are atrocious and, aside from Dwayne Bowe, they have no serious receiving threats. One of their guards just retired and their right tackle had a minor meltdown when Chiefs fans cheered as Matt Cassel came off the field with a concussion. The only steady force the team has up front is left tackle Branden Albert. After some struggles early in his career, the 26-year-old quietly developed into a solid pass protector. His contract is up this year, and, given the many problems Kansas City has on offense, they may not have the money to keep him, unless they use the franchisehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png tag. Another big name slipping through media nets is Alabama center Barrett Jones. A four-time academic All-American, three-time athletic All-American and Rimington Trophy winner, his versatility has created an almost mythical status down in Crimson Tide country. In 48 games, Jones played 25 at guard, 10 at left tackle and 13 at center. During that period, Alabama has won two national titles and is gunning for a third. He even played the SEC championship game against Georgia with a hobbled foot that later required a cast. That kind of athlete doesn't come around often on the offensive line, and because he's a center is unlikely to go in the top 15 picks. This puts him in range for the Bears, and given their salary cap flexibility, they have a chance to nab him and Albert in the space of a month.
Barrett Jones is far more possible for the Chicago Bears while Branden Albert will take serious negotiation depending on how the tackle market looks. Either way, Phil Emery can't afford to play it safe. If he has a chance at both players, he must take it. The potential rewards are beyond far-reaching.

Could the Chicago Bears Add Branden Albert and... | Gather

This would be a great start for next season - like I mentioned in another thread, Emery knows what Albert can do and where his ceiling is. If we come out hot and heavy in FA after him, we will know :)

That would be a serviceable line. If they would add a guard in the second, we'dbe set.

ahhhh brandon alberts the guy many wanted over chris williams

Im waiting on who the HC is until I make my wish list FA

Let's just hope that Reid wants to build his own team and Albert isn't in his plans. I don't think he will make it to free agency, I hope he makes it.


As a 2nd thought, no QB seems to be worth that 1st overall pick. LT Luke Joeckel is. Reid could draft a QB with his 2nd. Could spend money elsewhere and Albert would make it to FA

I don't know any reason why we couldn't get both if the cards fall our way. With the first pick in the draft KC can take Joeckel and have their LT of the future for a lot less $$$ than it will cost to re-sign Albert.

The Bears on the other hand can't get a LT like Joeckel in the draft so we have to spend big $$$ to buy one and Albert is a guy Emery is familiar with an a guy who's also in his prime and getting better. He could solve a big problem for us on that line.

Jones is primarily an OC in the mold of Olin Kruetz only bigger but he's also strong, smart and athletic like Kruetz was. Just as the Bears have a tradition for building their defense around a great MLB our OLines have always been built around very good OCs.

When Olin was released we needed to replace him in kind and as hard as Garza may have tried he's nowhere near the player Olin was in his prime and probably a better OG than an OC. Jones is exactly the guy we need to build out from and I think there's a good chance he'll last until the 20th pick or near enough that we might jump a few spots to get him if needed.

Think about an interior line of Jones flanked by Louis on his right and Brown on his left as the future core on the Bears line. Brown could probably use a few more pounds but he's strong, athletic and has nasty disposition much like Louis and if you add the king of college nasties to that duo I think we can look forward to a better line play inside.

Now we put Albert at LT and the winner of the Carimi, Webb, Scott battle at RT and use the others as backup and along with Garza and EWill inside as reserves and a line coach and blocking scheme that fits them maybe just maybe we have 90% of the problem licked. Maybe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

I don't know any reason why we couldn't get both if the cards fall our way. With the first pick in the draft KC can take Joeckel and have their LT of the future for a lot less $$$ than it will cost to re-sign Albert.

The Bears on the other hand can't get a LT like Joeckel in the draft so we have to spend big $$$ to buy one and Albert is a guy Emery is familiar with an a guy who's also in his prime and getting better. He could solve a big problem for us on that line.

Jones is primarily an OC in the mold of Olin Kruetz only bigger but he's also strong, smart and athletic like Kruetz was. Just as the Bears have a tradition for building their defense around a great MLB our OLines have always been built around very good OCs.

When Olin was released we needed to replace him in kind and as hard as Garza may have tried he's nowhere near the player Olin was in his prime and probably a better OG than an OC. Jones is exactly the guy we need to build out from and I think there's a good chance he'll last until the 20th pick or near enough that we might jump a few spots to get him if needed.

Think about an interior line of Jones flanked by Louis on his right and Brown on his left as the future core on the Bears line. Brown could probably use a few more pounds but he's strong, athletic and has nasty disposition much like Louis and if you add the king of college nasties to that duo I think we can look forward to a better line play inside.

Now we put Albert at LT and the winner of the Carimi, Webb, Scott battle at RT and use the others as backup and along with Garza and EWill inside as reserves and a line coach and blocking scheme that fits them maybe just maybe we have 90% of the problem licked. Maybe.

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That is the plan. If our new staff can bring Brown along like Louis, add in Jones in the 1st, and pick up Albert in FA, dare I say it....we may actually have an OL that wins games for us rather than losing them.

As we see again, it will all come down to Free Agency ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

As we see again, it will all come down to Free Agency ;)

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Very true I see a danger if we miss on a LT in FA that we may try to get one via draft at some point (similar to what happened with de last year)

Obviously we won't find a starter at 20 but if we get no LT in FA it puts a monkey wrench in our draft plans

And say we end up with a gaurd or center in FA then it's REALLY all screwed up

Should be interesting

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

I don't know any reason why we couldn't get both if the cards fall our way. With the first pick in the draft KC can take Joeckel and have their LT of the future for a lot less $$$ than it will cost to re-sign Albert.

The Bears on the other hand can't get a LT like Joeckel in the draft so we have to spend big $$$ to buy one and Albert is a guy Emery is familiar with an a guy who's also in his prime and getting better. He could solve a big problem for us on that line.

Jones is primarily an OC in the mold of Olin Kruetz only bigger but he's also strong, smart and athletic like Kruetz was. Just as the Bears have a tradition for building their defense around a great MLB our OLines have always been built around very good OCs.

When Olin was released we needed to replace him in kind and as hard as Garza may have tried he's nowhere near the player Olin was in his prime and probably a better OG than an OC. Jones is exactly the guy we need to build out from and I think there's a good chance he'll last until the 20th pick or near enough that we might jump a few spots to get him if needed.

Think about an interior line of Jones flanked by Louis on his right and Brown on his left as the future core on the Bears line. Brown could probably use a few more pounds but he's strong, athletic and has nasty disposition much like Louis and if you add the king of college nasties to that duo I think we can look forward to a better line play inside.

Now we put Albert at LT and the winner of the Carimi, Webb, Scott battle at RT and use the others as backup and along with Garza and EWill inside as reserves and a line coach and blocking scheme that fits them maybe just maybe we have 90% of the problem licked. Maybe.

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Soul, i like the line you suggested if all works out that will make an enormous difference in our offense and team in general