The HoneyBadger is Back!

[Floppin]

He was at LSU.

Ohh my appologies. I didn't realize he was going to be drafted by a college team. I thought we were talking about the NFL here.

[Floppin]

He could test very well at the combine and shoot up somewhat like Poe did. This kid has made more of a name for him self than Poe.

Poe has the physical measurables that are desired for his position and then he tested off the charts in the athletic tests.

Mathieu very well may test high on the athletic measurables but nothing is going to change the fact that he's an undersized corner with marginal, at best, coverage skills.

[philw5289]

we defantley need him, chris gamble cant play forever

[Doc Holiday]

DO WANT. Dude is a game changer on defense. We saw last game how creating turnovers can win you the game.

in college, he's way undersized for the NFL he's a specialty PR kickoff guy at best.

He's 5'9 which is tiny and too small for the NFL

[YoungPanthers89]

lmao a slightly more talented munnerlyn? the guy is a beast if he can keep it straight

[Cary Kollins]

in college, he's way undersized for the NFL he's a specialty PR kickoff guy at best.

He's 5'9 which is tiny and too small for the NFL

I couldn't disagree more. He is a playmaker. Think Steve Smith on defense. How many people said Steve Smith was too small to be a NFL WR, and a pro bowl WR at that?

Here is an excerpt from the article Kurb posted:

The NFL needs players like this. Mathieu is a versatile takeaway specialist who more than holds his own in coverage. He has loose hips, is a quick-twitch reactor, and could be an answer for the Wes Welkers and Percy Harvins of the NFL. For 5-foot-9, 175, Mathieu has noticeably long arms, giving him a big advantage for pass deflections. Long arms also come in handy for strips. Mathieu is a skilled and experienced blitzer off the edge. While some teams may struggle to "find a fit" for Mathieu in terms of positioning, a quality evaluator will identify him as a movable chess piece. A defender who impacts turnover margin, time of possession, and field position on a regular basis.

[Cary Kollins]

"In addition to cover skills and position, Mathieu's lack of ideal size will be talked up this year as a major factor working against his NFL outlook. I'd encourage you to consider that lazy analysis. It might be problematic if Mathieu wasn't so physical, or if he was slow. He is neither of those things.

Mathieu's profile as an inside-out cornerback reminds me of Antoine Winfield, who was drafted with the 28th overall pick out of Ohio State in 1999. Winfield is listed at 5-foot-9, 180. Also like Mathieu, he is an undersized corner who compensates with physicality, football intelligence, and playmaking ability. Winfield has been to three Pro Bowls and accounted for 48 career turnovers.

My best guess is that Mathieu will declare for the 2013 NFL draft this January, test well at the Combine, and be drafted in the 20s next April by an annual playoff contender worried much less about size restrictions than football-playing ability. I think Tyrann Mathieu is going to go to Pro Bowls in the NFL. I think he will be a multiple-phase difference maker."

[Zaximus]

I feel with the right coaching this is a guy who could do wonders for a team. Move him to safety if he won't work out as a corner. Someone will take a gamble on him early.

[Cary Kollins]

Kiper and McShay are predicting 3rd/4th round fwiw.

[Doc Holiday]

I couldn't disagree more. He is a playmaker. Think Steve Smith on defense. How many people said Steve Smith was too small to be a NFL WR, and a pro bowl WR at that?

Here is an excerpt from the article Kurb posted:

The NFL needs players like this. Mathieu is a versatile takeaway specialist who more than holds his own in coverage. He has loose hips, is a quick-twitch reactor, and could be an answer for the Wes Welkers and Percy Harvins of the NFL. For 5-foot-9, 175, Mathieu has noticeably long arms, giving him a big advantage for pass deflections. Long arms also come in handy for strips. Mathieu is a skilled and experienced blitzer off the edge. While some teams may struggle to "find a fit" for Mathieu in terms of positioning, a quality evaluator will identify him as a movable chess piece. A defender who impacts turnover margin, time of possession, and field position on a regular basis.

steve smith was exceptional because of his speed and shiftiness, that's what made smith great and hard to cover.

Matthieu is just small, doesn't matter what his skills are the QB can simple throw a jump ball at the Reciever he's covering every time and win

Again not saying he doesn't have skill, he's just too small

[Gucci Mane]

Ohh my appologies. I didn't realize he was going to be drafted by a college team. I thought we were talking about the NFL here.

I thought you were saying he was a nickelback at LSU so thats why i said that. and there are plenty of undersized corners in the league. hell, there are hardly any 6', 6'1+ corners in the league. Get that mentality out of your head. The kid can play. We drafted munnerlyn, and this guy is leagues ahead of munnerlyn.

[rayzor]

with the 97th pick of the 2013 draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...

seems like a lion to me.

[Gucci Mane]

steve smith was exceptional because of his speed and shiftiness, that's what made smith great and hard to cover.

Matthieu is just small, doesn't matter what his skills are the QB can simple throw a jump ball at the Reciever he's covering every time and win

Again not saying he doesn't have skill, he's just too small

Yea that makes sense. Cause its against NCAA rules to do that, so he has to wait until the NFL for some coach to say, "hey, that guy is kinda short, lets make groundbreaking never-before-seen history and try to throw it over him and let the WR go up and get it"

[Gabeking]

8th round the earliest