2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

March 27, 2012 @ 16:20:09

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Keith Hernandez

Southern California offensive tackle Matt Kalil enters the 2012 NFL Draft as a junior and the top-rated player at his position.

He started all 13 games as a sophomore in 2010 and did not allow a sack in 2011.

As good as it gets?

Strengths

• Good size (6-foot-6 3/8, 306 pounds)
• Impressive footwork
• NFL bloodlines (father, brother)
• Great athleticism
• Run blocking - a downhill mauler
• Strong, patient pass protector - rarely allows a defender to get past him on the outside
• Understands how to use a defender's momentum against him
• Blocks well in open space - athletic enough to get downfield in a hurry
• Legitimate NFL left tackle
• Has a nasty streak about him
• Tremendous upside

Weaknesses

• Quarterback Matt Barkley may have made him look a little better than he is
• Can struggle against inside rip moves
• Somewhat inexperienced
• May be just a tad on the slim side for his height but has room to add muscle

Expected draft placement

Kalil is likely to go as high as the No. 3 pick to the Minnesota Vikings and is highly unlikely to slide past the St. Louis Rams at No. 6.

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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