re: Had it been Simon instead of TM7...

quote:

---

TM7 was fantastic as the nickel corner. But it is a freelance read and react type position. It is the type of position an inexperienced player CAN step in and play pretty well. It's the reason TM7 played it as a freshmen.

---

every position on the field is a read and react position dumbass. TM7 played it as a freshman because he was the 3rd best cornerstone that time, behind 2 guys by the name of PP7 and MC17

Y'all, seriously... We just lost the best defensive player in the country and he has the hardware to back it up.

It sucks.

quote:

---

Would y'all have really trusted TM7 to cover the #1 receiver week in and week out?

---

and why the hell not? after playin for LSU for 3 years and now an experienced DB, I don't see why he would have a problem covering people! And I don't expect him to be the No. 1 cover guy, I expect him and Simon to alternate. besides, Mathieu's cover skills are not as bad as people make them out to be, like he can't cover or something!

in last year's MNC game, Mathieu was right there with the receiver, it's just that McCarron's passes were on the money!

quote:

---

Would y'all really have trusted TM7 to cover the #1 receiver week in and week out? Not saying his cover skills aren't good but his height severely limits him.

---

Yes, I would have. And he would most likely have been beaten considerably more often than Simon. And he would also have likely racked up more tackles than just about anyone else (again), averaged just about 1 sack, forced fumble, INT or fumble recovery per game (again), disrupted opponents gameplans (again) and shifted momentum on a regular basis (again). Those are all aspects of the purely defensive phase of the game. They are as irreplaceable as the cover skills of a lockdown cornerback. The question is, which is more damaging to fail to replace: an upgrade in cover skills at one of the four DB positions that would only really be a factor in one or two games all season, or the consistent game changing plays that play a major role in game after game?

The answer seems pretty clear for most of us. Obviously you'd rather limit the opponents #1 receiver to like 50 yards receiving instead of 70 yards receiving, than have another turnover, sack, or defensive score every game or two. And just as a reminder, even with Mo Claiborne -- the guy neither TM nor Simon could hold a candle to in coverage skills -- Tavon Austen went off for 187 yards while Steadman Bailey also topped 100. So it's not like a "shutdown corner" actually shuts down opponents #1 WRs all that often. They just make it more difficult for the offense to get production out of them. Mathieu could have done that pretty well, even though Simon could do it better. No one on this (or any other) team has shown the capacity for consistently making huge plays the way Mathieu has. That's why he managed to tie the record for forced fumbles in just 2 seasons, 1 of which he wasn't even starting. That's why he was in NYC for the Heisman ceremony without playing a down of offense.

We will still field an awesome secondary, an incredible defense, and a National Championship team. But there's no reason to pretend Mathieu is any less than what he was. And to suggest that any player on our defense would have had a significantly bigger impact than him is clearly just pretending.

quote:

---

I think we would have been in a much worse situation defensively and it's not even close. TM7 was a playmaker no doubt but I don't think it's gonna be hard to find somebody else that can step in and play that nickel back role effectively (I'm looking at you Eugene). Just look at Ron Brooks in the Auburn game. TM7 was a big loss but it's not as bad as people think. This won't make or break our season.

---

And you would be wrong. There is a reason TM7 won the BEDNARIK award. He is the best defensive playmaker in the country.

Simon is awesome and will have a great career with LSU and in the NFL but there's a reason TM7 won all those awards. As many experts said, you don't see a player like TM7 very often. He had a fan base outside of LSU fans, how often does that happen? I don't like to compare TM7 to any of our DB's, its not fair to the young kids we currently have. We lost a guy that was an underdog and played every game like he was an underdog. As for you who point out his one bad game, every great athlete have a bad day. He will be missed!

These bastards were dying to give USC or Alabama the #1 ranking, it's sad that losing TM7 takes away from the accomplishments the rest of this team has had. Oh well, thankfully the game is played on the field!