Matt Elam's tackling

[JHarris]

I don't normally start threads and after a win I try to overlook all the little problems. That being said I'm really concerned about Elam's tackling. Not once today did I see him wrap up. He's throwing his shoulder and getting a good pop but if the ball carrier can take the initial hit they can continue to stay upright. He's getting in position and flying to the ball,I just need to see him finishing the tackle. Your thoughts ?

[rmw10]

Yes he needs to wrap up.  He's keeping plays in front of him and he's making good decisions, but he needs to wrap guys up and keep them from getting those extra 3-5 yards per play.

[arnie_uk]

He wrapped up occasionally in college when in one on one situations, but I've noticed if he has people round him he seems to go as hard as he can with his body to try and force a fumble, and if he misses someone else can finish the tackle.

[hawkprey]

Hits add up and sometimes it helps to impose yourself early in the game, even if you give up a few more yards. Make the receivers timid.

[The Mom Gene]

I love Matt Elam. Always have... I love the way he hits... He was always so physical there too... In FL.
With Webby and Jimmy back there too, they are all doing a much better job at keeping the play in front of them. And, just think, this guy is still a rookie. I can't imagine him once he matures into that NFL mentality.

[CalvinSmoke]

I know the plays you are talking about, and yes it is dangerous. He aims well and it hasn't cost him lately because he normally goes for the big pop when teamates are around. I'd like to see a little more rap up as well. 

[Kev0825]

When he forces a fumble no one will be complaining. But yes I agree he should probably wrap up some.

[PolishRifle]

Elam is improving fast, imho. I am more patient with players now, after I ranted about Jimmy Smith for so long.

[Bltravens]

Elam is improving fast, imho. I am more patient with players now, after I ranted about Jimmy Smith for so long.

Lol.  What mother said about patience is correct.

Smith gave up one completion today and I'm pretty sure it's because he was so bored he stopped paying attention to the game lol.

Elam will come along.  I'm most excited about him when I think what he'll do when we use him like Ihedigbo now when we finally get a real FS.

[H8R]

He's been very underwhelming , And I saw what you saw... Shoulder drop tackles. That's not good enough. + he was bad in coverage on a few plays.
He's not attacking, he's waiting for runners to get to him... that's a problem!

[JoeyFlex5]

Lol.  What mother said about patience is correct.

Smith gave up one completion today and I'm pretty sure it's because he was so bored he stopped paying attention to the game lol.

Elam will come along.  I'm most excited about him when I think what he'll do when we use him like Ihedigbo now when we finally get a real FS.

lmao I was thinking the same exact thing when jimmy allowed that completion.

 

but yes im a HUGE fan of elam, and I haven't been this excited about a draft pick since jimmy smith, but he  had me scratching my head a little today, I remember one play where powell broke loose a little bit and went about 8 yards downfield, he was sort of dragging defenders for a few yards, and elam stood right in his path, not running, and waited for him to come, and then threw a shoulder into him, and that was it. it knocked him the rest of the way down and it was a nice little pop, but what would he have done if it was a 1-on-1 open field situation? would he have wrapped up? attacked the ballcarrier? or would he do the same thing and fail to bring him down? luckily our defense is so swarming, and when he gets to move to SS we'll see much more of him, so we don't have to worry much about him missing tackles, but his lack of wrapping up was a glaring concern for me today.

[EricH]

Elam...tackling  :notwork:

[Militant X 1]

He's been very underwhelming , And I saw what you saw... Shoulder drop tackles. That's not good enough. + he was bad in coverage on a few plays.
He's not attacking, he's waiting for runners to get to him... that's a problem!

I agree H8R.  I hate when I see DB's doing that!  run up, meet the ball carrier head on, square up and then drop the hammer on that cat while wrapping him up!  textbook tackling 101!  lol!

 

#Mili

[sflegend89]

Elam been in positions to make big hits and not wrapping up cost him.. I'm a huge fan of Elam but he needs to focus more on good tackling form. surprised the coaching staff hasn't grilled him on it yet when they watch film. At least he's getting better every week, he's a lot more comfortable out there

[gabefergy]

This was a huge concern I had with Elam in college. He always tried to hit instead of tackle. I guess old habits die hard.

[flaccopoe]

You expect an SS to exhibit proper tackling form.  I'm a little concerned that he hasn't shown much improvement, but he's just a rookie.  I hope BAL signs Reed as a safeties coach, that would work wonders!

[sflegend89]

I think if he starts focusing on wrapping up it will work itself out over time. As for the coverage aspect, that's where the learning curve comes in. NFL qb's are a lot better at reading FS's and throwing to a spot.. that can be tricky for a rookie. The more he plays the better grasp he's going to have on common NFL route tree's and necessary coverage adjustments. It took Jimmy and Webb a few years to really get going, I expect the same with Elam. His full potential is going to be reached at SS which will happen sooner rather then later. I see him and Arthur Brown being cornerstones of the defense a few years from now, just gotta be patient for now and let them put in the work. 

[jdynamite]

I've noticed this also, unfortunately this is a pretty common thing in the NFL where guys don't use their arms to do a good form tackle, and with less practice time available now, coaches have fewer opportunities to correct this during live action.

 

If he isn't going to wrap up on tackles then I hope he can at least for a few fumbles, down the stretch, I'm surprised he hasn't made any game changing plays yet ( Ints, FF, FR w/ big return, deflections for ints, big hits to separate the ball from player)

 

Webb is one of the better tackling DBs in the league ( his tackling as a Corner reminds me of Antoine Winfield tackling ) but even Webb throws a shoulder low and occasionally leads to extra yards being gained.

[sflegend89]

I've noticed this also, unfortunately this is a pretty common thing in the NFL where guys don't use their arms to do a good form tackle, and with less practice time available now, coaches have fewer opportunities to correct this during live action.

 

If he isn't going to wrap up on tackles then I hope he can at least for a few fumbles, down the stretch, I'm surprised he hasn't made any game changing plays yet ( Ints, FF, FR w/ big return, deflections for ints, big hits to separate the ball from player)

 

Webb is one of the better tackling DBs in the league ( his tackling as a Corner reminds me of Antoine Winfield tackling ) but even Webb throws a shoulder low and occasionally leads to extra yards being gained.

 

 

Elam did deflect an Andy Dalton pass to Ihedigbo for an int late in the game and recovered a fumble in a different game.. also was really close to a fumble recovery for a TD but it got whistled dead and it was a borderline fumble when they actually showed the replay.  I agree though, Elam hasn't had that season defining play yet but I think he's over due heading into the Steelers game at home in prime time. 

[SecretAgentMan]

Guys he's a freaking rookie. He's going to make mistakes. There are very few rookies that just come in and dominate.

He keeps making mistakes then he'll learn the hard way.

All we have to do is wait. He's not playing poorly, and a few mistakes are expected.

[The Raven]

Guys he's a freaking rookie. He's going to make mistakes. There are very few rookies that just come in and dominate.

He keeps making mistakes then he'll learn the hard way.

All we have to do is wait. He's not playing poorly, and a few mistakes are expected.

 

This is a mistake that should be fixed by the time one gets to the NFL. If you're not wrapping up in your first year in the NFL, you're not going to learn to. That's a skill learned in high school ball. If you don't grasp it by now, you probably won't ever.

 

Example: Dawan Landry and Pollard have both been in the league for a while, and even they go for shoulder hits pretty often. In Landry's time here, wrap up tackles were an anomaly. 

[Alexir]

He will get it. Still a better tackler than EReed

[SecretAgentMan]

This is a mistake that should be fixed by the time one gets to the NFL. If you're not wrapping up in your first year in the NFL, you're not going to learn to. That's a skill learned in high school ball. If you don't grasp it by now, you probably won't ever.

Example: Dawan Landry and Pollard have both been in the league for a while, and even they go for shoulder hits pretty often. In Landry's time here, wrap up tackles were an anomaly.

That doesn't mean he won't become a good player(this thread is drawing to the Elam trolls).

He prob won't learn how to arm tackle, but he should at least learn to attack(as said earlier).
I'm concerned, but if he attacks rather than waits it could be a lot different.

[Ed_Reed20]

He will get it. Still a better tackler than EReed

 

The Ed we saw from around '09 onwards, yes. Ed before that, I don't think so. 

[TDubbs]

Playing DB as a rookie is so difficult mentally for these young guys. Especially in the modern NFL where they need to worry about fines. I have no problem with Elam's tackling. He's looking for big hits, but he's not leading with his helmet and delivering some beauty shoulders. The wrapping up and safe tackling will come with time. 

[Jokerraven]

Playing DB as a rookie is so difficult mentally for these young guys. Especially in the modern NFL where they need to worry about fines. I have no problem with Elam's tackling. He's looking for big hits, but he's not leading with his helmet and delivering some beauty shoulders. The wrapping up and safe tackling will come with time. 

agree with this and would add he has a huge upside he is only going to get better .

[TDubbs]

agree with this and would add he has a huge upside he is only going to get better .

 

Elam has massive upside! He's got the right mentality to be successful, he's dedicated to his craft. Plus, those shoulders of his have a life of their own, dude is yolked. 

[Alexir]

The Ed we saw from around '09 onwards, yes. Ed before that, I don't think so.

Well duh.. I'm talking about the old man people wanted to stay. He should of went out on top instead bounce around losing teams. He was a legend, last 3 seasons have been sad for him

[Ed_Reed20]

Well duh.. I'm talking about the old man people wanted to stay. He should of went out on top instead bounce around losing teams. He was a legend, last 3 seasons have been sad for him

 

Agreed.

[cursona pirate]

Elam has looked sharped as of late in my opinion.