LT Matt Kalil - Why He Regressed, And Why He Will Be Back

[Saca312]

 

In the case you live under a rock, the Panthers have signed Matt Kalil to a pretty hefty deal: 5 years with 25 million guaranteed. Considering the fact he's been anything but productive lately, one could argue this signing makes no sense.

However, once you consider what led to his regression, the puzzle pieces seem to fit together nicely. From Voth, here's some quote snippets into why everyone should be confident Matt Kalil will be back, along with my own commentary:

http://blackandbluereview.com/quotes-note-matt-ryan-kalil/

Matt Kalil

Quote

On getting a change of scenery

My first couple years with the Vikings was good, but I think I never progressed the way I should have. I don’t know what that’s attributed to. That’s not all on other people, that’s on me as well. There’s been a lot of players that have changed scenery and have met that potential that everyone’s been talking about. … I think it’s all for the best. It’s kind of reigniting that fire that I lost for a little bit. I’m just excited to be a part of this organization and see what I can do on the field, especially being 100 percent healthy and feeling the best I’ve felt in a while.

In here, Matt Kalil insinuates part of his regression was due to the incompetent talent surrounding him. He mentions that changes in scenery occurred during multiple phases of his time with the Vikings, and attributes some of that regression to that as well. He also takes some of the blame on him, knowing he is better than what his past few seasons have shown.

However, I want you to pay attention to the last part. 

"...being 100 percent healthy and feeling the best I've felt in a while."

So, it's apparent that something has hindered Matt Kalil the past few years injury-wise. Yet, he appears to be saying that's in the past now. 

How so, and what was the cause?

Quote

On his injuries the past few years, including a labrum tear in his right hip

It’s something I’ve had since college, so it was something that progressed and got worse. But it got to the point where they went in there, they fixed it, and now this hip feels the best it’s ever felt in a long time, even since college. Now that that’s kind out of the way, I’ve been doing some workouts and things like that. Quickness that I haven’t had in a while has come back and that’s exciting.

This is significant. He mentions having a labrum tear in his right hip that progressed since college. This would explain the slow and inevitable decline Kalil underwent lately. He went through surgery for it, and says he feels fast and quick. 

So, what kind of surgery did he go through, and what was wrong with the hip?

Quote

On the nature of the injury

My ball joint in my hip was misshapen. It sounds like a major surgery, but it’s actually not that hard to fix if you go to the right guy. They just got to kind of reshape that bone so it doesn’t grind down in your joint. (They) went in there, made the joint round, cleaned up the labrum, and that’s about it. Everything’s moving the right way. Everything feels great. I just got cleared by the doctors, so everything’s been going real well.

He says the surgery he went through wasn't difficult at all. It went completely well, and he's feeling fantastic. It sounds like it was a regressive issue that was treatable rather than an injury one could simply have reoccur. He says he feels quite great now.

Not only that, he feels like he's in his best shape since college. That right there should be very comforting. If he truly feels good, it's just a matter of realigning technique to his newfound physical burst to finally put the pieces together for a turnaround season.

This is certainly achievable, and I truly believe this was the root cause of his regression. If he's fully healthy (knowing modern medicine, it's very likely he is), I can assure you we finally found our franchise LT for a good price.

So, how will he build up his technique?

Quote

On Offensive Line Coach John Matsko

I think Matsko is one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, and I wanted to go to a team that is going to make me play to the best of my ability and kind of break me out of my shell.

He notices we have talent when it comes to position coaches, and believes Matsko is one of the best. He has dreams and hopes of being able to finally burst that shell he's surrounded by, and achieve greatness. He believes Matsko will be just the guy to get him on track.

If Matsko is able to turn Oher into a great LT, there's no doubt he'll get Kalil right back on track. Surrounded by a very talented interior, there's no doubt Kalil will thrive on our team.

So, what does Ryan Kalil think about Matt Kalil turning around his season?

Ryan Kalil

Quote

On the confidence he has that his brother can bounce back from some disappointing seasons

You can’t ignore the amount of positive tape on him. … They spent countless hours — Mr. Gettleman, he’s a former scout, that’s what he’s done his whole life. I know he spent a lot of time watching the tape on Matt and he was more excited about the good than any of the inconsistencies that he’s had that goes along with some of those bad seasons.

What I like is that Ryan Kalil attempts to show a point of view where no one could call bias on him. Everyone knows he's Matt Kalil's brother, and everyone knows he obviously wanted Matt Kalil to come on the Panthers.

Even so, Ryan Kalil differs his opinion to originate from another source: Gettleman.

He makes known that Gettleman saw the potential in Matt Kalil. Likely understanding the situation of Matt Kalil's hip injury, and his speedy recovery, Gettleman likely feels Matt Kalil will finally have the physical traits to achieve what he wow'd the NFL with in his rookie season. 

Ryan Kalil talks of Gettleman's credibility as a scout, and how Gettleman sees that Matt Kalil has more potential out of anyone in this FA class.

What this also verifies is the question "why even go so hard for him?" Gettleman went for Kalil because he knows he'll be back. He acknowledges his hip is healing up, and the Vikings also figured that out. High figures and numbers were thrown because of such, but Gettleman persisted. He sees something in Matt Kalil, and I can assure you that we'll see what Gettleman sees this season.

Ryan Kalil does the great thing of showing another person's opinion rather than his to really show an unbiased view of his brother.

So, what's Kalil's opinion of Matt Kalil's injury?

Quote

The other thing I’ll say about Kalils is he did this in his fifth season. I went on IR in my fifth season and then it took another five years for me to go on IR again. So Kalils are good — we break every five years. They got a good lease on him for five.

Turns that into quite the humorous joke. Gotta love that.

Bottom-Line

With his hip feeling 100%, and Ryan Kalil + Matt Kalil feeling that injury is not hindering him anymore, there's potential for Matt to finally achieve being an NFL franchise left tackle. With confidence from our staff and team, I believe Matt Kalil has everything set for him to finally achieve that next level.

With good coaches, teammates, and locker room culture, there's no doubt that the Kalil brothers may be something we talk about for the years to come.

 

[The Huddler]

Thanks my man! 

 

For the interview and to good comentary

 

in the meantime, like MOST of us mother fukas on here, I celebrate tonight !!!!

 

 

Keep Pounding! 

we will be BACKKK

[Doc Holiday]

Ain't gonna lie, that hip issue hasme concerned, as someone who has had few surgeries before, no way there isn't a negative to that. They also probably knew about the issue a long time ago, but didn't do anything about it till they absolutely had to do something about it. 

[JawnyBlaze]

Great post. I hope you're right, but the "I feel the best I've felt since college" line is one of the more worn out cliches in football.  I hope everything STAYS feeling that good.  I do have a good feeling about this and think he'll work out. My realistic expectation is that he is a slightly better Oher that doesn't get a career ending concussion. 

[Nails]

Didn't read yet but thumbs up for the time and effort.  Hope you're right!

[davos]

Someone's giving Zordon a run for his money 

[Ship]

10 minutes ago, Doc Holiday said:

Ain't gonna lie, that hip issue hasme concerned, as someone who has had few surgeries before, no way there isn't a negative to that. They also probably knew about the issue a long time ago, but didn't do anything about it till they absolutely had to do something about it. 

it's interesting to read about from his point of view, because my dad had that same thing except he found out about it when he was like 60. he ended up having to have both hips done and it took him a long time to fully walk again comfortably.

my dad's bone was so gone that they replaced it with metal, but a complication is that it could grow back. not sure if that's only when part of the bone is removed or if it could even occur after shaving it. that could lead to future surgeries.

also, this might not have affected kalil much yet, but the longer it goes untreated, the longer the bone scrapes out the tissue that cushions it. my dad's tissue was totally gone, so i wonder if because kalil is still fairly young that not much damage was done there. if its bad, it turns into bone scraping on bone, which is not good for an athlete.

another thing is that he apparently only got one done, so i wonder if the other one might need work at some point in the future.

[The Huddler]

I really truly do have a gut feeling Matt becomes our franchise LT and It'll be a great story that us fans can enjoy for many, many years. 

 

 

and a heart ache and face palm for the Vikings

[Saca312]

7 hours ago, JawnyBlaze said:

Great post. I hope you're right, but the "I feel the best I've felt since college" line is one of the more worn out cliches in football.  I hope everything STAYS feeling that good.  I do have a good feeling about this and think he'll work out. My realistic expectation is that he is a slightly better Oher that doesn't get a career ending concussion. 

Yeah. Personally, I'm gonna set my expectations for him pretty low. Injuries are still tough to comeback from in any situation.

However, I just have this feeling he'll have a turning point in his career and truly make himself a name.

[PandaPancake]

Long read but it's not like any player ever came to Carolina to reignite their career.

[2jakefansinva]

So he's been good and bad with One good hip......

Lets see how he plays with Two good hips.

expecting great things

[Saca312]

1 hour ago, 2jakefansinva said:

So he's been good and bad with One good hip......

Lets see how he plays with Two good hips.

expecting great things

Hoping he recovered well from it. I wouldn't doubt it one bit with the way they're asserting themselves.

[PanthersBigD]

A labrum tear is serious, but the corrective surgery has a very high success rate. He's had the time to let it heal and rehab it. It should be good as new. I'm very optimistic about his prospects here.


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[MHS831]

That pic is the new program cover btw.