This just in: Ryan Kalil is really good; will get better.

In case you don't want to read the entire article (The NFC South is the last division listed):

He’s only 26 and he’s been to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons, despite playing on bad teams. Scouts, coaches and players around the league will tell you he’s one of the two or three best centers in the league and his reputation will grow rapidly if Carolina can make some improvements after last year’s 2-14 season.

The Panthers already placed the franchise tag on Kalil for this year in an effort to make sure he doesn’t get away. They view him as the emerging anchor of their offensive line as Jordan Gross gets older.

At some point, the Panthers will lock Kalil up to a big long-term deal. There’s a reason for that. They just drafted Cam Newton, whom they view as their franchise quarterback. They want to make sure he’s receiving snaps from and being protected by a franchise center.

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On top of that...

He’s also an excellent author of tweets containing entertaining and impressive Photoshop work. =)

How awesome would it be if we could snag his younger brother, Matt? From what I understand, many people think he’s the more talented of the two – and that’s saying a lot. The likelihood of that happening is slim, but it’s a thought. =)

"One play can win a game, but one play cannot lose a game." - Coach Peterson, Boise St.

"When you get into coaching, you strive to be a Super Bowl-winning head coach. That’s what my goal is, to come here and become a Super Bowl-winning head coach and to sustain an atmosphere of winning." - Ron Rivera

by jamiedk on Jul 17, 2011 10:41 AM EDT reply actions

His brother plays LT.

Which requires a lot more than center. Just the nature of the positions. At this point his brother is regarded as a top five pick, so if we are as bad as the experts say we’ll be we should have a shot. The college season still needs to be played though, so who knows?

Yes I'm a dude.

by Flowing Willow on Jul 17, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Thing is, if we had a shot at him, where would he play? Gross isn’t at the age yet where he is going to give out any day now (though he might be another false start penalty away from a benching…).

Proud Member of Cat Scratch Reader and coiner of the (minus Bowers) meme

by Ivan459 on Jul 17, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, Ivan. S'up?

I suspect that where he a Panther, Matt Kalil would be slotted at right tackle. When the time came for Gross to move then Kalil would shift to the left side. It’s fun to think about an Oline like that with Otah moved inside to guard.

by GooseCreek on Jul 17, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey Goose. That makes sense. Just seems like if we were to get him, he’d probably end up playing that RT position for a while. Seems to me Gross may have quite a bit left in the tank.

Would still love to have to Kalil’s on the O-line though…

Proud Member of Cat Scratch Reader and coiner of the (minus Bowers) meme

by Ivan459 on Jul 17, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I posted a fan post about Matt Kalil a while back

I’d kill to have both brothers on the oline. I see it shaping up like this:

Gross, Wharton, R.Kalil, Otah, M.Kalil.

It’d be nasty.

by BusyBeingAwesome on Jul 18, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

In unfortunate news...

Shortly following Matt Kalil’s drafting, Otah suffers a second tear in his labrum after picking up an extra-heavy doughnut, filled with extra jelly, that Davidson had left in the weight room.

Gross, Wharton, R. Kalil, ~~Otah~~ Schwartz, M. Kalil

Fixed if for you, BBA. =)

"One play can win a game, but one play cannot lose a game." - Coach Peterson, Boise St.

by jamiedk on Jul 18, 2011 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

Thanks, Jamie. That seems more plausible ;)

by BusyBeingAwesome on Jul 19, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I was just thinking that.

Gross is 31, so we’ve got probably 3-4 more years of peak production. That’s a long time for Kalil to sit on the bench. I’ve got a lot more faith in Otah than many, plus I think Kalil could be kind of miscast at RT. It’s a neat idea to have them both, but I’m not sure it’s possible, unless his stock takes a HUGE tumble.

Yes I'm a dude.

by Flowing Willow on Jul 18, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I mean, he would still be a great addition nearly anywhere on the line, but that is a long time for him to play at an unnatural position for him.

Proud Member of Cat Scratch Reader and coiner of the (minus Bowers) meme

by Ivan459 on Jul 18, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually think Gross could be better suited for RT.

I remember early on he made some comment about feeling most natural there.

by BusyBeingAwesome on Jul 18, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Play him (Matt Kalil) at Right Guard

A right guard pass blocks INSIDE toward the center, toward his left. A left tackle does the same thing, moving the defensive end to his left, only outside and away from the QB.
You do the same thing when you move a left tackle, like Robert Gallery to right guard.
The Cats moved Travelle Wharton from left tackle to left guard. It worked. I’m not complaining!

by criolle johnny on Aug 5, 2011 1:03 PM EDT reply actions