—
Before last month’s minicamp in Eden Prairie, veteran defensive end Jared Allen sought out rookie tackle Matt Kalil, eager to welcome him to the team.
It’s safe to say that Allen and Kalil will get to see each other quite a bit during training camp, lining up against each other every time the starting units tangle.
“He came up to me right away and introduced himself, which I thought was pretty cool,” Kalil said. “He told me that he was going to help me become a better player. If I’m going against the best defensive end in the NFL, it should be a lot easier come game time.”
Kalil, at 6-foot-7 and 308 pounds, was the No. 4 selection in this spring’s draft and the first lineman taken. He passes the eye test, tall and thick, but he’s said to have the speed and quickness to defend the top pass rushers and block in space. The Vikings established him as the starter at left tackle minutes after drafting him, hoping to have solved that position for the next decade.
“I’m definitely getting more acclimated to the NFL,” he said after one of the team’s OTA’s this spring. “Getting reps with the (starters), I’m getting more comfortable every day.”
Kalil’s prowess seems to be in pass-blocking, though he said he needs to improve on every aspect of the position. At his height, it takes a little more work to get low to take on the defensive tackles and linebackers in the run game.
“From high school to college to the NFL, you’re always adjusting to the speed of the game,” he said. “The players are bigger and faster, so you always have to look for ways to do things better.”
Kalil, the younger brother of Carolina Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil, is a major part of the overhaul of the Vikings offensive line. With Kalil at left tackle, Charlie Johnson moves inside to guard with John Sullivan back at center.
The right tackle will be Phil Loadholt, whose play has been enigmatic over his first two seasons. The right guard position is undecided, though it will be someone who didn’t start there last season.
“I think we have a starting left tackle who will solidify that position for many years,” coach Leslie Frazier said. “We are excited about Matt’s future.”
Kalil is also excited about the future, fitting in with his new teammates. It’s possible that Sullivan and Loadholt know a little something about blocking top defensive linemen, such as Allen, so that Kalil can win a few of those training-camp battles.
“Everyone has been willing to help me,” Kalil said. “It makes it a lot easier to have veterans you can ask questions.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Matt Kalil (center) with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft. Kalil is projected to start at left tackle. John Cross
Related Links
July 21, 2012
With Kalil, Vikings offense heads in new direction
- Sports
-
-
East's Ziegler commits to MSU
Junior power forward/center will join women's basketball program in 2014
Continued ... - MSU OL coach leaves for North Dakota
- Saints' Carpenter chooses Waldorf
- MSU baseball players add more accolades
- East, Clause come through at Big Nine
-
East's Ziegler commits to MSU
- Outdoors
- Latest auto racing news
George: I slipped up
LeBron, Wade on OT win
Hill responds after Game 1 loss to Heat
Vogel: We've got to play better
Spoelstra: Welcome to the Eastern Conference Finals
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Coach's quick call saves Moore football team
Sergio Garcia issues an apology to Tiger Woods
Sergio Garcia makes insensitive remark about Tiger Woods
Athletes come to aid of Oklahoma tornado victims
Tiger Woods on his relationship with Sergio Garcia
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Race Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Behind the Seams: Big Spenders are Busts
Red Wings take 2-1 series lead
McReynolds: Johnson Coca-Cola 600 favorite?
McReynolds: 48 Team primed for Chase
