Branden Albert ranked as top free agent signing by ESPN

[matthewcannata]

From www.phinmaniacs.com:

This past offseason, 279 players switch teams during the NFL free agency period. Some teams went crazy signing everyone left and right like the Miami Dolphins did two years ago, some sat back and did nothing and some, like the Miami Dolphins this year, struck quickly but then sat back and signed players methodically and with a purpose. Going into free agency, everyone knew the Dolphins would sign a left tackle. The question was who it would be. Many fans wanted Baltimore Ravens left tackle Eugene Monroe while some wanted current Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert. There were valid debates for both players along with strengths and weaknesses for both but the Dolphins ultimately decided on Albert and signed him to a five-year $47 million dollar contract within the opening minutes of the free agency period.

ESPN seems to agree with this signing as they have ranked him as the top signing of the period. This is because last year, the tackle situation and the offensive line as a whole was a mess. Targeting in on the left side though, Jonathan Martin allowed on average one sack, one hit and two hurries per game. Bryant McKinnie, who was traded for after Martin left, gave up four or more pressures in seven of his ten starts. From 2011 - 2013, Albert was the third best pass-blocking left tackle in the league with 4.6 pressures allowed per 100 pass blocks. Andrew Whitworth of the Cincinnati Bengals ranked first with 3.6 sacks per 100 pass blocks and Joe Thomas was second with 3.7 pressures allowed. Behind Albert was Duane Brown with 4.8, Jason Peters with 5.0 and Trent Williams with 5.0.

There is no doubt that the signing of Albert has solidified the left side of the line and the Dolphins also seem to have gotten a leader in Albert as he already has taken the younger players under his wing such as offensive guard Dallas Thomas. The line should be much improved in 2014 and Albert will be a huge reason why.

 

[Hayden Fox]

Should be. He is a good player.

 

[Wildbill3]

In before injury talk!

 

[hoops]

nfl network is replaying the kc indy playoff game last year this week for those that want to get a last time out look at brandon albert...i know i want to

also replaying a detroit dallas game if u want a look at delmas...

 

[Danny68]

We actually got a little love! Who'd a thunk it :up:

 

[MRojas4]

I'm sure this grade was more of a player ratings plus player need.

Dolphins desperatly needed a LT and signed the top LT available.

 

[maralieus]

We actually got a little love! Who'd a thunk it :up:

I hate to say it but we don't usually deserve a lot of love. every time that people say something nice about our players they get proven wrong lately. Not trying to be negative, we have lots of good things going and I think this season will be a good one, but until our players start living up to the billing they get from the media we are gonna keep seeing minimal press, and mostly negative at that. Last year it was Tannehill and especially Miller who came up short. I can not and will not blame Tannehill for that nightmarish season. I've never seen anyone take the kinda beating that guy took last year! No wonder he was making bad decisions, I feared for his health on every dropback.

 

[Ruckus45]

Good, and with James on the right this line looks a whole lot better. Well, lets also get Pouncey healthy

 

[hoops]

good grief don't watch that dallas detroit game if you're a delmas fan...he literally blew every tackle in space...came up one time in run support and took out his own outside contain man 2 yards from the ball carrier who cut back up inside on a kamikazee like rampage from the safety...i mean nowhere close to the ball completely out of control...

way too much overaggressive coming in too hot stuff...blew a under over zone coverage where the qb read it right threw the ball in the window behind the corner and in front of the safety basically the hole in the coverage but the safety must come up and make a sure tackle for no gain after the catch...a basic coverage call where if the qb reads it right and the timings right and the wr recognizes the coverage you are gonna give up the yardage...instead delmas comes flying up head down out of control and overruns it throwing out one arm on the way by and wiffing on bryant who turns and skips down the sideline 40 yards after the catch for 6

man coverage skills on the tight end look pretty solid shows some fluidity and gets his hands on the tight end and rides him in his routes...i like that...more fluid hip athlete than chris clemons was for sure but the overaggressiveness means he's susceptible to stick nod routes and double moves

i don't really see any slow feet or loss of explosion for a guy with leg issues i'm somewhat surprised but the guys got his head down and loses eye contact with the target too much in space and when you are the last line of defense in a lot of coverages that's a bad trait

 

[AllFinsAllDay]

I hate to say it but we don't usually deserve a lot of love. every time that people say something nice about our players they get proven wrong lately. Not trying to be negative, we have lots of good things going and I think this season will be a good one, but until our players start living up to the billing they get from the media we are gonna keep seeing minimal press, and mostly negative at that. Last year it was Tannehill and especially Miller who came up short. I can not and will not blame Tannehill for that nightmarish season. I've never seen anyone take the kinda beating that guy took last year! No wonder he was making bad decisions, I feared for his health on every dropback.

Anytime you start with not trying to be neagtive you are most likely going to say something negative lol