Welcome to Baltimore, Matt Elam!

[NaveSenrag]

When he plays the run, it seems like he just dives for the runner's legs and hopes that his teammates can finish the guy off. I'm not saying that's bad necessarily, but I'd like to see him make the tackle rather than depend on someone else.

[Tank 92]

What a beast.  Elam will be Raven for a long time.

[GrimCoconut]

Really hope I'm wrong but I still firmly believe Cyprien will be the best safety in the class. I think we may have missed out there, we normally love small school guys as well

You know I too am a big fan of Cy. I will trust our scouting but it's very possible what you said is a reality. With that said, I believe both safeties are closely ranked. Both have very high ceilings. I will be watching both players to see which one ends up the best. We have a better history with safety development than JAX.

[Raven07]

really looking forward to what he can do, the man knows his stuff and can do it all for a Safety: Cover, Defend, Tackle and Catch.  of course we cant expect him to come in and be like our future HOFer Ed Reed but what we can expect from Elam is a determined Safety that hits hard, is a tackling Machine and a workhorse. Elam isnt trying to be "Ed Reed" for Baltimore and I don't think the Ravens want him to be " Ed Reed v.2" they want him to be Matt Elam, create his own legacy in Baltimore, not live in the shadow of another.

 

excited to see what he can do.

[arnie_uk]

Cyprien?? Not even close man. Elam is the best safety in this class, and will be for a long long time. Cyprien is way too raw to play in our division. Sure, he may look good in the division he is in, but in ours?? Not a chance. Nah, just nah.

he is raw, but he has a higher ceiling than anyone out of the safety class, he has great range, good ball skills and solid tackler. Cyprien is already better in coverage than Elam IMO

[arnie_uk]

Cyprien is too slow to really make a play.
 
EDIT:  I take that back, I just don't think he has the speed Elam does and I think that's the difference of the two.

thats why the said they took Elam, he ran a faster 40. I still think Cyprien can read pass plays a bit better. Elam always seemed a step to late, hence the big jarring hits rather than interceptions

[The Oakland Cathedral]

thats why the said they took Elam, he ran a faster 40. I still think Cyprien can read pass plays a bit better. Elam always seemed a step to late, hence the big jarring hits rather than interceptions

Elam did get 4 interceptions which is nothing to scoff at.. He also batted away a ton of balls.

[GrimCoconut]

Elam did get 4 interceptions which is nothing to scoff at.. He also batted away a ton of balls.

I think Elam will absolutely improve in coverage. The biggest reason is that he is young and has the speed for it. I think that's why we chose Elam over Cy. We also have his old coach in Austin who was really impressive after taking over for Pagano.

[Cville-Raven]

Really hope I'm wrong but I still firmly believe Cyprien will be the best safety in the class. I think we may have missed out there, we normally love small school guys as well

Meh, Elam has been a top safety prospect since high school. He is only a junior and has plenty of room to grow. Another thing to think about is the fact that Elam will still be 21 through the first couple weeks of the season; Cyprien will be 23 in July. I mean I get why people liked Cyprien its just that I wasnt really impressed by him. Looked like a sluggish land mass safety on his highlights. 

[arnie_uk]

Don't get me wrong I love elam as anyone who visited the draft section knows i just think in four five years time cyprien could be the better coverage guy, line up on the big tight ends in man coverage, have the range to play cover one, and tackle ability to play in the box. I do think it will be a reed troy type argument about who is better, and it will be totally split, i just think cyp will be the better coverage guy and that's more important

[arnie_uk]

Elam did get 4 interceptions which is nothing to scoff at.. He also batted away a ton of balls.

and I'm pretty sure all four were overthrows rather than Elam making a play on the ball. Watch cyprien int vs lousville and specifically Bridgewater. That was the play of a ball hawking safety, can from the complete other side of the field to the other touchline and high pointed it in front of the receiver.

[GrimCoconut]

Don't get me wrong I love elam as anyone who visited the draft section knows i just think in four five years time cyprien could be the better coverage guy, line up on the big tight ends in man coverage, have the range to play cover one, and tackle ability to play in the box. I do think it will be a reed troy type argument about who is better, and it will be totally split, i just think cyp will be the better coverage guy and that's more important

Fair enough. Between the two I like the situation Elam is entering over Cy. You know I'm fond of both players. I do think Elam had the advantage in coaching. I believe very strongly that will be what separates these two very talented players.

[Cville-Raven]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-matt-elam-off-to-fast-start-with-ravens-20130505,0,2401046.story

[GrimCoconut]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-matt-elam-off-to-fast-start-with-ravens-20130505,0,2401046.story

Excellent piece! Thank you!

[arnie_uk]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-matt-elam-off-to-fast-start-with-ravens-20130505,0,2401046.story

the bei a leader part is what attracted me to him the most. You often seen him calling out coverages, helping guys out in the field, and the intensity he payed with was def a perfect fit.

As I watched him more I also said there is a chance he could be off our board altogether after rumours pollards cut was to do with penalties, because Elam could be a personal foul machine at the next level with the aggressiveness he plays with.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying he's going to bust, I think he will be very good, I just think Cyprien will be more interchangeable in coverage situations from his ability and size to man up on big tight ends, whereas Elam wills be limited in that regard. That's the reason I had Cyprien 1 and Elam 2 in my own rankings, I never even bothered to study vaccaro before someone tackles me about him

[Gordo52]

What's up with the title of this thread? Why not just "welcome to Baltimore Matt Elam" ?

And yeah, like 3-4 months ago Arnie was all over Elam in the draft section. He's who got me to look at him and like him. I like Elam over Cyprien mostly because Ozzie does as well. Both have the skills to have great success at this level, in the near future.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

and I'm pretty sure all four were overthrows rather than Elam making a play on the ball. Watch cyprien int vs lousville and specifically Bridgewater. That was the play of a ball hawking safety, can from the complete other side of the field to the other touchline and high pointed it in front of the receiver.

Technically 1 was an underthrow and 3 were overthrows but that doesn't really matter since he stuck to his assignment (or at least appeared to do so) and made the play and many of his batted balls he actually made the play on the ball and broke up a bunch of tough plays.

[Cville-Raven]

the bei a leader part is what attracted me to him the most. You often seen him calling out coverages, helping guys out in the field, and the intensity he payed with was def a perfect fit.

As I watched him more I also said there is a chance he could be off our board altogether after rumours pollards cut was to do with penalties, because Elam could be a personal foul machine at the next level with the aggressiveness he plays with.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying he's going to bust, I think he will be very good, I just think Cyprien will be more interchangeable in coverage situations from his ability and size to man up on big tight ends, whereas Elam wills be limited in that regard. That's the reason I had Cyprien 1 and Elam 2 in my own rankings, I never even bothered to study vaccaro before someone tackles me about him

I get what you're saying its just I think Elam has more room to grow and with the proper coaching he could really good. I was really insulted when I went on the Jags forum and one of them said Cyprien would be the next Sean Taylor. That is just blasphemous. 

[arnie_uk]

I get what you're saying its just I think Elam has more room to grow and with the proper coaching he could really good. I was really insulted when I went on the Jags forum and one of them said Cyprien would be the next Sean Taylor. That is just blasphemous.

well I think Cyprien has more room to grow with not having that top coaching yet, I think his ceiling is higher

[Cville-Raven]

I think his ceiling is higher

Meh

[Legacy_0f_52]

the bei a leader part is what attracted me to him the most. You often seen him calling out coverages, helping guys out in the field, and the intensity he payed with was def a perfect fit.

As I watched him more I also said there is a chance he could be off our board altogether after rumours pollards cut was to do with penalties, because Elam could be a personal foul machine at the next level with the aggressiveness he plays with.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying he's going to bust, I think he will be very good, I just think Cyprien will be more interchangeable in coverage situations from his ability and size to man up on big tight ends, whereas Elam wills be limited in that regard. That's the reason I had Cyprien 1 and Elam 2 in my own rankings, I never even bothered to study vaccaro before someone tackles me about him

Yeah good ole Arnie from the UK's rankings hold much value.

[Cville-Raven]

Yeah good ole Arnie from the UK's rankings hold much value.

Cmon man, you cant disrespect his opinion like that

[T-ray]

Speaking in terms of "ceiling", how can you say that Cyp has a higher ceiling than Elam??? Elam tackles like a missile, and if that gets reigned in and harnessed into better form tackling with the same power as his current hits, then he'll be the best tackling safety in the NFL. And coverage wise, Elam has much more speed than Cyp does. With that speed, and with experience/coaching, he can use that speed to be excellent in coverage and in range. Elam has a much higher ceiling than Cyp.

[Free Agent]

I get what you're saying its just I think Elam has more room to grow and with the proper coaching he could really good. I was really insulted when I went on the Jags forum and one of them said Cyprien would be the next Sean Taylor. That is just blasphemous. 

 

They're Jags fans. They don't know how to handle enthusiasm.

[arnie_uk]

Speaking in terms of "ceiling", how can you say that Cyp has a higher ceiling than Elam??? Elam tackles like a missile, and if that gets reigned in and harnessed into better form tackling with the same power as his current hits, then he'll be the best tackling safety in the NFL. And coverage wise, Elam has much more speed than Cyp does. With that speed, and with experience/coaching, he can use that speed to be excellent in coverage and in range. Elam has a much higher ceiling than Cyp.

no, no he doesn't, Cyprien does. He has better range in coverage, he has better ball skills and coverage ability. He has better coverage versatility than Elam and isn't a slouch when tackling either. He also hasn't had the benefit of being coached by great coaches yet, when he is better taught, learns certain aspects of the game Elam already knows you will see a greater improvement in his game than you will Elam. Cyprien has the length and size to man up on the liks of jimmy graham, he has the speed, instincts and range to play a deep zone, evidenced by his interception of bridgewater last year, check it out if you haven't seen it

He's played up in the box and can tackl and stuff the run.

I get the feeling you've actually never watched Cyprien play and are judging him on the combine.

[arnie_uk]

Meh

that post really enlightened me

[arnie_uk]

no, no he doesn't, Cyprien does. He has better range in coverage, he has better ball skills and coverage ability. He has better coverage versatility than Elam and isn't a slouch when tackling either. He also hasn't had the benefit of being coached by great coaches yet, when he is better taught, learns certain aspects of the game Elam already knows you will see a greater improvement in his game than you will Elam. Cyprien has the length and size to man up on the liks of jimmy graham, he has the speed, instincts and range to play a deep zone, evidenced by his interception of bridgewater last year, check it out if you haven't seen it
He's played up in the box and can tackl and stuff the run.
I get the feeling you've actually never watched Cyprien play and are judging him on the combine.

his one glaring weakness would be play recognition and that but that's what will come at the next level with the coaching, Elam will be a better player immediately, better leader, but Cyprien in the long run will be a notch better IMO. As I said I think it will be a reed trot argument, as to who is the better one.

[arnie_uk]

Speaking in terms of "ceiling", how can you say that Cyp has a higher ceiling than Elam??? Elam tackles like a missile, and if that gets reigned in and harnessed into better form tackling with the same power as his current hits, then he'll be the best tackling safety in the NFL. And coverage wise, Elam has much more speed than Cyp does. With that speed, and with experience/coaching, he can use that speed to be excellent in coverage and in range. Elam has a much higher ceiling than Cyp.

also Elam ran a 4.54, Cyprien 4.56, I wouldn't say Elam is that much after that Cyprien

[Cville-Raven]

also Elam ran a 4.54, Cyprien 4.56, I wouldn't say Elam is that much after that Cyprien

Elam has been listed as running as low as a 4.43

[Cville-Raven]

no, no he doesn't, Cyprien does. He has better range in coverage, he has better ball skills and coverage ability. He has better coverage versatility than Elam and isn't a slouch when tackling either. He also hasn't had the benefit of being coached by great coaches yet, when he is better taught, learns certain aspects of the game Elam already knows you will see a greater improvement in his game than you will Elam. Cyprien has the length and size to man up on the liks of jimmy graham, he has the speed, instincts and range to play a deep zone, evidenced by his interception of bridgewater last year, check it out if you haven't seen it

He's played up in the box and can tackl and stuff the run.

I get the feeling you've actually never watched Cyprien play and are judging him on the combine.

He is only 6'0" Jimmy Graham would absolutely embarrass him, lets be real here.