will elam get it straight?

[JoeyFlex5]

elam played damn good the first 2 weeks, and then was absolutely horrible vs cleveland, he got completely abused by multiple players. its obvious coverage isnt his strong suit, we knew that when we drafted him. 

 

i cant tell at all, whether it is elams play, or if it is pees's coordinating that is making him appear lackluster, when he is defending the run or playing up close against a short passing game, his ability is obvious, but he just doesnt seem to stand out like he should for most of the game. 

 

do we need a true FS and another CB that badly? or does pees just not know how to properly use elam? or is it that elam is playing solid but isnt quite living up to expectations? 

 

i am confused by elam, and im not bashing because he was the guy i expected and wanted us to pick at 32 2 years ago, im a huge elam fan, even bought his jersey recently, but i cant quite put my finger on it, he just isnt what i was expecting him to be so far(rookie season aside)

[dontbnvus]

I honestly feel they are playing him out of position way too much. They are putting him all over the field. There is so much running through that kids head its insane. Coverages have to be confusing as hell back there at times. I mean seriously they were using the kid as a nickle at times too.

I think Elam will be fine. We are trying too hard to mask areas of weakness. It will work itself out as long as we don't suffer more injuries.

But you are right. We need a true free safety. We were spoiled for sooooo many years. Hopefully Brooks or Hill will be able to step up soon.

Those are my thoughts. But I have been known to be wrong before. LOL

[FlocksGottaFeed]

Elam should be right back to game 1 and 2 form this Sunday.

These are not excuses just observations - Remember: This was his 1st game with Webb back. The communication had to be a challenge. In addition, Webb wasn't really up to speed, as well. He usually needs a game or 2 when returning from injury to be the Webb we love.  Lastly, the passing scheme that the Browns ran at home was truly exceptional and unfamiliar to every team, so far.

 

This Sunday we will see an A+ performance from our secondary. Elam will be back and so will Webb. I believe we will see at least 1 int and forced fumble coming from our secondary.

 

GO Ravens!!!

[FlocksGottaFeed]

I honestly feel they are playing him out of position way too much. They are putting him all over the field. There is so much running through that kids head its insane. Coverages have to be confusing as hell back there at times. I mean seriously they were using the kid as a nickle at times too.

I think Elam will be fine. We are trying too hard to mask areas of weakness. It will work itself out as long as we don't suffer more injuries.

But you are right. We need a true free safety. We were spoiled for sooooo many years. Hopefully Brooks or Hill will be able to step up soon.

Those are my thoughts. But I have been known to be wrong before. LOL

Agreed. Hill's return is critical.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

If we can get all the pieces in place Jason will be alright! Right now I just think he's trying too hard to do to much. Once we get our secondary stabilized (L-Webb) miss you brother, he will be alright! IMO, he's putting a lot of pressure on himself and you got to love that but a long talk with Ed Reed would do him good. He's a Raven alright, we just expect too much right now! Hey Ed, you busy this weekend? Love ya 20!!! Jason, we believe, don't push!!

[dhstandard]

I'd like to see Hill playing single high.  Elam seems to be on an island out there sometimes.  Let him play close to the line of scrimmage where he excels.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

If we can get all the pieces in place Jason will be alright! Right now I just think he's trying too hard to do to much. Once we get our secondary stabilized (L-Webb) miss you brother, he will be alright! IMO, he's putting a lot of pressure on himself and you got to love that but a long talk with Ed Reed would do him good. He's a Raven alright, we just expect too much right now! Hey Ed, you busy this weekend? Love ya 20!!! Jason, we believe, don't push!!

Totally agree. Man, I wish that we could somehow get Ed back as a coach, but he's getting 'really' paid right now. I think his love for the game will eventually bring him back to us, but until then...Drop us a line brother.

[GrimCoconut]

I don't think Elam played that well week one. That's just me though.

[The Raven]

Elam needs to stop thinking so much. He's athletic enough to play SS, rover, nickel, and even FS, but I think his propensity for overthinking (and sometimes underthinking) is what dooms him.

 

He's an athletic freak. But the mental part of his game is weak right now. He needs to get that straight and just play ball. 

 

Yes, I do think he's athletic enough for FS, just not smart enough.

[gabefergy]

Elam needs to stop thinking so much. He's athletic enough to play SS, rover, nickel, and even FS, but I think his propensity for overthinking (and sometimes underthinking) is what dooms him.

He's an athletic freak. But the mental part of his game is weak right now. He needs to get that straight and just play ball.

Yes, I do think he's athletic enough for FS, just not smart enough.

I don't think he has the range or speed to play FS. Poor instincts and poor route recognition without the speed to recover is not a good combination.

[The Raven]

I don't think he has the range or speed to play FS. Poor instincts and poor route recognition without the speed to recover is not a good combination.

 

That's true. Dude needs to be closer to the line of scrimmage until he learns how to read a route and stay deep when he's the single high.

 

Pees went off about this the other day, when Elam said it was about a miscommunication. Pees said there's nothing to communicate about staying deep and playing cover three.

[The Mom Gene]

Elam needs to stop thinking so much. He's athletic enough to play SS, rover, nickel, and even FS, but I think his propensity for overthinking (and sometimes underthinking) is what dooms him.

 

He's an athletic freak. But the mental part of his game is weak right now. He needs to get that straight and just play ball. 

 

Yes, I do think he's athletic enough for FS, just not smart enough.

Absolutely...  He is thinking too much.  At FL, he was everywhere... and he was good...  I'm thinking he may be trying too hard to be the next Ed.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Totally agree. Man, I wish that we could somehow get Ed back as a coach, but he's getting 'really' paid right now. I think his love for the game will eventually bring him back to us, but until then...Drop us a line brother.

Thanks Bro! I feel ya and a little Ed would go a long way now!!

[AsianRice]

Absolutely...  He is thinking too much.  At FL, he was everywhere... and he was good...  I'm thinking he may be trying too hard to be the next Ed.

That is a very bad thing to do; someone that you want to be exact to which is impossible cuz you are not him.  You have to be who you are.

[The Mom Gene]

That is a very bad thing to do; someone that you want to be exact to which is impossible cuz you are not him.  You have to be who you are.

Exactly!

[RaineV1]

I do think Pees is using Elam wrong and moving him around a bit too much. But, that largely has to do with the lack of quality defensive backs on the team right now. Once someone steps up as the FS, I think Elam will be fine.

[52520Andrew]

We need to put him closer the the LOS as opposed to having him keep playing the deep zones. A good single high safety would free him up to do his thing underneath

[GrimCoconut]

We need to put him closer the the LOS as opposed to having him keep playing the deep zones. A good single high safety would free him up to do his thing underneath

Yeah that's how I feel. I'm not going to give up on him. I just think his confidence is shot at FS. I don't think he likes it and I think it's showing. I'm not sure if he's smart enough either and I also question whether there's some internal conflict between defensive church and players in terms of how they're playing guys, considering how Elam chalked it up to communication and Pees denied that. That's a different discussion though.

I've been stressing for a while that with a true FS we would solve probably every problem on our defense. I'd love for Ozzie to draft Kurtis Drummond or sign McCourty as a free agent, though that's very unlikely to happen.

[jazz1988]

Yeah that's how I feel. I'm not going to give up on him. I just think his confidence is shot at FS. I don't think he likes it and I think it's showing. I'm not sure if he's smart enough either and I also question whether there's some internal conflict between defensive church and players in terms of how they're playing guys, considering how Elam chalked it up to communication and Pees denied that. That's a different discussion though.

I've been stressing for a while that with a true FS we would solve probably every problem on our defense. I'd love for Ozzie to draft Kurtis Drummond or sign McCourty as a free agent, though that's very unlikely to happen.

 

What I  don't understand is what was the purpose of bringing in Darian Stewalt to play free safety if it wasn't really going to change Elam responsibilities in our defense?  I can understand it much better if our coaches actually thought at the time what ever free safety we draft  this year would be ready to play right away.

 

Seems like to me  the coaches intensions this awhole time was for Elam to play multiple roles in our defense this year and  I know we signed Will Hill but theres no way we would know he was going to get suspended /available after we signed Darian Stewalt.

[JoeyFlex5]

i agree with literally everything that is being said here. 

 

i see some flashes from elam when he gets to really do his thing, his burst and knack for being in a position to just be disruptive is apparent, but the way we play 2 high and put elam at nickel instead of letting him roam the box and blitz off the edge and come up and lay some big hits, is really messing his game up

[balfan23]

What I  don't understand is what was the purpose of bringing in Darian Stewalt to play free safety if it wasn't really going to change Elam responsibilities in our defense?  I can understand it much better if our coaches actually thought at the time what ever free safety we draft  this year would be ready to play right away.

 

Seems like to me  the coaches intensions this awhole time was for Elam to play multiple roles in our defense this year and  I know we signed Will Hill but theres no way we would know he was going to get suspended /available after we signed Darian Stewalt.

I'm not so sure that is the case. My thinking is, they hoped Stewart would hold down the FS position, but are losing faith in his ability to do that. While Elam wasn't very good in that position last year, perhaps their thinking is - what they saw of him there last year is better than what they are seeing of Stewart this year. 

 

However, I think Elam is not handling getting moved around the way his has been. I just feel like we've to put him in a place where he can be effective and put Stewart in at FS, hold our nose and pray that Will Hill will be the savior we all are hoping he will be. 

[Stephenjr]

Agreed. Hill's return is critical.

Has Hill been reinstated yet? If not the league is playing favoritism to the star players.

[Willbacker]

I'm hoping Brooks is playing today. He can help with the slot and deep responsibilities. Elam is definitely a SS and should be used as a defacto LB.

[1/28/01]

Has Hill been reinstated yet? If not the league is playing favoritism to the star players.

No. Only 4 of 20 were reinstated/adjusted for various reasons. No favoritism and no conspiracy against the Ravens.

[PurpleCityLights]

Elam is a SS NOT a FS, that's the problem....

[PurpleCityLights]

I'm hoping Brooks is playing today. He can help with the slot and deep responsibilities. Elam is definitely a SS and should be used as a defacto LB.

This^^^

[rmw10]

He really needs to improve.  I've still seen flashes of his ability but it just doesn't seem to be working out.  His instincts in coverage are awful, but he seems to know how to play the run close to the LOS.  My biggest beef with him, and it has been since we drafted him, is that he has no idea how to tackle.  He goes for the big hit every time and it continually burns us.  He can get away with that at the LOS because he has help behind him when/if he misses, but he absolutely cannot just throw his shoulder into someone as the last line of defense and he doesn't seem to get that.

 

He can definitely turn it around, but he really needs to improve in a lot of areas.  I'd like to see him in more of a full-time in the box safety role before I write him off.

[The Raven]

I think it would help if Webb wasn't inactive every week, forcing Elam into the nickel role. I think he'd be better off if we didn't keep switching him around. Get a damn corner and keep Elam at safety.

 

Or how about this. Play Chykie. Play Asa. They haven't done horribly. Put them on the field and stop diddling with Elam at nickel.

[52520Andrew]

Yeah that's how I feel. I'm not going to give up on him. I just think his confidence is shot at FS. I don't think he likes it and I think it's showing. I'm not sure if he's smart enough either and I also question whether there's some internal conflict between defensive church and players in terms of how they're playing guys, considering how Elam chalked it up to communication and Pees denied that. That's a different discussion though.

I've been stressing for a while that with a true FS we would solve probably every problem on our defense. I'd love for Ozzie to draft Kurtis Drummond or sign McCourty as a free agent, though that's very unlikely to happen.

 

Yeah I get that they want to be able to disguise coverages a bit more but it is pretty clear Elam isn't really that good playing deep, he just looks lost out there. My guess is that they just don't like Stewart back there and don't think Brooks is ready but it is a need that was pretty clear last year as well. Hopefully Hill can come in and do well there and we can get him re-signed/develop Brooks to be our guy of the future. 

[1/28/01]

Still looks lost.