How Good/Important is Kalil?

[Achilles]

I was recently watching an interview with Rivera on another thread...

and he said something that stuck in my mind. Basically he was talking about Cam's poise and mentioned the fact that Kalil makes the "heads up" protection calls for the offensive line. RR said that that has helped Cam tremendously in his pre-snap reads. He implied that this has been one major key to the success of the passing offense.

Kalil, from all I've read and seen, has to be one of the smartest players on this team. I think he is having a pro bowl season. He's under cotract, so props to Hurney for that...

Is Kalil the best center in the league? NFC? NFC south? How important is he to this team?

Discuss. Thanks.

[Rags]

Jeff Saturday and Nick Mangold are probably the only centers in the NFL better than him right now

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

He is probably the most overlooked player on our team. Saturday and Mangold are names football fans reconize, however your average football fan has no clue who Kalil is, hell our whole O-line probably falls in that category. They wont be next year when the entire O-line is in the pro bowl.

[iamcline]

Jeff Saturday and Nick Mangold are probably the only centers in the NFL better than him right now

I wouldn't even go that far. I believe it is a dead heat between Kalil and Mangold. Saturday was a lot better with Manning if you get my drift.

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

I wouldn't even go that far. I believe it is a dead heat between Kalil and Mangold. Saturday was a lot better with Manning if you get my drift.

I would disagree, Saturday is a class act, his job is getting done no matter who's got their hands between his legs.

[iamcline]

I would disagree, Saturday is a class act, his job is getting done no matter who's got their hands between his legs.

Oh for sure I still think he's a Top 5 center, but he's not as good as years past. If there were two premier centers I had to pick from, it would be Mangold and Kalil.

[jtnc]

Jeff Saturday and Nick Mangold are probably the only centers in the NFL better than him right now

Saturday has given up sacks this year, Mangold and Kalil have not, in fact Kalil has only given up 7 sacks his whole career so far.

[Guest Irv]

i went here and it told me all i needed to know about ryan kalil

Ryan kalil Top 5 center

[Catalyst]

IMO, it's Mangold then Kalil, followed by everyone else. There are some good young centers coming up, though. Plus, Chris Myers is playing VERY well in Houston and has become one of the top centers in the game as well.

[Fiz]

Saturday is like 8,000 years old and can barely get out of bed jesus christ people

[DawgzLife]

Jeff Saturday and Nick Mangold are probably the only centers in the NFL better than him right now

Agreed. Kalil is finally starting to get the league recongnition he deserves too...albeit a little delayed. He is major important to our team & the way our OL plays.

Wouldn't it be nice to have him & his bro on our OL? That would be awesome!

[DawgzLife]

Saturday has given up sacks this year, Mangold and Kalil have not, in fact Kalil has only given up 7 sacks his whole career so far.

I'm not disagreeing with anyone at all about Kalil or that he is 1 of the top in the league.

One of the things people have to remember tho when you look at sacks attributed to Centers is the fact that the guards make or break the centers too (a missed assignment by a guard can be attributed to the center).

The center still carries the bulk of the responsibility, b/c he has to get the right call in, but the guards have to execute as well for a sack to not be attributed to a center...we have to give props to Wharton & the carousel at RG too. We are lucky to have Kalil.

[Ruff]

I would say that Kalil is one of the top 2 Centers in the NFL. I'm not sure who would be number one. Scott Wells, from Green Bay, is up there.

As well as Casey Wiegmann. Wiegmann hasn't missed a snap in a decade. A single snap. He has 10,500+ consecutive snaps made. That's mind blowing.

[Chaos]

Unfortunately, the only way to truly recognize the importance/value of Kalil would be for him to not be on the field - then you'd see it. None of us want that.