The Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu said he is trying to focus on being better at free safety when he plays there this season.
Tyrann Mathieu doesn't like sharing his goals anymore, not publicly. But Wednesday, in a giving mood, the veteran did give a peek into a focus point coming into training camp.
After trying to play free safety last season, unhappy he was back there – he'd rather play the slot -- Mathieu wanted to change his attitude and his play when he was in the position. Thus far, he feels like he's succeeded.
"I'm really playing free safety like a free safety," Mathieu said Wednesday.
The Cardinals put Mathieu at free safety last season in large part to get him on the field while protecting the knees that had each undergone ACL surgery. It was practical. But Mathieu didn't get to be Mathieu, which impacted his play.
"I just never really did it, never really practiced it, I never really took pride in it," Mathieu said.
The reason was simple. Mathieu likes to be near the line of scrimmage, in the middle of the action, able to jump slants or blitz or cover out of the slot.
Free safety is "just boring," Mathieu said. "Everything is going on in front of you and you're … the safety. I just like being in the mix of things. So I had to challenge myself."
It's crucial for the Cardinals for Mathieu to come to that realization. Mathieu won't always be at free safety. He won't even be there the majority of the time. But with the addition of Budda Baker – who has many of the same attributes as Mathieu in terms of blitzing and playmaking – along with Antoine Bethea and Tyvon Branch, Mathieu will need to be able to play there at times this season.
"I challenged myself to play the position, to understand the position," Mathieu said. "I feel like I'm getting better at it."
Mathieu has had an excellent training camp, frequently getting his hands on pass deflections or interceptions regardless of where he is stationed.
"I have to see it in games," coach Bruce Arians said. "It's one thing in practice, it's another thing in games. The opportunities he creates … he should be back to the player he was."
Mathieu emphasized he still rather would play nickel than be back as the free safety. But he's in a better place with having to play there when needed.
"Frankly I just have to stay available," said Mathieu, with a nod to his past injuries. "I feel like my coach can do a lot of things with me."
Images from the 16th practice of #CardsCamp
CB Justin Bethel
Coach Bruce Arians
S Tyrann Mathieu breaks up a pass to WR Krishawn Hogan
S Tyrann Mathieu races with S Budda Baker
CB Justin Bethel makes an interception
RB David Johnson combats bullying while talking to students
CB Jarell Carter
LB Chandler Jones
RB David Johnson makes the catch
RB Andre Ellington
CB Patrick Peterson wants to know why the officials didn't flag the offense
WR Larry Fitzgerald
S Tyrann Mathieu and DT Frostee Rucker chat
QB Blaine Gabbert
OC Harold Goodwin
TE Jermaine Gresham
WR Krishawn Hogan vs. CB Sojourn Shelton
RB David Johnson with the TD catch
T Will Holden
WR Chris Hubert
OL Evan Boehm and Mike Iupati
RB Andre Ellington makes the catch
WR Jaron Brown with the TD catch
WR Jaron Brown and CB Patrick Peterson have a chuckle
WR Jaron Brown makes the catch in front of CB Patrick Peterson
WR John Brown
TE Ifeanyi Momah
WR J.J. Nelson
TE Troy Nikas
DT Robert Nkemdiche (right) vs. G Dorian Johnson
DT Corey Peters talks to DT Robert Nkemdiche
DT Olsen Pierre
WR Jeremy Ross
T John Wetzel
WRs John Brown and Aaron Dobson
QB Drew Stanton
RB David Johnson
