Most of the waking college football world is now aware of the LSU Tigers' abrupt dismissal of havoc-wreaking defender/punt return extraordinaire Tyrann Mathieu.
The "Honey Badger," as the diminutive yet fiercely competitive cornerback was aptly nicknamed, terrorized LSU opponents all season long in 2011, forcing eight turnovers and scoring four touchdowns. As LSU went 13-0 before losing to Alabama in the BCS National 
Championship game, Mathieu garnered SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as the 2011 Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player. His tenacious defensive playmaking abilities, coupled with his penchant for momentum swinging punt returns, earned him a trip to New York's Downtown Athletic Club as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
So how will LSU possibly find a replacement for such a dynamic game changer? Thus far, fans and media have attempted to answer this question by rattling off the names on LSU's very young cornerback depth chart, and analyzing how each of them compares to Mathieu. With seasoned veteran Tharold Simon locking down one corner spot, freshmen Jalen Collins, Jalen Mills, and Dwayne Thomas have made plenty of noise in fall training camp, and all look to be promising young players who could potentially turn into solid contributors this season. However, there is thus far no "Honey Badger" to be found among the collective lot of them.
While such comparative analysis is to be expected given the position Mathieu played, this line of thinking remains a mistake never-the-less. The truth is that LSU does not have a defensive back on its roster who will replace Mathieu's big play capability.
Pre-season All-American safety Eric Reid has demonstrated impressive ball-hawking skills of his own, but the cerebral nature of the safety position in defensive coordinator John Chavis' scheme will not allow Reid to play with the same high-risk style that Mathieu perfected.
So again, the question is reiterated: How does LSU replace Tyrann Mathieu? Or better yet, how does LSU replace Mathieu's contributions to the football team as a whole?
The keys to this question are held by Tiger quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Yes, that's correct - the quarterback. 
The fact of the matter is that while he was a fantastic playmaker, Mathieu was not a great cover corner. Chavis often tried to avoid matching the 5'9" defensive back with taller receivers in man-to-man coverage. Mathieu was thus moved all over the field in a variety of formations, most often as a slot defender in nickel coverage, but also at safety, and even at outside linebacker. Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron went so far as to single out and target Mathieu in the BCS Title game, and was remarkably successful in the process.
It was Mathieu's other worldly ball-hawking capabilities and perfectly timed big plays that made him an All-American. His role was that of an emotional fire-starter who could quickly put six points on the scoreboard precisely when the Tigers needed it the most.
When glancing over LSU's team roster, the player that stands out that could best fill this role - much easier than a defensive back could - is Mettenberger. Why? Because the 6'5" junior college transfer has wowed coaches and media alike, not to mention his own receiving corps, with his hand-cannon for a throwing arm and confident persona. LSU head coach Les Miles has continuously boasted on the junior's strong arm and ability to go deep if the opposing defense stacks the line of scrimmage to stop the Tigers' powerful running game.
Despite not having a shred of experience against high level SEC defenses, it is evident that 
Mettenberger throws an impressively accurate deep ball. He dazzled LSU fans in the Tigers' spring game with 270 passing yards on only 14 completions, including multiple deep throws to various members of LSU's speedy group of wide receivers. His showing created a buzz amongst fans that carried over into the summer and on through fall camp. In the Tigers' first fall scrimmage Saturday, Mettenberger picked up right where he left off with long touchdown passes of 50 and 31 yards.
Deep passes resulting in quick touchdown strikes are hardly what LSU fans are used to seeing. Although Jarrett Lee performed well in the first half of last season, an on-going quarterback controversy with Jordan Jefferson re-emerged, and seemingly sucked the life out of the team's passing offense as the season progressed. The Tigers relied on Mathieu for game-changing punt returns that spurred blowouts in previously tight contests against Arkansas and Georgia.
Although the LSU defensive backfield perhaps remains adequate in the area of man-to-man coverage, the Tigers' secondary does not offer another playmaker of the caliber of the "Honey Badger." It therefore falls on the right arm of Zach Mettenberger to serve as the spark plug that this football team needs to produce big plays at crucial times, and thus fill the void created by Mathieu's departure.
And Mettenberger wouldn't have it any other way.
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