Welcome to Baltimore, Matt Elam!

[dirtybird10]

0:47: Doesn't finish the tackle but slows the ball carrier down enough for his teammate to come in and finish the play

 

1:26: Elam's coming off the edge on a safety blitz and he keeps outside contain during his rush and forces the QB into the interior DL for a sack. QB had no where to run coming off his read-option.

 

As an Alabama fan and someone who watches a lot of SEC ball I can tell you he was one of the best open field tacklers in college football last year. If you watch enough tape of these prospects you can find every defender in this draft class missing plays in a few games. Ed Reed, Troy, Sean Taylor, Ronnie Lott all missed tackles at some point. That's part of the game and playing that position. If you watch enough of Elam you'll see open field tackling is his biggest strength. 11 tackles for a loss last year (Most on the whole defense), dude is a crazy efficient tackler in space. Ask Ozzie and Eric DeCosta who probably watched this kids whole college career by draft day.

 

Like I said if you want to nit pick one thing it's getting his head around in coverage! The tackling is the best part of his game.

 

 

 

Not to mention the really nice touchdown saving pass breakup he had there.

[Fang]

If it makes you feel better...

 

http://www.steelersfever.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97819

 

That's pretty funny!

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Whoever drafts him should make sure to tell him that there really isn't a tree trunk on his shoulder.  *ba-dum-TSH*

it's just his imagination... but that's just like... sorry had to continue it to the absurdity of it being so obvious lol

[JoeyFlex5]

he attacks the players center of gravity most of the time, he loves to fly in and make form tackles that LOOK like hes trying to headhunt, just because he does it so quick. sometimes he hits in the shoulders and chest, but he seems to mostly wrap up at the hips and crack someone at the waist

[FerrariFan87]

Love this pick. He plays like a Raven, has great ball skills, and was pretty underrated from what I've heard. Ozzie and Co. strike again!

[Alexir]

The comparisons of Sanders and Polamalu are making me cringe. I hope he takes care of his body with the way he hits...

[GrimCoconut]

If we couldn't get Brown or Jones, I am very happy we get my third favorite player in the class behind the other two. Hopefully we get my second favorite player in Arthur Brown second round.

[black blood purple passion]

I can't wait for the first thump he lays.

unfortunately hitting hard isn't really allowed anymore...

[Ed_Reed20]

unfortunately hitting hard isn't really allowed anymore...

 

QFT.

 

With that said, what's the over/under on flags and/or fines Elam picks up next season? 

[TonyTone1192]

Everywhere, I'm reading this comparison to Bernard Pollard and how Matt Elam is this short little enforcer guy who makes big hits but doesn't do much else. This couldn't be more insulting, and further from the truth. Yes, he hits players hard. That doesn't mean he doesn't do other things well. It doesn't mean he "misses tackles" and "can't cover" I'll just go ahead and take it from the mouths of scouts, starting with the best scout:

 

 

"He can do a lot of different things. He can cover well, he's tackles extremely well. This guy is a physical guy who can tackle. Quite honestly, just about every time he had a chance to get the guy down, he did." -- Eric DeCosta

 

 

"Very good in pass coverage in the deep part of the field."

"Covers a lot of ground in pass defense"

"Can execute strong and free safety responsibilities"

"Athletic enough to cover tight ends and runningbacks in man coverage"

"Solid run defender"

 

 

"-Extremely fast, Active to the ball"

"-Very good in pass coverage and can cover large areas of ground"

"-Versatility, Can play Free or Strong Safety"

 

"uses his hands extremely well in coverage."

 

"Elam is very vocal before the snap"

 

 

 

Please stop the early misconceptions about Matt Elam's game. I put a target on Elam's back as someone I wanted to be a Raven since I started scouting players right after the Superbowl. I looked at everybody and there isn't a guy on offense or defense in this draft that plays like a Raven more than Matt Elam. He has a hunger for the football. That's what being Ravenous is all about. Like Ray Lewis, he's always around the football. Troy Polamalu is like that too. Elam flies all over the field and he makes some great athletic plays. He's one of the fastest safeties in the draft, and he can make plays on the ball when it's up in the air and he has to turn around to swat it down. He can play man-to-man, he can play zone, he can cover the slot and on the outside and is a vocal leader

 

 

This is a complete play-making safety who will be the next great defensive star on the Ravens. Not some younger version of Bernard Pollard. Do your homework, please.

 

He's not a GREAT coverage safety, but he can cover. He is a hard hitter and a great open field tackler, but he is smaller than Pollard so hopefully that doesn't put too much wear and tear on his body. But he has a nose for the football and he WILL make plays.

[1/28/01]

QFT.

With that said, what's the over/under on flags and/or fines Elam picks up next season?

3 Flags = 1 fine. Thats my guess!

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name="arnie_uk" post="1447917" timestamp="1366979771"]

A month a go I was all over this guy, even got a bit of flack for how much I loved him, then haven't watched him in a while and kinda cooled on him. Need to re watch the games i have of him.[/quote]
I remember you and I talking via PM about him, lol.

I'm really happy we got this guy. Hopefully we can replace another HOF player in Ray Lewis with Arthur Brown.

Man, Brown & Elam would be a crazy first two rounds. I would probably flip my bed over in excitement.


I think Elam has a standout year. I don't think he will be fined as much as people think. Swearinger might end up suspended, lol.

[jaege]

If we couldn't get Brown or Jones, I am very happy we get my third favorite player in the class behind the other two. Hopefully we get my second favorite player in Arthur Brown second round.

 

 

Steelers fans are not happy with that pick, which says something. So Grim, what is your assesment of a possible WR? Are there any decent ones out there in the later rounds.

[GrimCoconut]

Steelers fans are not happy with that pick, which says something. So Grim, what is your assesment of a possible WR? Are there any decent ones out there in the later rounds.

Despite what people say about us taking Allen or another WR, I think we wait until the 3rd day at the earliest. I love the WR depth in this class. I think we'll do the following: 

 

Round 2: LB

Round 3: OL

Round 4: WR

[StingerNLG]

I like this pick the more I look at it.   It's the perfect storm for Ozzie here.    I think everyone realistically knew this was an area of need, but at the same time he also got to keep to his BPA formula.  

 

One of the things i've seen him listed as in a couple of scouting reports was a ballhawk.   So we'll see how that translates in the NFL.    But at least right now knowing the safety position should be Elam and Huff, the secondary is pretty much set up for success this year.

[JO_75]

If it makes you feel better...

 

http://www.steelersfever.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97819

 

 

Pretty much their reaction to us taking Elam was what my reaction was to them taking Jarvis Jones. 

 

[CARavensFan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2MX2Hd6rU4

 

0:47 miss  

 

1:26 miss

 

1:47 miss

 

4:12 miss

 

There were 3 or 4 occasions he was in position to make the tackle and didn't.

 

So like I've mentioned before I actually like the pick and I think he's a good player, but I'm just not going to put on purple glasses and say he's 7ft tall and shoots fireballs out of his butt when my eyes say he doesn't. 

 

I broke down the tape to see how many positive, neutral, and negative plays he had in this clip. Granted this is subjective, but its my two cents:

 

0.07 - Positive: Be tangles up the feet of the WR on the screen and stops it for a loss. I've noticed his habit to go low like this which burns him at times.

0.24 - Neutral: Gangtackles the QB, however he didn't try to wrap up his tackle he just dove for the big hit which could burn him at this level.

0.37 - Positive: Well times blitz, unfortunately A&M had called a play that moved everythign away from him so he didn't have an impact on the play.

0.47 - Negative: Went low on the WR's feet, but the WR escaped. This is where going low can burn him. It seems to be a sid effect because of his smaller size that he tends to go for the legs of players.

1.09 - Positive: Great coverage and broke up the play, nearly reached back for a shot at the pick too.

1.23 - Positive: Well timed blitz that forced the QB to step up into the pass rush for the sack.

1.30 - Negative: Didn't fight off the block and gets taken out of the play.

1.47 - Neutral: Offensive player broke him down and spun away, however he did at least slow the guy down so his teammates could stop the play at the line. Nice plus there because even though he didn't make the play himself he set up his teammates to do it.

1.54 - Neutral: Had an oppurtunity make a play on the ball as it passed him which allows for a completiong and first down.

2.05 - Positive - Makes a good read on the play and forces the RB back inside towards the heart of the defense instead of letting him bounce outside.

2.25 - Neutral: Engulfed by a larger blocker and struggles to get free, however he is in position to make the tackle if his teammate hadn't already done it.

3.00 - Positive: Comes up quickly from deep coverage to help finish the play.

3.39 - Positive: Finished tackle off with a big hit.

4.13 - Negative: Caught diving at the feet again.

4.26 - Positive: Finishes tackle off well with a gangtackle.

 

Totals:

Positive: 8

Neutral: 4

Negative: 3

 

In my honest opinion and based on what I saw the few missed tackles that he had here were more a symptom of technique than anything else, other than the play where he got engulfed by a blocker, the other two times he dove too early for the feet and the guy was able to escape. That is something that is very easy to correct and partly is because he is a smaller player.

 

The more I watch him the more he reminds me of a Polamalo-type (not saying he's that caliber of player, yet) with the way he moves around the field and sneaks up to the line for blitzs.

 

So to summarize my feelings are thus: He's a very good player, though he does have some holes. If he didn't have holes then he wouldn't have made it to #32 for us. However, most of those holes are things that coaching can fix.

[K-Dog]

I think this will be Elams best season in the NFL thus far.....









;-)

[cobrajet]

If it makes you feel better...

 

http://www.steelersfever.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97819

I love this, thanks for postiing!

[Yatagarasu]

I wonder if we get aggressive and try to land:

Arthur Brown

Keenan Allen

Terron Armstead

Tank Carradine

Jonathan Hankins


Matt Elam will fit right in since he plays hard and hits hard.

He will be a key guy against these option read offenses due to his range.

[cobrajet]

At least we are set at safety now. And for the record, I am still high on Omar Brown.

[easternshore97]

[quote name="BloodRaven" post="1447756" timestamp="1366954796"]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2MX2Hd6rU4

0:47 miss

1:26 miss

1:47 miss

4:12 miss

There were 3 or 4 occasions he was in position to make the tackle and didn't.

So like I've mentioned before I actually like the pick and I think he's a good player, but I'm just not going to put on purple glasses and say he's 7ft tall and shoots fireballs out of his butt when my eyes say he doesn't. [/quote]
He was juked at the 1:47 mark. Not saying the offensive player is close, but Barry Sanders did that to a lot of people.
The 4:12 mark, it's not like he had the perfect angle and didn't make the tackle. Is he missing close to 3 or 4 on every game tape?

He definitely doesn't look like the typical college defensive back!

The Steelers thread is hilarious - blaming Jerry Jones for their troubles...

[quote name="GrimCoconut" post="1448144" timestamp="1366992168"]

Despite what people say about us taking Allen or another WR, I think we wait until the 3rd day at the earliest. I love the WR depth in this class. I think we'll do the following:

Round 2: LB
Round 3: OL
Round 4: WR[/quote]

Not ready to predict a package to get a multi-pick round yet?

[arnie_uk]

QFT.

With that said, what's the over/under on flags and/or fines Elam picks up next season?

when the cut pollard I actually made a comment I wouldn't be surprised if Elam was off the board altogether because of this

[StingerNLG]

I think we also have to keep in mind that no college player is perfect every play of every game.    We could nitpick every player and say at a certain point in a game they missed a tackle, dropped a pass, etc.    

 

But overall, the scouts all like this guy.   And Ozzie thought very highly of him.   We shall see, but his highlight videos look great.

[mgridda]

You seem to be taking this all very personally. Are you his mother or something?

For my part, Ozzie chose him, in the first round none the less. That means he is good by me regardless of what he does well. If the FO wanted him that much he must be a good player that can bolster the team.

I just don't like misconceptions.

It's funny because 2 years ago on this board people accused me of being Torrey Smith's mother, too.

That turned out hilariously for the people who ate crow later.
 

[berad]

Brandon Lloyd is the best receiver in the NFL

 

Elam looks to be great. He has range, good coverage experience, and is extremely physical. What more do you want from a safety?

[mgridda]

Also, it's funny because in 2002 Rod Woodson went to Oakland as his last stop before the Hall of Fame and we drafted a safety late in the first. Ed Reed started out at SS as more of a box safety guy and then he moved more into deep coverage assignments, but he still does both. Elam has the same versatility to do both and really is only an inch shorter than Reed and the same height as Earl Thomas.

 

 

Now Ed Reed goes to Houston on his way to the hall of fame, and Elam is the next man called

[Ed_Reed20]

Brandon Lloyd is the best receiver in the NFL

 

Elam looks to be great. He has range, good coverage experience, and is extremely physical. What more do you want from a safety?

 

Heard he's better than Rice. 

[bravensfan52]

Brandon Lloyd is the best receiver in the NFL

 

Elam looks to be great. He has range, good coverage experience, and is extremely physical. What more do you want from a safety?

[Cville-Raven]

I think his tackeling technique could use some refinement in terms of wrapping up, but to say he cant tackle is just idiotic.