“The only thing he can block is someone on Twitter,” said one football fan on Twitter when talking about former Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil.
While the Vikings are enjoying the fruits of new left tackle Riley Reiff’s labor, the Carolina Panthers, specifically Cam Newton, are getting to know what life under Kalil’s watch is like.
In short, life is very hard.
#Vikings are no worse off with Mike Remmers than Matt Kalil (#75). #DemandExcellence pic.twitter.com/kZZHNQV9ia
— Kevin Brown (@KevinBrownNFL) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/PanthersSource/status/912132201453641729
there's the matt kalil we know and love pic.twitter.com/llUUEqyZlT
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) September 18, 2017
USA Today points out some stats from Pro Football Focus, and they’re not good for Kalil.
Kalil’s PFF grade is 38.2, which ranks 61st out of 72 players. Minnesota’s new tackles, Riley Reiff, who’s playing the same position as Kalil, is 18th with a 78.6 grade. Right tackle Mike Remmers is 19th in the NFL with a 77.9 mark.
It’s so bad for Kalil in Carolina that bloggers are already begging to have him benched. This from Carolina Huddle:
“The fact that he did not even see the Saints’ best defensive end lined up across from him early in the game is all the information anyone should need. If Kalil does not improve, and in a hurry, it is time to see what Taylor Moton is capable of.”
In fairness, Kalil was credited with two sacks allowed on Sunday against the Saints, but a film review by The Hog Molly Report says Newton was to blame for one of them.
Kalil signed a five-year, $55.5 million deal ($31 million guaranteed) with Carolina last summer after spending his first five years with the Vikings.
