The Arizona Cardinals have been very disappointing to say the least. The offensive line that was thought to be improved with the addition of Evan Mathis and DJ Humphries breaking into a starting role, has been inconsistent. Carson Palmer has been more down than up in his uneven play this season too. But, the most surprising start to the year has been defensive back Tyrann Mathieu and his lack of production.
Tyrann Mathieu: “I’m Ready to Cut Loose”
Mathieu was in consideration for Defensive Player of the Year before he suffered his second ACL injury last year. Constantly around the ball, Mathieu made big plays regularly. He was considered the heart and soul of the defense by his coaches and peers, until he was lost for the year.
To start this season the coaching staff has decided to bring Mathieu along slowly. The Cardinals staff has done so by playing him primarily at deep safety. In one of the few plays he was around the line of scrimmage, he forced LeSean McCoy to fumble on an option play, but was unable to recover the ball, losing it out of bounds.
Perfect Timing
After last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Mathieu told the media that he was “ready to cut loose” and get back to playing his role around the line of scrimmage. This is a timely revelation as safety Tyvon Branch was placed on injured reserve. Branch had been playing that role to start the season.
Final Thoughts
Transitioning back to the slot adds flexibility to defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s play calling. Playing against a zone read team will challenge Mathieu in his first opportunity back to his natural position. Coaches will be able to see how Mathieu plays soon considering the Cardinals play on a short week this Thursday.
