Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Move Kalil to Guard??


BuckSutherland

Recommended Posts

Wonder if he could make the transition and play guard?? Seems like the guy just doesnt care, and is not playing with all his ability at all. Have not seen the last two games, but I saw him get beat with speed too many other times this season. All the Qbs/RB/WR in the world wont matter if we can block for at least two seconds. I was a fan of the pick, but this guy for some reason just hasnt had his head in the game since the first season. Maybe he would play better at G if he didnt have to worry about all that speed every game.

Guys coming out of USC in recent years seem to kinda flop in the NFL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Move his A$$ to the bench. His penalties and complete blow by's are coming at the worst times, and starting to cost us games.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We absolutely need him to play at a high level at left tackle. Does us very little to take a high draft pick like that and relegate him to play guard.

I don't get it with him. Seems to have all of the physical traits and tools. I do think he cares. Maybe its all up in his noggen, and just needs to break out of this funk in some way.

I am fine with benching him this week and see what effect that has.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kind of like taking a guy making 23 million who hits for no power and sticking him at first base. Who would do stuff like that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess they could bench him and put Ponder in at LT...

I suppose it would be no worse...

Either way with Norv's less than creative plays and no one on the left side to block, Teddy Bricklofter will be just another stat on the MN QB charts for the past 20 years... he ought to be fairly well beat up by season's end.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kind of like taking a guy making 23 million who hits for no power and sticking him at first base. Who would do stuff like that?

IALTO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

How much time do the Vikings give Kalil as bad as he is playing? If they want better qb play they need to start making changes to that o-line sooner than later.

Interesting little article.

A highly touted offensive tackle from a successful college program taken with a top-5 draft pick by a NFC North team that turns out to be an absolute disaster on the field? For those who immediately think "Matt Kalil", this scenario has played out before and long-time followers of the Purple know how it ends.

In 1989, the Green Bay Packers drafted Tony Mandarich out of Michigan State with the 2nd overall pick in the NFL draft. Mandarich, nicknamed "The Incredible Bulk" by Sports Illustrated was everything a team could want. He was 6'6", 330 pounds, with a mean streak. He punished defenders two at a time in college and dominated everyone who went up against him. The Packers drafted Mandarich and expected him to be a stalwart at the offensive tackle position for years to come. But whether it was the rampant steroid use, the addiction to pain-killers, or just Mandarich's inability to transition to the pro game, he was finished with the Packers after his rookie contract expired in 1991 having not played a single down his final year with the team. He is considered one of the all time busts in NFL draft history.

Enter Matt Kalil and the Minnesota Vikings.

In 2012, the Vikings drafted Kalil with the 4th overall draft pick and had penciled him in to be their long-term answer at left tackle. Kalil had the skills and tools to be extremely successful in the NFL: excellent family lineage, quick and nimble feet, deft and agile hands, bulk and power to dominate the run game, and a demeanor that was deemed calm, collected, yet fiery when needed. The team and fanbase were all smiles and Kalil seemed to be as sure of a thing that one could get in a draft pick. He would be the long-term answer at left tackle, tasked to protect young quarterback Christian Ponder's blind side for years to come.

Kalil fired out of the gate with a rookie performance that everyone had hoped for. His powerful run-blocking opened gaping holes that paved the way for running back Adrian Peterson's near record-breaking 2012 season. His pass blocking protected Ponder and the Vikings made an unexpected run to the playoffs with a 10-6 record following a 3-13 season in 2011. He earned a pro-bowl roster spot for the NFC and the future was extremely bright for the young man as a long and successful career seemed to be in the cards.

But everything since that magical season has gone very astray.

Watching Kalil on Sunday, I as a fan cannot even recognize the player that he has become since that astounding rookie year. His feet, once so quick and nimble, have become slow and plodding. He is slow off the ball and has very little burst. His hands, once so deft and agile, now clutch and grab, desperately attempting to maintain contact. He no longer overpowers and drives defenders, and where he once gracefully moved laterally providing protection to his quarterback, he now stands like a statue and flails and punches at his opposing defender as they blow by him toward another sack. Last, but not least, his demeanor that seemed so cool and collected has now turned to fragile and despondent and the fire within him appears to have been doused. Unlike Mandarich, no drug usage has been rumored, but something is definitely amiss with the the hulking left tackle.

Sadly for Kalil and the Vikings, a decision on his future will be necessary soon. His rookie contract expires after next season and what seemed like such a sure re-signing now has question marks and red flags everywhere. General Manager Rick Spielman, slow to admit draft mistakes (see Ponder, Christian for example) may have no choice and, like Mike Holmgren for the Packers in 1991, end the employment of a player he had no intent of ever requiring to do so.

Should that come to pass, the NFC North may add another to the list of all-time draft busts in NFL history.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally I can't understand how you can call a pro-bowl rookie a draft bust. It sounds more like the guy had the tools and was a great draft pick. It sounds more like the coaching staff failed him or he purely self-imploded. He's got the tools to be very good and therefore could be good again.

Did he start dating anybody in the last year?

"Women weaken legs" - Mickey Goldmill

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would not consider him a total bust, but he is playing terrible. I just dont think he has the heart for MN and skunked u might be right about the woman thing. Or perhaps he is carpooling to the games with I am a maroon Ballerina Patterson and they are hot boxing it the whole way in. The effort is not there from either of them.

On the bright side if we did not take him and would have taken one of the other players we probably would have been just as disappointed.

Some notables drafted in that class.

1. Andrew Luck- Future HOF and total no brainer

2. RG3- Talk about a dumpster fire. He has ruined the team/franchise in WASH. Just another stupid scrambling RB playing QB. They gave up a ton to have dismal QB play

3. Trent Richardson to Cleveland. Guys off the street are just as good as this Alabama pie stain

4. Kalil

5. Justin Blackmon- This pie stain doesnt even play anymore (Jacksonville)

6. Morris Claiborne- remember this "shut down" corner barely got his name correct on the wonderlick test. Total bust and Dallas traded up to get him.

7. Mark Barron- Another Alabama bust. This pie stain went to TB, and then was traded to STL and now sits on the bench.

8. Ryan Tannehill- He has been ok for Miami

9. Luke Kuechly- An absolute stud for Carolina

10. Stephen Gilmore- Just a ho-hum CB for Buffalo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried to watch him today, and wow, he just gets beat...and beat....

I can't see him lasting in that position if something doesn't change, big time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont know what has happened to him, but its not good. He showed so much promise after the first year. The o-line coach needs to go whoever that is. The thing with Kalil is that if he can lock you up square you are done. Its the speed around the edge and the sloppy footwork that is owning him. If he gets his hands on you it over though. Not gonna go through him. I would be fine moving him into guard and getting a new LT. That way you need one player, but you are still addressing 40% of the line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ben Leber on KFAN has came out and basically said that Kalil has no where near the proper skill set/physical attributes for Guard and that it is not a possibility to move him there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe he is the Kurt Cobain of NFL LTs. He is just so good that he cant handle it and is gonna squander his talent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe it's his knee injury still lingering. The only thing between his Pro Bowl season and him being owned is injury. Not giving him excuses but going against the fastest rushers in the league with a lingering knee injury wouldn't be the easiest of jobs.

I also heard the Leber comments saying how he doesn't have the body type to play guard. How about trying him at RT where he'd face slower pass rushers instead of LT where he is getting owned by speed, atleast until he's healthy, we really couldn't do any worse trying him in Loadholts spot and trying someone else at LT for now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The opposing team would just rotate the speed rusher over him at Right tackle. About the only team that doesn't have the knowledge or ability to move rushers around on defense is the Vikes. I watched 5 or 6 games on Sunday and they constantly were moving their rushers around to take advantage of mismatches. Kalil is way too slow and lacks any footspeed as well as agility to play guard. He either improves, gets healthy or get rid of him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Moving him over to right tackle would at the least give Bridgewater the chance to see the unblocked rusher coming at him rather than coming from behind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does he even have the ability to guard the bench during games?

I rarely buy a jersey as an adult but after Kalil's rookie year I was walking by the Vikings Shop at MOA and I guess I was in a good mood. I hate the thought of spending money on a jersey, then that player is a bust, traded, career-ending injury, free agent, etc. I'm an OL guy, so I thought, "hell, Kalil is one of the best LT in the league as a rookie, seems like a good kid, he'll probably be in purple for a long long time, seems like a safe jersey to buy!" Wrong... Hopefully the last jersey I'll ever buy, I think it's kinda weird that an adult where's another man's jersey anyways..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.