Albert Means

Albert is a massive wide body space-eater with some burst in the short area. Means has good hand usage vs. single blocks, but can be mauled and struggles when facing double teams. He shows marginal quickness out of his stance and needs to generate a more explosive burst off the ball. He uses his size well to gain advantage at the point of attack. Due to poor stamina in the past, he would run out of gas during the game. Means showed better dedication to conditioning during the 2004 offseason and played with much better agility as a senior. He compensated for limited range by doing an effective job of shooting the gaps and using his size to get an edge on the blocker to flush out the play. He is not a good pursuer, but when he takes on runners at the point of attack, he delivers impact behind his tackles. He is strictly a two-down player, as he has no pass rush moves and poor explosion to penetrate the backfield and create problems for the quarterback. To date, he has dropped over forty pounds from his frame, but if he can get down to the 320-pound range, it could earn him a roster spot at the next level. The loss of extra weight saw him do a better job of playing at a low pad level and he proved to be a load for offensive linemen to move out, as he showed more focus in his performance. Albert still struggles to shed, but will use his body to lean into and push blockers back to the ball. He has limited sideline-to-sideline range, but is quick to plug the inside rush lanes. In 2004 he displayed better feet and quickness to chase and make plays outside the box. He needs to improve his overall strength, especially his leg drive, in order to disengage from blockers. Means has improved as a wrap-up tackler, though. He no longer lunges and overextends to make arm tackles, taking better angles to get to the ball. He has active, but weak hands. Means might win the initial battle by using his size to get a good push off the blocker, but he does not finish well. Albert is a straight-line charger who looks sluggish when having to change direction, thus reducing his ability to close on the quarterback. He is the type of player that showed outstanding ability (in high school) in the past. If married life, maturity and a renewed dedication to conditioning continue, this could be a player that will make some scouting director look good with this late round/free agent project.

2001: Suffered from a mild case of pneumonia in early November, causing him to see limited action vs. Tennessee.

5.46 in the 40-yard dash

420-pound bench press

535-pound squat

320-pound power clean

28-inch vertical jump

32 ¾-inch arm length

9 ½-inch hands

Right-handed

10/22 Wonderlic score.

Attended Trezevant (Memphis, Tenn.) High School, playing football for coach Lynn Lang

Was tabbed by several publications as the top high school defensive lineman in the nation in 1999

Named to the 1999 Parade, Super Prep, USA Today and Prep Football Report All-American teams

Picked on the 1999 Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team

Named by Prep Star as one of the top three defensive linemen in the nation in 1999

Rated the number one prep prospect in the Southeast by Prep Star

Chosen Tennessee's Mr. Football in 1999

First-team Associated Press and UPI All-State pick as he registered 120 tackles (85 solos) with nine quarterback sacks and three pass interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns as a senior

Had 110 tackles as a junior with 11 sacks and five interceptions.