Minnesota Vikings OT Matt Kalil talks about first practice in NFL - NFL News
It seems that entering into practice with a National Football League (NFL) team is a bit different to what recent draft picks were used to during their college careers as the level of intensity and difficulty significantly increases at the professional level.
That is exactly what offensive tackle, Matt Kalil found when he took his first practice with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings picked Kalil fourth overall in this year’s drafts and have already pushed him for a starting role during the upcoming 2012-13 season.
Speaking to the NFL Network on Friday, Kalil stated that his first practice felt like his first day of practice at his college team.
"It is a little bit like the freshman year at college again. I felt a lot better at the second practice and look forward to getting better every day."
He also said that the speed of the game is the biggest difference he has felt between the college game and in the NFL.
"I think you as go from each level -- from high school to college, from college to the NFL -- it's the speed."
Adding further he said.
"Going against, you know, grown men who have families is definitely going to be a change.”
The Vikings had a big hole to fill at the left tackle position and Kalil’s arrival will be a great boost to the team’s offensive line which struggled massively to score points last year.
Injury to star running back, Adrian Peterson also did not help their cause and the team collapsed to a woeful 3-13 season.
The young University of Southern California graduate will also help quarterback, Christian Ponder to become better and give a better account of himself than last year.
Ponder struggled in his rookie season and a lack of protection from the rush was a big factor in his poor performance on the field.
Hopefully Kalil’s arrival in the line will give the quarterback the peace of mind he needs to concentrate in the pocket.
This year the Vikings are concentrating on returning back to the playoffs after one of the worst season’s for the franchise.
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