ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu makes NFL.com top-10 ‘dynamic safeties’ list

Jul 17, 2014, 7:08 PM | Updated: 7:08 pm

Tyrann Mathieu did not exactly come out of nowhere, but his impact on the 2013 Arizona Cardinals was a bit of a surprise.

A third-round pick out of LSU, the “Honey Badger” arrived in Arizona with a reputation for being incredibly talented and effective on the field but not necessarily on the right path off it.

Having spent the previous year away from football after being dismissed from his college team, Mathieu was as big of a question mark as you could find in the draft.

Question answered.

Mathieu collected 68 total tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one sack and nine passes defended in just 13 games, as his season was cut short due to knee injuries suffered while returning a kick against the St. Louis Rams late in the season.

He did enough in his brief stint to be looked at as part of the team’s future, and according to NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, is the ninth-most dynamic safety in the entire league.

The “Honey Badger” is the prototypical nickel defender that every defensive coordinator covets. Mathieu is an athletic safety with corner-like cover skills and a knack for playmaking. He is comfortable aligning anywhere, but he’s at his best when deployed near the line of scrimmage as a lurking extra defender against the run or a sneaky rusher on passing downs. He routinely creates turnovers and makes disruptive plays all over the field. Mathieu blew out his knee last December, but if he can return to form, the second-year man has the natural ability to continue revolutionizing how defensive coordinators use nickel safeties.

When Mathieu returns to the field, he will be part of a revamped secondary that includes three-time Pro Bowlers Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie as well a 2014 first-round draft pick Deone Bucannon.

Expected to be one of the team’s strengths, it’s a group that is not short on speed or playmakers.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

23 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu makes NFL.com top-10 ‘dynamic safeties’ list