Why am I more excited about Hercules Mata'afa than

[VikingOracle]

anyone the Vikes drafted?

[Guest]

i wish all of our players luck and success. I like Hercules. But what position is he? He can’t really play on the line. And he does not seem athletic enough for his size. Yet he was very productive. I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m not betting on him making it.  Then again, I was no5 betting on Thielen when I first saw him a few years ago. So who knows?

[Guest]

Its probably the name.  

[Guest]

I'm glad he's getting his chance, but he is a great collegiate player with limited pro potential.  I said the same thing for Hau'oli Kikaha and Manti Te'o.  I've stood right next to Te'o and his size is not going to impress anyone.  He's taller than me, but not much bigger, I think Matafa'a is about the same size.  Polynesians typically have short legs and short arms.  Junior Seau was really something special.

[Guest]

"Viking defensive tackle John Randle didn't fit the scouts' description of a prototypical defensive lineman. At 6'1", 240 pounds, he was considered too short to tangle with behemoth offensive linemen, and as an unheralded free agent out of Trinity Community College and Texas A&I, he was supposedly too green technically to play in the NFL."

[Guest]

Thought at first they might put him at linebacker, but it's probably too much to ask a player focused on rushing the passer to suddenly have the instincts and coverage skills necessary to be off the ball. 

Vikings took a similar player after the draft last year in Dylan Bradley. I think they use Mata as an edge rusher, put him on the practice squad and hope for John Randle...

https://twitter.com/DylanADeSimone/statu...4440297472

[Guest]

@"Caactorvike" said:
Its probably the name.  

Yeah, if he was "Sally Mata'afa" I doubt any of us would pay one bit of attention.

[Guest]

john randle.

[Guest]

Could he transition to MLB? Physically, that's a decent fit (6-2, 254, 4.76) and he would still be on the inside and sometimes blitz. Obviously coverage is a huge question. I'm actually surprised he signed with a 4-3 team, as he might have an easier transition to a 3-4 LB. That tells me he really wants to remain at DT, but even if he can gain 25 pounds of muscle he's a really light DT.

I actually think he does have a decent chance to make the roster if there is room for a ST specialist - he has the perfect attitude and Priefer may love him.

[Guest]

@"Caactorvike" said:
Its probably the name.  

That could definitely be part of it but there is something about him. My first thought with his name was that's a bad ass Mata'afa.