Third time a charm? Or been there done that?
On their list of players that could emerge as “surprise starters” for their teams, Bleacher Reporthas advanced the name of third-year defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa as a player that could emerge in 2020. This isn’t the first time this offseason that the idea has been advanced, either.
If you’ll recall, we reported back in April that Mata’afa had put on a substantial amount of weight, tipping the scales at nearly 290 pounds. After giving it a go as an undersized defensive tackle early in his Vikings’ career. . .he’s been listed at around 255 on the team website. . .he now appears to have the size to hold up as a full-time defensive tackle in the NFL.
If you need another endorsement, we can give you one. How about the NFL’s best defensive line coach (and new Vikings co-defensive coordinator), Andre Patterson, making sure to drop Mata’afa’s name in an interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press recently?
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2020/6/28/21306384/more-hype-hercules-mataafa-minnesota-vikings-andre-patterson
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
reminds me of saying i heard once.... something about labor and babies....
I'm remaining optimistic because obviously his talent level is good enough to keep him on the team as a 255 lb DT. If he truly is 290 pounds then he's going to fight for that other position. It's my hope that the guys knowing the spot is up for grabs will increase the will to improve. May the best man win
I think Mata'afa is never going to amount to much. Don't see it. Smallish guy that isn't great at anything.
@"StickyBun" said: I think Mata'afa is never going to amount to much. Don't see it. Smallish guy that isn't great at anything.He was a consensus AA at 255 lbs in college, so he's probably pretty good at something. Let's see how he is when heavier then decide
@"Hawkvike25" said:Doesn't mean much. Many Heisman winners have flamed out in the NFL. The guy was undrafted. He's a 255 lb. DT. His odds are long to do anything. I've heard the same thing SO many times in the past on this board with all kinds of similar players.@"StickyBun" said: I think Mata'afa is never going to amount to much. Don't see it. Smallish guy that isn't great at anything. He was a consensus AA at 255 lbs in college, so he's probably pretty good at something. Let's see how he is when heavier then decide
@"StickyBun" said:I wont disagree with that. What I'm simply implying is he has to be pretty good at something if the Vikes chose to keep around a severely undersized DT. If he's unable to produce now that he's heavier then they will let him go. They definitely saw enough to keep him around knowing it would be a project.@"Hawkvike25" said:Doesn't mean much. Many Heisman winners have flamed out in the NFL. The guy was undrafted. He's a 255 lb. DT. His odds are long to do anything. I've heard the same thing SO many times in the past on this board with all kinds of similar players.@"StickyBun" said: I think Mata'afa is never going to amount to much. Don't see it. Smallish guy that isn't great at anything. He was a consensus AA at 255 lbs in college, so he's probably pretty good at something. Let's see how he is when heavier then decide
@"StickyBun" said: I think Mata'afa is never going to amount to much. Don't see it. Smallish guy that isn't great at anything.Yeah, but his name is Hercules.
He's definitely got a shot. It's not like he's got a couple of All Pros he's got to beat out at 3T.
I actually think adding weight will hinder him, not help. He doesn't have the frame for it - he has a LB frame and 255 is probably his max - he might have played even lighter in college. Now he will be musclebound and a bit less quick, and he is reportedly 290...do you think he will be a run-stuffing LOS controller? Hardly, even at 290 he is undersized at DT.
@"Jor-El" said: I actually think adding weight will hinder him, not help. He doesn't have the frame for it - he has a LB frame and 255 is probably his max - he might have played even lighter in college. Now he will be musclebound and a bit less quick, and he is reportedly 290...do you think he will be a run-stuffing LOS controller? Hardly, even at 290 he is undersized at DT.
290 is not small for an undertackle. Aaron Donald is the best there is at 280. John Randle was 6-1, 244 lbs when he was (un)drafted. I think by the time he was chasing chickens (and Brett Favre), he was around 290.
We just drafted a 290lb 3T who was the Big 12 defensive player of the year in Lynch. Arman Watts is also ahead of Hercules from what I saw last year. Throw in Pierce, Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen and Herc will be lucky to make the roster.
@"RS Express" said: We just drafted a 290lb 3T who was the Big 12 defensive player of the year in Lynch. Arman Watts is also ahead of Hercules from what I saw last year. Throw in Pierce, Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen and Herc will be lucky to make the roster.
Exactly my thoughts.
i think it was his inability to hold up at all in run support that led to this weight gain, without it he was to slow to be a LB and to small to be a DT and there isnt really a role for that guy in the NFL with its limited game day rosters. time will tell if his quicks were sacrificed in the name of weight gain.
It sure would be nice to see Hurcules step up. The team doesn't have all that much invested in him, and he remains on the roster. Patterson and Zim must see his potential, so hopefully this next season is his break out season. I'm rooting for him!
Don’t care who it is, but someone needs to step up at DT.
with camp and preseason being the next steps, i'd like to see him really stand out against talent with lesser experience. He's already flashed in these situations; i'd like and expect to see him dominate.
Now that I posted that, he'll be a roster lock who plays 10 snaps tops.
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