"Harper suggested Louisiana's high rate of incarceration – the highest in the world – plays a significant role in New Orleans murder rate. In 2013, 847 out of every 100,000 adults in Louisiana were locked up, compared to 353 in California, according to the U.S. Department of Justice."
Mathieu can relate: his father, Darrin, was brought up on murder chargers and has since been incinerated for the majority of his life. His mother remained absent during his upbringing as well, leaving his guidance in the hands of his grandparents; following the passing of his grandfather, Mathieu was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Shiela and Tyrone Mathieu.
Undeterred by his domestic issues, Mathieu became a four star recruit at New Orleans power St. Augustine, the home of current LSU Tiger phenom Leonard Fournette and the seventh most NFL players ever.
He chose to stay close to home as apart of Les Miles' Tigers where he quickly became a star. As a true freshman in 2010, Mathieu played in all 13 games and finished the season with 59 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions, earning Cotton Bowl MVP honors along the way. The following year was Mathieu's coming out party that began with a stellar performance against the Oregon Ducks that saw him tally 10 tackles and a forced fumble that he proceeded to recover and run in for six. The remainder of the season was a cake-walk for the sophomore who paced the team with 76 tackles while registering 7.5 tackles for loss (fourth on the team), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. He made an impact on special teams as well, returning 26 punts for 420 yards and two touchdowns as an integral part of LSU's National Championship team; he garnered the Chuck Bednarik Award and first team All-American honors for his efforts. Mathieu has a seasons worth of highlights rivaling that of most players' careers.
That stellar season also featured the Heisman Trophy finalists' one-game suspension for a violation of the program's drug policy. This would ultimately serve as a precursor for a much larger issue: on August 10, 2012, Miles announced that Mathieu would be dismissed from the program for a violation of team rules (the media believed the cause was multiple failed drug tests, although Miles did not confirm such speculation). He withdrew from the school a week later and entered a drug rehibilitaion before enrolling in fall classes the following month. Mathieu's issues compounded when he and three other LSU former players were arrested on possession of marijuana on October 25th. He would declare for the 2013 NFL Draft and accept an invite to the combine where he posted a 4.5 40, 34 inch vert, and a 9'7" broad jump en route to a third round selection by the Cardinals.
Mathieu developed into a impact rookie, spending time as a slot corner and free safety (11 starts) as he racked up 65 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and two interceptions as a first team All-Pro; he truly lived up to the Honey Badger moniker he earned as a sophomore. His successes are attributed to his elite instincts and athleticism that made him such a dynamic player at LSU, but what truly set him apart were his route recognition and fluidity. He does a good job of reading the route combination and adjusting in man, using his fluid hips and IQ to match the receiver's route. From there, he appropriately gets his head around and adjusts to the ball to complete the interception. Mathieu's superb rookie campaign was cut short after 13 games due to ACL and LCL tears in his left knee.
The first video represents the aforementioned instincts and athleticism. He gets downhill to attack the ball carrier who does a fine job of reading his open-field block and recognizing the open lane to the left. Mathieu instinctively witnesses the open path, spinning to avoid the blocker and using said athleticism to snap into a balanced tackle attempt. A defender's burst is a key trait that allows them to make plays fewer guys can; Mathieu is such player. In the second video, you'll notice his burst off the edge and hustle to get down the line and make plays in the backfield that mirror those he made as a Tiger.
2014 was something of a recovery year for Mathieu-as indicated by his stat line-while 2015 was a culmination of health and elevated play. The Cardinals' defensive scheme is characterized as a man-match zone scheme that offers complexities for the linebackers and safeties, Mathieu's position in their base defense with a role as a slot corner in their nickel package. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher prefers this system because it isolates fellow corner Patrick Peterson on opponents' top targets where he can win one-on-one matchups. Bettcher also (wisely) prefers to run lots of man with his elite athletes in the defensive backfield, shown above in Cover 0. Mathieu reads his man accurately and works downhill, jumping the route and taking the interception to the end zone.
It's difficult to find major flaws in Mathieu's game, but flaws exist nonetheless. He plays with a generally tall backpedal that doesn't cause the same problems it would with lesser athletes, although it does cause him to hitch at the top of his click-and-close; you'll notice this issue in the first video. Being an aggressive player results in momentum-shifting plays on both ends of the spectrum, creating a classic conundrum for such players. The second video is a prime example of such where Mathieu bites on the double move, and has done so multiple times throughout his career including on play action. Much like the issue with his backpedal, his aggressiveness doesn't affect him the same way it would most players: Mathieu's recovery ability and intelligence allow him to be the aggressor he is without them becoming recurring issues.
Mathieu was well on his way to Defensive MVP honors this past season before tearing his right ACL in Week 15. Regardless, he finished with 89 tackles (third on the team), one sack, one forced fumble, five interceptions, and 12 pass breakups and parlayed his first team All-Pro season into a brand new, 5 year/$62.5 million contract extension. He finished as Pro Football Focus' top rated corner after allowing a mere 77.6 quarterback rating, but $40 million guaranteed is a hefty price tag for a player who simply won't have quite the same agility and quick twitch fiber after major surgeries on both knees.
Despite the questions surrounding the contract, Mathieu is more than deserving of wearing the "highest paid safety" label. He has proven to be a first-class citizen who suffered an embarrassing fall from grace only to accept responsibility and earn all that he has as a loving father who cares deeply about his hometown and the Cardinal organization for simply giving him a chance. On the field, he is deeply admired and respected by his teammates due to his endearing leadership qualities. Reports have Mathieu's expectations to return sometime next week, a huge sigh of relief if they hold true. Whether or not the timetable holds true, it's exceedingly difficult not to root for Tyrann Mathieu.
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