 Branden Albert Interview Offensive lineman Branden Albert may already be well prepared for what awaits him in the NFL after going against Chris Long at Virginia. He discussed that and more with the media at the recent NFL Combine. You have played guard and tackle in college. What do you see as your best position? “I’d say my primary position is guard. I am also comfortable at tackle. Wherever a team wants to draft me, either position, I feel comfortable playing.” What made you feel more comfortable about playing guard? “It was a situation, when I first got to UVA, D’Brickashaw Ferguson was there my first year and the coaching staff felt like they had to find somewhere on the field for me. I played the left guard spot that year and they kept me there since then.”
Why the late start playing football in high school?
“I moved my brother to University of Maryland and I moved in, and it forced me to kind of play football. I was always a basketball player. When I moved with him, that’s when I decided to play football.” You were living with your brother? “Yes.” Why? “It was a great opportunity in Maryland [rather than] being in Rochester, New York.” You played for a pro coach in Al Groh, in a pro system. How has that made this transition easier for you? “Coach Groh runs a pretty tight program, it comes from the pro background. That helped me out significantly with this whole process. That made me a tough player, a tough guy. He builds a program that helps you have good character.” Did you keep playing basketball when you played football? “Yes, I did.” When did you start to realize your future was in football? “When I signed a scholarship to go to the University of Virginia.” Parcells and Groh are very close. Have you talked to the Dolphins yet, or has Groh talked to you about Parcells? “I haven’t talked to anybody yet, since I’ve been here. I haven’t talked to Coach Groh lately either.” What did you learn from playing with D’Brickashaw Ferguson? “I mainly learned off the field stuff. He’s a good character dude. On the field, he’s a player that is not a trash talker. He just gets the job done and does what he has to do.” What are the strengths of your game and what do you think you need to work on? “I’d say the main strength of my game is my athleticism, my pass blocking. One thing I do have to work on is my pad level on my down blocking and in-line blocking, that’s one thing I’m going to have to concentrate on.” What is it that makes you think that guard is your position as opposed to tackle? “Because I’ve been playing that the last three years of my career. It’s something I know very well. Like I said, I am a guard, but I am comfortable playing tackle.” What sets Chris Long apart? “I think his work ethic. He’s a very hard worker. A very intense person. He’s a person who has good character and that sets himself apart from many people.” How about going against him in practice; what is that like? “I haven’t gone against Chris since last year. We beat up on each other a lot.” Do you call it a draw? “Yeah.” Do you have another year of eligibility? “Yes, I do.” Why did you decide to come out? “I just felt like it was the best situation for me this year. I just looked at the situation, the draft class, the guards and whatnot. I just felt like I could make a strong, competitive effort by coming out.” Do you think another year in school might have helped and enhanced your value so you would have gone higher? “I actually don’t know. Maybe yes, maybe no. We’ll see.” Where have you been working out? “In Atlanta.” Did D’Brickashaw advise you at all on your decision? “No.” What are you doing between now and draft day to improve your stock? “Just going back to school, just working out, just getting ready for some personal workouts. Hopefully teams have some prior workouts with me. Getting stronger and faster if possible, and just keep working hard.”
What do you think about this process?
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve just embraced it. It’s an opportunity a lot of people don’t get. I’m very thankful. I look at it as something that a lot of people don’t go through. I’m just happy to be here and thankful to get invited.” What should we know about Chris Long? “He’s a heck of a player. He’s going to go Top 5, hopefully.” What makes him a special player? “I think first of all he has that never-say-die attitude. He always plays hard, plays to the whistle. I think he has the attitude that nobody can block him – except for me.” What advice do you give someone trying to block Chris Long? “Bring your hard hat, a construction day, because it’s going to be a long day.” What are you looking forward to in this process? “I think I’m looking forward to these meetings with teams, showing what type of guy I am, the character I have. I think my athletic ability shows on film, what I can do. Now I just want teams to get to know me as a person, so they know what kind of guy they are drafting.” Is there a particular drill that you are going to be tested on that you will do particularly well in the eyes of scouts? “I believe most of the agility and all the position-work, I will probably put myself up there as one of the best. That’s one thing I pride myself on, my athletic ability.” Is there a tackle or guard in the NFL that you would compare yourself to? “If it was a tackle, I might say a Flozell Adams type, or Walter Jones.” Who was your favorite team growing up? “The Dallas Cowboys.” His high school experience… “I moved to Maryland my junior year of high school. Not too many people I know from Maryland are in the NFL right now.” What led to that move in high school? “My mother and brother felt like it would be a better opportunity for me in Maryland than Rochester, New York.” If you hadn’t moved, do you think you’d be standing here right now? “To be honest with you, no Why is that? “It’s just a smaller place. Not a lot of opportunities. Not a lot of people come to Rochester to look for talent. Maryland is a bigger place and there are a lot more things going on.”
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