Kalil & Co. may finally deliver on center’s 2012 title promise in Charlotte newspaper
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The ad ran on a full page in the Charlotte Observer, and Ryan Kalil wrote every word of it, all 14 para - graphs. It came out right before training camp prior to the 2012 season and Kalil’s message, while not brief, certainly was clear to anyone who saw it.
Heck, Kalil could have saved himself some money by taking out a much smaller ad, printing only the title he chose: “Why the Panthers will win Super Bowl XLVII.’’
No, the Panthers, despite the overt optimism of their center, did not win the Super Bowl that season. They didn’t even make the playoffs — going 7-9 with Kalil play- ing just five games because of a Lisfranc injury. But three years later, they are not only in it, but favored to beat the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
It will be up to Kalil and his offensive linemen teammates to keep the ravenous Denver defensive front from abusing Cam Newton the way the Broncos punished Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game. After nine years with the Panthers, the confidence Kalil’s displayed with the newspaper advertisement was a bit premature, but now it is close to becoming reality.
“That particular season I took that ad out, you know a lot of people said we wouldn’ t win more than three games, and I didn’t believe that,’’ Kalil said. “And I don’t have a problem with people having that opinion. But the problem I had was I felt a lot of our teammates were buying into that. So a lot of foot bal l teams ever y year, every training camp, they get together, they talk about ‘listen, we’re gonna win the Super Bowl. This is the year we’re gonna win the Super Bowl.’ Now how many teams really believe that? That’s the difference.
“So that was a team then, and I still believe now, I felt was very capable making ar una tit. So I put something out there for my teammates just to make sure that they believed in it and had my back. So this
season I think is not a fluke. It’s been in the works for quite some time now and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Kalil was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl this season, and he is one of the best centers in the league when it comes to getting out and pulling to spring open holes. The strength of the Broncos’ pass-rush frenzy is on the outside with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, but they are also formidable inside with Sylvester Williams (3.5 sacks), Derek Wolfe (5. 5) and Malik Jackson (5.0). If Kalil cannot keep order up the middle, it could become a jail break that even the elusive Newton cannot escape.
Brady was hit 17 times by the Broncos, and the Pan- thers do not want to see if Newton can handle such harassment.
“Different defenses that you scheme against sometimes have incredible talent but the scheme is very bland,’’ Kalil said. “And then ot her te a ms, t hey don’t quite have the talent as other teams and they incredible schemes, and exotic looks, and things that really make you work all week long. This is a team that has both of those things, and I think that’s why they’re so dangerous.
“That front is one of the best in the league, and their defensive coordinator [Wade Phillips] is somebody that a lot of coaches respect and obviously you’ve seen what he’s been able to do with that talent. So it’s both. It’s studying the personnel as much and as often as we can, but then also looking at all the different looks and schemes and things that they do. So it makes for a tough film week.”
Kalil took out an ad more than three years ago when he believed his team need- ed a boost, but he was not inclined to do it again with this group.
“I don’t think this team needs any extra motivation,’’ he said. “This is a team that is really committed to the goal and a team that really cares about one another, and we’re excited. We can’t wait. We’re eager for Sunday.”