bearclaw500
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2011
- Messages
- 439
Various reporting has Mike Mauti looking really good in camp and the preseason opener. Mike was the MLB at Penn State, and was once considered a lock as a first or second round draft pick. After blowing his knee out for the 3rd time in college, his draft stock plummeted and he was scooped up by the Vikings in the 7th round.
He is currently listed as 3rd on the depth chart behind starter Erin Henderson and 2nd stringer Audie Cole. I think he will supplant Audie Cole as the 2nd string MLB before preseason is over, and eventually take over the starting MLB position if he can stay healthy. Hopefully, Audie Cole's experience playing both middle and outside can keep him on the team. There is no way Mauti will survive on the Vikings practice squad without getting picked up.
On more than one occasion, I have noticed snippets and comments in various sports blogs/newspapers like this:
"It was hard to watch most of the fourth quarter, but the only guy that really stood out consistently on the Vikings defense was Mauti. He made some solid plays, and looks like a textbook Mike linebacker. Because of the camera angles and terrible Internet picture, I never was able to spot him in pass coverage, but this kid looks like the real deal, too. His tackle on the goal line of Dennis Johnson was textbook, as he stood the runner up and stopped him cold, then drove him backwards for no gain. LOVED that play. Loved. It."
http://www.dailynorseman.com/2013/8/9/4607842/minnesota-vikings-houston-texans-game-recap
He is currently listed as 3rd on the depth chart behind starter Erin Henderson and 2nd stringer Audie Cole. I think he will supplant Audie Cole as the 2nd string MLB before preseason is over, and eventually take over the starting MLB position if he can stay healthy. Hopefully, Audie Cole's experience playing both middle and outside can keep him on the team. There is no way Mauti will survive on the Vikings practice squad without getting picked up.
On more than one occasion, I have noticed snippets and comments in various sports blogs/newspapers like this:
"It was hard to watch most of the fourth quarter, but the only guy that really stood out consistently on the Vikings defense was Mauti. He made some solid plays, and looks like a textbook Mike linebacker. Because of the camera angles and terrible Internet picture, I never was able to spot him in pass coverage, but this kid looks like the real deal, too. His tackle on the goal line of Dennis Johnson was textbook, as he stood the runner up and stopped him cold, then drove him backwards for no gain. LOVED that play. Loved. It."
http://www.dailynorseman.com/2013/8/9/4607842/minnesota-vikings-houston-texans-game-recap
