INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Offensive linemen Riley Reiff of Iowa (right) and Matt Kalil of USC look on during the 2012 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
I thought I'd run down the options for the Rams, who look to be in the catbird's seat as far the 2012 NFL Draft. Andrew Luck is clearly the first pick in the NFL draft at this point. In a recent post, I made my case for RGIII, which can be found here. (As an aside, an apology to RG31) So barring a trade, let's take on the pedigreed lineman from USC, Matt Kalil. Kalil has everything it takes to be the prototypical left tackle in the NFL. He's tall, he's heavy, and his footwork has been called peerless. If genetics have anything to do with it, he is going to be a huge success. His brother, Ryan Kalil, is one of the highest paid linemen in NFL history. The Rams have to make a potentially a franchise altering decision here.
While perhaps the Greatest Show on Turf is best know for Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk, Issac Bruce and Torrey Holt, it is important to remember the number one pick of the 1997 NFL draft - Orlando Pace. Without his anchoring the left side, Kurt Warner is on his back more often than he is throwing touchdown passes. Despite their speed and talent, Holt and Bruce were not so fast that they could run their routes faster than defensive lineman intent on killing Warner could eat him up. Pace came in and absolutely stonewalled the left side. All the sudden, the best pass rushers were neutralized.
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