OT Matt Kalil USC

Matt Kalil posesses a rare blend of size an athleticism that make him a unique physical specimen and potential franchise LT

Grading Scale:

1. Poor
2. Average
3. Above Average
4. Very Good
5. Elite

 

Measurables:

Matt Kalil possesses great size and length to man the position of LT in the NFL, standing 6-6 295 lbs. Kalil’s stature is physically imposing and even stands the ability to add needed weight and muscle if need be. He has extremely long arms, giving him a physical blocking advantage with a radius to keep oncoming pass rushers away from his body and his QB. Kalil could stand to add some lower body weight and strength, particularly in his hind end where he is a little flat on the backside. Matt’s height is also extremely good for a potential franchise LT and exactly the type of stature you look for in the guy responsible for protecting your teams’ greatest asset. The only reason I can’t rate Kalil as an elite physical specimen in this category is because of his lack of weight on the backside. However, I believe with time and leading up to the draft we will see Kalil add the necessary weight and possess the impressive wingspan that make him a top flight LT as far as his height and weight is concerned. For now I give Kalil a very good to elite grade in this category, but believe he comes much closer to elite once the official measurables start coming out this draft season.

 Grade: 4.5

Pass Blocking:

Matt Kalil is an extremely gifted athlete for a man his size, which is incredibly rare and hard to find in looking for a franchise LT. This is one of the things that makes Kalil such a valued commodity in scouting circles and NFL teams league-wide. His footwork is excellent and he utilizes his impressive stature and long arms to wall-off pass rushers and showcases the type of footwork, leverage, and athleticism to steer his opponent past his QB on pass rushers that threaten the edge. Kalil also shows the type of balance and patience when setting into his pass protection, always waiting for his opponent to come to him and then beating him with his impressive length and overall technique. Very rarely will you see Matt become off-balanced and let his opponent get the best of him. Matt’s technique is very solid as he plays with proper knee bend and a nice wide base while showing the ability to anchor when defenders threaten to bull-rush. Another area in pass protection Kalil excels at is his ability to slide and mirror his defender. He showcases good overall lateral agility in moving left and right, which makes him extremely effective and hard to get around as a pass rusher. One area Kalil could stand to improve on involves over-setting and giving up or making him susceptible to getting beat inside. Although this happens very rarely, Kalil will have to improve in this area to make him less susceptible to pass rushers who flash the necessary quickness and athleticism to fake outside and come inside ala Dwight Freeny. Despite all this Kalil most definitely has the type of athleticism to recover when beaten initially by gifted pass rushers who can keep Matt off Balance by mixing in a combination of speed and power rush moves. Matt Kalil is not over powering but showcases more than enough physical strength to stymie his defender with a jolting punch move. Matt has very fast hands that allow him to get into his defenders body, however I would not consider him to play with violent hands as he is more inclined to beating you with his sound technique and physical advantage. It is very easy to see when watching Kalil pass block why he is considered a potential franchise LT.

 Grade: 4.5

Run Blocking:

Run blocking is an area of Kalil’s game that needs some polish, but he most definitely is above average in this category and somewhat under-rated by many in this regard. We have already spoken at length about Kalil’s impressive athleticism which also helps him out when asked to open up holes in the running game. Matt has the ability to pull and get out on the edge to block downfield, while showcasing the ability to take good angles, lock on to a moving defender, and take them out of the play. This is extremely beneficial to teams that look to get their runners outside on designed sweep and toss plays, knowing they have a more than competent athlete to get outside and throw a block to spring the RB through the 2nd level of the defense. An area Kalil could improve on involves his tendency to not finish blocks all the way through the whistle as he sometimes pulls up before the play is truly over. At times it seems Matt is dis-interested and does not play with the type of tenacity and aggressiveness you want in a power run blocker. Another area Kalil could stand to improve involves his tendency to push/shove and lean into his defender, rather than drive them out of the play with his feet. Although this is rare as well, I have seen Kalil do this from time to time when he believes he can get away with it. An area where Matt can excel in the run game is when asked to use kick out, seal, or angle blocks that allow him to seal the edge and open up running lanes for his RB. Here he is given the ability to drive his hands up under the shoulder pads of his opponent and really drive them out of the play with great leverage and hand usage. I know Kalil has the ability to be an extremely gifted run blocker if he wants to be, it will be up to him to really refine and work on this part of his game. When asked to get to the 2nd level Kalil shows more than enough physical and mental make-up to get the job done. However, he looks a little hesitant to find his defender and lock on as he needs to keep his eyes engaged and head on a swivel to neutralize threats at the 2nd level. Up to this point I have seen times where Kalil does not display the type of passion or enthusiasm in the run game, but also believe he will become more consistent with this and show to be an above average to very good run blocker in the NFL given proper instruction and time to develop.

 Grade: 4

Awareness/Intangibles:

Matt Kalil comes from a strong background of football players. His is the brother of starting and All-Pro Center Ryan Kalil who was drafted in the 2nd round by the Carolina Panthers in 2007. It should also be noted that it was Kalil who kept freakishly gifted athlete and former USC OT Tyron Smith at RT, even though he would go on to become a top 10 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. This is the type of heritage and background scouts love to see as it shows his unique bloodlines as well as his ability to match up with other highly talented players at his position. As I had said in the previous category Kalil could stand to show some more awareness when run blocking at the 2nd level by keeping his head on a swivel while looking to make his next block. However, Matt consistently showcases superior awareness in neutralizing the defender that threatens his area. I have noticed that as the play breaks down Kalil does sometimes lose awareness for where his quarterback is relative to him in space. This is one area I would like to see improvement from Kalil, but it hardly affects his overall grade because of his outstanding ability to pass and run block.

 Grade: 4.25

Toughness/Mean Streak & Tenacity:

When watching film of Matt Kalil it is obvious to see the desire and pride he takes in being an excellent blocker. As I have said I would like to see him play with a little more mean streak in the run game and finish his blocks, however he showcases the type of mental make-up and drive you look for in a franchise LT. I have seen flashes of greatness when he puts it all together and works hard when challenged by his coaches or opposing players. This mean streak and passion shines through in big ways when he plays up to the level he is capable of and showcases the type of toughness and tenacity that intimidates his opponents.

 Grade: 4

Overall Grade/Total Score:

21.25/5 = 4.25

Very Good-Elite

Projection:

Matt Kalil is a plug and play starting LT right now. I do believe it could take a little time before he becomes truly acclimated with the speed of the game in the NFL, but he showcases the natural and physical abilities to overcome this and eventually turn into a top flight LT. Not many athletes are blessed with his type of size and athleticism, which makes him a uniquely rare NFL prospect and a player who deserves his top 5 consideration in the upcoming NFL draft. I give Matt Kalil my official stamp of approval.

– Thanks for reading my report-

-Brandon