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In the third of a four-part seriesleading up to the draft, The Post looks at running backs and offensive linemen. Next week: quarterbacks and defensive backs.
Matt Kalil seems preordained to be one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles, both by bloodline and alma mater.
Considered by far the best line prospect in the April 26-28 draft, the USC product is following in the footsteps of his father, brother and a conga line of former Trojans who went on to enjoy memorable NFL careers at his position.
But if the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Kalil considers that trail daunting, he certainly isn’t showing it.
“I would definitely say I am the best tackle in the draft,” Kalil said at the February scouting combine. “[Teams] want to hear that you do think you’re the best tackle, and I think I am. And I’m ready to take my game to the next level.”
Strong stuff, especially since brother Ryan Kalil of the Panthers arguably is the best center in the NFC and up there with the Jets’ Nick Mangold for the title of best in the league.
Matt Kalil also is coming to the league as an early entry, but there appears to be little undeveloped about his game. lthough other tackles have quicker feet, Kalil plays the tackle position naturally and is so fluid that he makes it look easy at times.
Kalil is even a terror on special teams, blocking four field-goal attempts last season for the Trojans. One of those blocks saved a 17-14 Week 2 victory over Utah.
“He’s so good the he falls asleep occasionally,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said.
Kalil merely is the headliner of this year’s deep class of offensive linemen, a terrific group that includes Iowa’s Riley Reiff and Stanford teammates David DeCastro (guard) and Jonathan Martin (tackle) among the top five.
Reiff is considered a slightly better overall athlete than Kalil (as witnessed by the 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle being able to outrun the IowaCity police for 20 minutes in 2008 in hopes of avoiding a publicintoxication citation), but look for the first round to be filled with line selections this year.
Size at tackle especially is abundant. An astounding 14 of the top 20 tackle prospects on one NFC team’s draft board stand 6-6 or taller.
Running back, on the other hand, practically looks like a desert in comparison. Just one runner — Alabama’s Trent Richardson
— is getting a certain first-round grade, and both the Browns and Rams find themselves receiving flak from some draft analysts for considering him with picks in the top six.
Richardson frequently is compared with Emmitt Smith, although mostly because Richardson is small (5-foot- 9) and lacks in breakaway speed (pedestrian 4.6 40-yard dash at his pro day).
The explosion in passing records in the NFL last season also doesn’t bode well for draft positioning or the future prospects of the running backs this year, as more teams de-emphasize the position or opt for a backfield-by-committee.
That probably is just as well, because the players beneath Richardson in the position ratings don’t inspire awe. Boise State’s Doug Martin and Lamar Miller of Miami are the nextbest prospects but won’t hear their names in the first round.