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The Case for: Matt Kalil

By RamHock
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)
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)
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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.

It has been discussed, at length, here at TST that a franchise left tackle is simply irreplaceable. Teams do not allow them to reach free agency, and if they do, they franchise them for another year in order to work out a contract in a more generous time frame.

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.

Kalil solves a couple of problems. First, he can protect Bradford's blind side. Second, he frees up Saffold to move to right tackle, something he was projected to do until he beat out the 2009 number two overall draft pick, Jason Smith. With Harvey Dahl at right guard, Kalil would allow the Rams to look at some of the guards or centers who are going to slide in the draft because they are not tackles?
I know in a trade down scenario, Kalil won't be there. It's just too obvious that he will not get past the Vikings on NFL Draft Day. Someone posted earlier that the Vikings gave up the most passing TD's last year. If they fall in love with Claiborne, what a perfect scenario. Kalil at four, and Kendall Wright at 22 if the Rams wind up trading the #2 pick to the Cleveland Browns?
One can dream.

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