Albert Celebrates Return … Thursday Cup O’Chiefs

Branden Albert celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday with a nice two-hour practice at the Chiefs facility with his teammates.

But there really wasn’t time to have any type of party. There was game preparation to handle, a game where Albert will finally get back on the field.

“Best present I could have is to get a chance to play again,” Albert said after the team’s Wednesday practice. “That’s what I’ve been working on for three weeks.”

His chances of being back on the field at left tackle this Sunday in Jacksonville are very good. The left ankle injury that he suffered against Dallas on October 11th isn’t completely healed, but he’s improved enough that he can handle the duties of protecting QB Matt Cassel’s back and opening some holes for RB Jamaal Charles.

“It’s been hard watching,” Albert admitted. “Wade (Smith) and Barry (Richardson) did a good job, but it’s a helpless feeling not being able to play and contribute something.”

In an attempt to try finding something positive in a negative, the respite from playing gave Albert a chance to take a big picture view of how he was playing before suffering the injury.

It wasn’t a pretty picture. In five games, Albert allowed 4.5 sacks and was flagged for four penalties.

Compare that to his rookie season, when over 15 games the first-round choice out of Virginia allowed 4.5 sacks and was flagged just once for a penalty.

“I’ve got to get better,” Albert said. “There are a lot of things that I have to work on just with my game, my fundamentals. I’m only in my second year and there are lessons to be learned every week. That doesn’t include just knowing more about the guys I’m facing and preparing for what they do in the game.”

Whether it’s been the team’s new offense under head coach/coordinator Todd Haley, his significant weight loss during the off-season, where he dropped close to 40 pounds or just the sophomore jinx, Albert has been an under-achiever. Under Haley’s version of the offense, there are more protection schemes in the game plan each week. That’s more to remember and more to implement. He played as a rookie with a different body than the one he has now and that’s been a transition, as he relies less on bulk and more on this athletic skills.

That he’s been an under-achiever does not make him much different from many of his teammates. But as a first-round choice, more is expected of Albert. He understands that.

“I have high standards for myself,” said Albert. “I know there are high standards for me here, but they aren’t any higher than what I want to accomplish myself.”

The Jaguars are not one of the league’s great pass rushing teams; Jacksonville has just five sacks and only two from their defensive ends. Plus, this is the same defense that last Sunday against Tennessee allowed 305 rushing yards.

Albert isn’t thinking about any of that.

“I have to take care of my business,” Albert said. “That’s what I’m focused on.”

His new diet – which includes him bringing his own food to the locker room every day – does not have much room for birthday cake. That’s just the kind of treats he’s staying away from to keep his new svelte figure.

“That’s OK,” said Albert. “Playing means more.”

SIGNINGS, HONORS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

• AFC – Titans RB Chris Johnson named offensive player of the week, Texans LB Brian Cushing named defensive player of the week and Dolphins WR Ted Ginn named special teams player of the week.
• NFC – Packers QB Brett Favre named offensive player of the week, Panthers DE Julius Peppers named defensive player of the week and Rams K Josh Brown named special teams player of the week.
• COLTS – placed LB Tyjuan Hagler on the injured-reserve list; promoted LB Cody Glenn from the practice squad.
• RAMS – signed CB Danny Gorrer.
• SEAHAWKS – promoted WR Mike Hass, S Jamar Adams and CB Roy Lewis from the practice squad; released S C.J. Wallace.

FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY

On November 5, 1967, the Chiefs beat the New York Jets 42-18 in front of 46,642 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs came out of the half-time locker room and put 22 points on the board in the third quarter to run away with this game. They got a three-yard run from RB Mike Garrett (right), a 27-yard interception return for a TD by CB Willie Mitchell and a 14-yard scoring pass from QB Len Dawson to WR Otis Taylor. Dawson also connected with TE Fred Arbanas on a 20-yard score and RB Bert Coan knocked in an eight-yard run for a TD. Garrett ran for 192 yards on 23 carries. Taylor caught five passes for 83 yards. Mitchell had a pair of interceptions and the Chiefs got another one from LB Sherrill Headrick.

On November 5, 1972, the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 27-14 at Arrowhead Stadium. With 82,094 fans in the stadium, the largest crowd in Arrowhead history, the Chiefs jumped out to a 20-0 lead and were never challenged by the Raiders. QB Len Dawson threw three TD passes: 20 yards to RB Wendell Hayes, 42 yards to WR Robert West and 27 yards to RB Ed Podolak. Podolak finished t he game with 115 rushing yards on 27 carries. Raiders WR Fred Biletnikoff caught 10 passes for 114 yards. CB Emmitt Thomas had an interception of Oakland starter Daryle Lamonica, and DT Buck Buchanan and LB Jim Lynch had sacks of Lamonica and his replacement Ken Stabler.

On November 5, 1978, the Chiefs lost to the Oakland Raiders 20-10 at Arrowhead Stadium. With an announced crowd of 75,418 in the stands, the Chiefs made a late run at the Raiders, scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown and pulling within four points before Oakland scored a final touchdown. Oakland’s rookie RB Arthur Whittington ran for 134 yards and a touchdown. TE Dave Casper (left) caught seven passes for 112 yards. The Chiefs only TD came on a 14-yard pass from QB Mike Livingston to RB Tony Reed. Livingston threw three interceptions. KC had just 202 yards in total offense. The victory was No. 100 for Raiders head coach John Madden and the eight straight game where Oakland beat the Chiefs.

On November 5, 1989, the Chiefs beat the Seattle Seahawks 20-10 at Arrowhead Stadium. In front of a crowd of 54,488, the KC defense had six sacks and forced four fumbles in the game, as the Seattle offense held the ball for less than 19 minutes. RB Christian Okoye scored on an eight-yard run and QB Steve Pelluer scampered in on a 10-yard scramble. Pelluer started and threw just 13 passes, completing seven for 80 yards. Okoye finished with 126 rushing yards on 37 carries. The Chiefs defense allowed just 39 rushing yards and they got sacks from Deron Cherry, Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Louis Cooper.

On November 5, 1995, the Chiefs beat the Washington Redskins 24-3 at Arrowhead Stadium in front of 77,821 fans. The Chiefs jumped to a 17-3 first-half lead and cruised to the victory over the Redskins. The Chiefs defense allowed Washington just 201 offensive yards and just 79 rushing yards, with interceptions by CBs Mark Collins and Dale Carter and sacks by DT Dan Saleaumua and LBs Derrick Thomas and Tracy Simien. RB Marcus Allen scored on a one-yard run, and FB Kimble Anders went 40 yards for a score. QB Steve Bono and WR Willie Davis hooked up on a 19-yard TD pass and K Lin Elliott added a 38-yard field goal.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …

Born on November 5, 1971 in Walpole, Massachusetts was QB Todd Collins (right). He joined the Chiefs in 1998 after three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Collins spent eight seasons with the Chiefs as a backup quarterback. He appeared in 13 games over that period, completing 18 of 27 passes for 229 yards and one TD pass. Collins has spent the last four seasons with the Washington Redskins. He came into the NFL as a second round selection in the 1995 NFL Draft out of Michigan.

Born on November 5, 1972 in Monroe, Louisiana was TE Tracy Greene. He was selected in the seventh-round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of Grambling. Greene played that rookie season with the Chiefs, appearing in seven games and catching six passes for 69 yards and one TD. The biggest catch in a KC uniform came in the Monday night game at Denver, when he caught a pass from QB Joe Montana that set up the winning TD pass. Greene was traded in 1995 to the Steelers.

Born on November 5, 1967 in Canton, Ohio was LB Percy Snow (left). He was selected in the first-round of the 1990 NFL Draft out of Michigan State with the 13th pick. Snow played two seasons with the Chiefs (1990 and 1992); missing the 1991 season because of an ankle injury he suffered at training camp while riding a moped. He had two sacks and one interception. Snow played 10 games in 1993 for the Bears.