The future of Matt Kalil

[Superfreak84]

What do you guys think will happen after this season assuming he shows no improvement? I really don't think we can continue with his horrendous play if we have an easy chance to upgrade. I know he's under contract until 2015, but will we find a replacement for him before then?

[PacificNorseWest]

Hard to tell right now. There's still time for him to turn it around, althought I won't hold my breath.

I can see them moving him to another spot on the line if they can draft or get via free agency, a viable replacement at LT.

[Mothman]

I think he's almost a lock to remain their starting left tackle for the duration of his rookie contract. After that, who knows?

[Pondering Her Percy]

I think he's almost a lock to remain their starting left tackle for the duration of his rookie contract. After that, who knows?

I agree!

[fiestavike]

I agree!

I don't agree. I think if he doesn't improve he'll be replaced by somebody, whether they be a free agent, a draft pick or someone already on the roster. I don't see the GM or coach having the patience to have a dud at LT holding back the offensive development.

[Mothman]

I don't agree. I think if he doesn't improve he'll be replaced by somebody, whether they be a free agent, a draft pick or someone already on the roster. I don't see the GM or coach having the patience to have a dud at LT holding back the offensive development.

I have my doubts that they perceive him as a dud. There's no doubt he's had his struggles this season but I still see more good play than bad from him. I think the perception that he's playing awful is being partially driven by the subjective assessment of the seemingly ubiquitous Pro Football Focus (look for articles about Kalil's performance this season and more often that not, you'll see them referenced). Zimmer made his opinion of their analysis clear earlier this season and according to Ben Goessling, he also said he believes "the nature of Kalil's position is causing a greater fuss about Kalil's play than there should be".

Kalil was beat on a pair of sacks on Sunday against New Orleans, a week after he allowed one to New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones, and has allowed more pressures than any other offensive lineman in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. But Zimmer said Kalil has played well for much of the Vikings' first three games, adding that fans and the media are focusing too much on a few bad plays.

"I know everybody has gotten on this Kalil kick and I think it's easy to see some of those things on TV or sitting in the press box or on the field," Zimmer said. "When guys get beat it's easy to see and we've had corners get beat, we've got linebackers that get beat, we've got guards that get beat but everybody is on this Kalil kick."

On Wednesday, it seemed, Zimmer was trying to argue for some perspective on those plays from fans and reporters, perhaps in an effort to lift Kalil's spirits.

"For 93 percent of the game he plays pretty good, but unfortunately the three or four bad plays he has show up and then guys get on him," Zimmer said. "I'm not that discouraged as everybody else is on it. We'll just try and get those four bad plays out of him and just keep going."

Those comments were made back in September but I suspect they're still applicable. I have no doubt the Vikes want to see improvement from Kalil but I do doubt they see his performance in the same light as PFF. I wouldn't be surprised if Kalil is grading out better with his coaches.

Anyway, the Vikes made a big investment in him and I think they're going to be inclined to give him every opportunity to improve, solidify that spot and and earn a contract extension. If he doesn't, they'll likely part ways with him but at this point, they're probably still hoping he's a building block, not a misfire.

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[fiestavike]

I have my doubts that they perceive him as a dud. There's no doubt he's had his struggles this season but I still see more good play than bad from him. I think the perception that he's playing awful is being partially driven by the subjective assessment of the seemingly ubiquitous Pro Football Focus (look for articles about Kalil's performance this season and more often that not, you'll see them referenced). Zimmer made his opinion of their analysis clear earlier this season and according to Ben Goessling, he also said he believes "the nature of Kalil's position is causing a greater fuss about Kalil's play than there should be".
Those comments were made back in September but I suspect they're still applicable. I have no doubt the Vikes want to see improvement from Kalil but I do doubt they see his performance in the same light as PFF. I wouldn't be surprised if Kalil is grading out better with his coaches.

Anyway, the Vikes made a big investment in him and I think they're going to be inclined to give him every opportunity to improve, solidify that spot and and earn a contract extension. If he doesn't, they'll likely part ways with him but at this point, they're probably still hoping he's a building block, not a misfire.

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I don't mean to be inflammatory with a word like "dud" so I'll take that back. Nevertheless, I believe that Kalil is playing worse than Zimmer will acknowledge, and I think if he had a better option, he would already be in there. Just to be clear, I don't base my opinion on PFF, just on my own eyes, and Kalil looks weak, especially in the upper body, and outmatched by pretty much everyone he has gone up against. I think to call his performance so far anything more than terrible (given the standard of an NFL lineman) is to be very generous. He is not alone of course, but to me LT is clearly the single biggest position of need on the roster.

[Pondering Her Percy]

There's no doubt he's had his struggles this season but I still see more good play than bad from him.

This is how I feel as well. If he gives up a hurry or a sack, people snap but when he does what he is suppose to and holds guys in check, nobody says anything. I'm not saying he's playing good by any means because he's not but some are acting like he is the worst LT in the NFL which is not the case whatsoever. He's average right now. I wouldnt put him in the below average category. There is no need to replace him next year. We have other holes that are much bigger. I think they let him play out his rookie contract no doubt. Either way, LG is a much bigger need on this OL.

[Superfreak84]

I hate to say this, it's just my opinion of watching him during the games. It's almost like he doesn't even care about how good or bad he does. The guy was so highly touted coming out and has incredible measurables and athletic ability. Why doesn't he perform at a high level? I get that not all top 5 picks work out, but there doesn't seem to be a real reason (outside of his work ethic) why he wouldn't succeed, or at the very least look average out there!

[fiestavike]

This is how I feel as well. If he gives up a hurry or a sack, people snap but when he does what he is suppose to and holds guys in check, nobody says anything. I'm not saying he's playing good by any means because he's not but some are acting like he is the worst LT in the NFL which is not the case whatsoever. He's average right now. I wouldnt put him in the below average category. There is no need to replace him next year. We have other holes that are much bigger. I think they let him play out his rookie contract no doubt. Either way, LG is a much bigger need on this OL.

except its not just that he gives up a hurry or a sack sometimes, its that he has been consistently so bad (along with the line as a unit) that they have had to adjust the entire offense! And still he can barely block his guy long enough for some of these quick developing plays we are forced to run. Its hard to overstate how bad he has been IMO. I just don't see how a coaching staff can keep a player in there long term who's performance is bad enough that they can't even run their preferred offense with him in the game. IF he doesn't improve I will be shocked if he's starting next year, when they'll have a whole off-season to come up with another option.

[Mothman]

I don't mean to be inflammatory with a word like "dud" so I'll take that back. Nevertheless, I believe that Kalil is playing worse than Zimmer will acknowledge, and I think if he had a better option, he would already be in there. Just to be clear, I don't base my opinion on PFF, just on my own eyes, and Kalil looks weak, especially in the upper body, and outmatched by pretty much everyone he has gone up against. I think to call his performance so far anything more than terrible (given the standard of an NFL lineman) is to be very generous. He is not alone of course, but to me LT is clearly the single biggest position of need on the roster.

Fair enough. I don't think he's been bad enough for me to see LT as the team's biggest need but we all see these things differently. If I remember correctly, you and I had pretty different takes on Khalil Mack prior to the draft too. We just can't quite get on the same page when it comes to players named Kalil (with or without the silent H).

Seriously, it does look like he needs to get stronger (either that or he needs to use his strength more aggressively) but it looks to me like a lot of his bigger mistakes this year may be mental (ie: assignment related) or technical (not lining up to get proper leverage and then betting beat to the inside or outside because he wasn't in position to make the block). That leads me to think they're also correctable.

[fiestavike]

Fair enough. I don't think he's been bad enough for me to see LT as the team's biggest need but we all see these things differently. If I remember correctly, you and I had pretty different takes on Khalil Mack prior to the draft too. We just can't quite get on the same page when it comes to players named Kalil (with or without the silent H).

Seriously, it does look like he needs to get stronger (either that or he needs to use his strength more aggressively) but it looks to me like a lot of his bigger mistakes this year may be mental (ie: assignment related) or technical (not lining up to get proper leverage and then betting beat to the inside or outside because he wasn't in position to make the block). That leads me to think they're also correctable.

Yes, I know we did go a couple rounds on Khalil Mack!

I might end up having to eat crow on that based on reports, but I still haven't seen a raiders game, so I'm not quite ready to do so just yet!

I'm not quite ready to give up on Kalil either. I still think he could improve/correct his issues, but so far he's been rough.

[Mothman]

Yes, I know we did go a couple rounds on Khalil Mack!

I might end up having to eat crow on that based on reports, but I still haven't seen a raiders game, so I'm not quite ready to do so just yet!

I haven't seen one yet either so I'm not exactly prepared to serve the crow.

I'm not quite ready to give up on Kalil either. I still think he could improve/correct his issues, but so far he's been rough.

I agree about that. I've been trying to pay attention to his performance more the last few weeks but your views on him make me think I need to watch him even closer. Perhaps I'm being a little too forgiving...

I just started a thread with a link to an article about "Spielman's 7", the 7 players he's drafted in the first round since 2012. The article discusses Kalil but it's primary focus is on how important it is for the Vikings to develop those players, for them to become the core of a successful team. However, toward the end, it's also clear that there's an understanding out there that not every first round pick works out. Toward the end of the article, former Browns GM Phil Savage is quoted saying "They’ve got to be all-in with these particular players, because if they can hit six out of seven — especially if the quarterback is one of them — then they’ll have a great chance to be competitive, for sure.”

It's tough to hit on every pick, even every first round pick, and with 7 in 3 years, odds are good that at least one of them probably won't pan out. Maybe that one will turn out to be Kalil, although I hope not. I'd rather see the Vikes defy the odds and hit on all 7.

[fiestavike]

I haven't seen one yet either so I'm not exactly prepared to serve the crow.
I agree about that. I've been trying to pay attention to his performance more the last few weeks but your views on him make me think I need to watch him even closer. Perhaps I'm being a little too forgiving...

I just started a thread with a link to an article about "Spielman's 7", the 7 players he's drafted in the first round since 2012. The article discusses Kalil but it's primary focus is on how important it is for the Vikings to develop those players, for them to become the core of a successful team. However, toward the end, it's also clear that there's an understanding out there that not every first round pick works out. Toward the end of the article, former Browns GM Phil Savage is quoted saying "They’ve got to be all-in with these particular players, because if they can hit six out of seven — especially if the quarterback is one of them — then they’ll have a great chance to be competitive, for sure.”

It's tough to hit on every pick, even every first round pick, and with 7 in 3 years, odds are good that at least one of them probably won't pan out. Maybe that one will turn out to be Kalil, although I hope not. I'd rather see the Vikes defy the odds and hit on all 7.

That was a good read. I'm encouraged by most of those 7 players, although there are still a few question marks. But when you add in guys like Josh Robinson and Brandon Fusco, or even guys that have shown something promising like Hodges, Shamar Stephen, Jarius Wright, possibly Robert Blanton, I'd be pretty happy with 6 of 7 panning out!

I would say that I am sold on Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith, and Anthony Barr. The question marks are Floyd, Patterson and Bridgewater. I am VERY optimistic about all three, and Floyd's last couple weeks almost make me want to list him with the first group. If Kalil somehow turns it around, I do think this group, along with solid mid round pics will provide us with an unbelievable foundation.

I'm still pretty bullish on the Vikings, just not so much about Kalil, but man I would LOVE it if he can turn it around.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I don't think he's been bad enough for me to see LT as the team's biggest need

Exactly what I'm saying!!