Why Lattimore, Jones, Mathieu rank among the most overhyped Originally Published: July 25, 2012By KC Joyner | ESPN Insider Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU Tigers His 8.8 YPA in a seven-game analysis of the toughest passing offenses LSU faced last year (of which Mathieu played in only six because of a suspension) was higher than the YPA marks posted by Morris Claiborne (7.5) and Tharold Simon (3.6) in those same contests. Mathieu didn't make up for the higher YPA in the interception department, either, as his two picks were only equal to Simon's interception mark and were far behind Claiborne's team-leading six picks. Mathieu's big-play potential on special teams would certainly warrant his selection as a top player in that area, but when it comes to cornerback play, his history says he is more apt to give up a big play than he is to make one. First on the list was marcus lattimore. thats even more of a joke.
They're just trying to get readers/attention. He's a f'in Heisman candidate and Chuck Bednarik award winner. Other Bednarik award winners include Warren Sapp, Charles Woodson, LaVar Arrington, Julius Peppers, David Pollack, N. Suh, and Patrick Peterson. I guess they were overrated in college, too. Fucking idiots.
Mathieu is going to have to prove them wrong playing CB...NOT returning kicks...NOT stealing the ball when someone else has made the tackle, etc. The guy is definitely a playmaker BUT as someone mid season pointed out correctly IMO, the ONLY reason he got some of those forced fumbles was that he was ABLE to try for them. IF other LSU players didn't have the play under control, he would have been stupid to try for some of those. One example they gave and I remember it being at the game was the Kentucky QB who I believe was being wrapped up by Ron Brooks. TM comes in high and hits the QB's throwing hand and arm and knocks the ball loose, picks it up, and runs it in for a TD. That DID count for 6 points but as the analysts said, let's give some credit to Brooks who TM KNEW had the QB in hand. IF Mathieu misses his arm for some reason, who cares. The QB still goes down. My problem with Mathieu has been in coverage where he had some bad games...the Tennessee game for example where essentially their entire offense was throwing against Mathieu... 2 long pass completions + a pass interference penalty. And he got beat in the Alabama NC game also a few times and those WRs aren't going to be in the Hall of Fame. Sooooo, if ESPN was talking about strictly playing CB and covering guys assigned to him, I can see their point. Having said that, ask Andre Debose of Florida on that fly route where he and TM went up for the ball in the endzone and Mathieu had inside position and got the INT. But there are times for whatever reason that his man gets pretty free from him...like I said, he had a horrible game against a mediocre TN team with a backup QB playing and didn't distinguish himself in the Alabama NC game either.
He is over rated as a cornerback, everyone fucking knows this, big fucking deal ESPN. He isn't over rated as a defensive backfield player. He is one of the best if not the best in the country, and was the best player in the NCAA last year, EPSN can suck Robert Griffin's balls all they want.
See, I don't think he's OVERRATED as a CB b/c nobody claims that he is a shut down corner. To be OVERRATED, you have to be highly rated, and he's not....not even by LSU fans a highly rated cover corner. He is, however, a highly rated DB.....and he should be.
He's overrated because he talks too much trash and the effects of the NC game are still lingering. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon in either direction for TM7. First he was the Honey Badger and everyone loved him, then he wasn't a good CB and everyone jumped on that. This is no different. We know how good he is, and he needs to go out this year and prove it again if he wants the hype (which he def does).
