Is Matt Elam a bust?

[theultimatefanman]

This year he showed no improvement (I thought he got worse) even when he was in his natural position. Should the ravens give up  him and target a ball hawking safety like gerod holliman while moving will hill to SS?

[GrimCoconut]

He played pretty well today against the Browns. 

[Inqui]

He played pretty well today against the Browns. 

Yeah, I said a while ago that we should at the very least wait until the end of next season to declare him a bust or anything to that effect. Today's game strengthens that view for me - let him at least try to prove today's showing wasn't some flash in the pan.

[52520Andrew]

I think he deserves another year, too early to tell as of now but I want some improvement from him. It looks like the coaching staff is finally letting him do stuff that he is better at as opposed to putting him in deep coverage because reasons.

[HockeyAndRavens]

He's been having to play out of position so I wouldn't call him a bust yet.

[H8R]

He's been having to play out of position so I wouldn't call him a bust yet.

Because he's proven to be not very good in any position on the fields...

[PurpleCity5]

Ehhhh, he's heading in that direction, but I wouldn't declare it, I'd say give him another year. Gerod Hollimand has his problems too, tackling being a huge one. 

[berad]

Played well yesterday but was limited with snaps. Played a lot of ST which he did decent at, too.

 

I'll hold out hope, Jimmy didn't start balling until year 3. Can't pretend I'm happy with it, though.

[redrum52]

Played well yesterday but was limited with snaps. Played a lot of ST which he did decent at, too.

I'll hold out hope, Jimmy didn't start balling until year 3. Can't pretend I'm happy with it, though.

Jimmy also showed flashes throughout. His biggest problem to me was health.

[berad]

Jimmy also showed flashes throughout. His biggest problem to me was health.

 

Health plus he didn't play the ball. He'd be glued to the receiver and the ball would whiz by his turned head for a completion.

 

Elam's issue is tackling. He fixes that and becomes consistent, he's at least a solid, average player. That's a fundamental issue he has.

[bpytnjr58]

Do not think he will be re-signed so I will leave it at that.

[H8R]

I still think it's early to say he's a bust.... BUT he has to improve tremendously

[Ravenseconbeast]

Just let it be.  Whatever is not working for him right now is something he needs to take care of.  

[Cillmatic]

Terrible tackling skills+Bad coverage skills+5'9+being a strong safety yet somehow the worst tackler on the field=bust.

[757RavensFan]

Do not think he will be re-signed so I will leave it at that.

 

He's still on his rookie contract in 2015.

[K-Dog]

Gee I never really gave it any thought.

 

( see other threads on this topic )

I just gave it some thought.

 

No.

[RavensFanMania]

This year he showed no improvement (I thought he got worse) even when he was in his natural position. Should the ravens give up  him and target a ball hawking safety like gerod holliman while moving will hill to SS?

I believe part of him looking worse was due to the entire secondary being worse.  They need to give him atleast one more year before they give up on him. 

[PerpleHayze]

If your standard is where he was drafted, then I think you can make a legit case for him being a bust. But if you go back and watch how he played at Florida, I say he's playing the same way. He was physical and aggressive but struggled in man coverage and had a tendency to go for kill shots as opposed to wrapping guys up and making solid tackles. He's the same guy. I think he can be effective if put in position to maximize his strengths. He's an in the box type of guy and plays his best in coverage when he's in zone with receivers in front of him. His tackling and pursuit angles were issues in college and still are, so he has to improve there. He has the physical traits (aside from ideal height) to play in the NFL. I'd argue he was over drafted based on his play in college as opposed to being a bust. The Ravens may have strayed from their BPA philosophy and reached for Elam (think he was 32nd pick in the 1st round) out of need at the position or the depth of safeties in that year's draft.. He was probably a mid-2nd to early 3rd round type of pick based on his play. Of course I'm saying all this in hindsight, but I remember Dan Bryden writing an article pointing out some of these issues when Elam was drafted.

[cursona pirate]

One more year. I liked what he was doing yesterday.

[xxhighriser]

Terrible tackling skills+Bad coverage skills+5'9+being a strong safety yet somehow the worst tackler on the field=bust.

His coverage isnt as bad as people like to make it seem,  a lot of the time he's there just needed a little extra jump to make the play.  And something people really overlook about Elam is his playmaking ability.  Granted he's not getting many picks, he has a knack for plucking the ball out.  Not many DBs in the league are getting as many strips as he does.  

[izvoodoo]

I think pretty much every player gets 3 years.  Playing in the NFL is rough man.  

Certainly wouldn't say he's been a good pick though.

Edited December 29, 2014 by izvoodoo

[PeRK82]

Yes, i think he is a BUST. But i was wrong about Jimmy Smith. Man , i was THEE biggest J.Smith Hater ( for good reason though)

 

But from what i have seen from Elam ( which is Nothing ), i have to say Elam is a BUST.

 

Just look at the Browns game, Elam broke up a pass, but what i was thinking. Why wasnt that ball intercepted. Lets not forget how slow Elam is either.  

 

Maybe they need to play to Elams strengths but we all know that isnt coverage , AT ALL. I think we may need him to be more of a blitzer. 

[rmcjacket23]

I think pretty much every player gets 3 years.  Playing in the NFL is rough man.  

Certainly wouldn't say he's been a good pick though.

For the most part (especially high draft picks), yes.

 

He's not getting cut this offseason. It costs more to cut him than to keep him (about $800K more, so not a huge number), so at the very least, he gets retained as depth, though nobody, including the organization, can feel great about our secondary if he leaves training camp as a starter.

 

Most first round rookie contracts are sort of designed to give that a player a minimum of 3 years with that team, because it generally has negative cap implications to cut them before then.

[BmoreBird22]

Just look at the Browns game, Elam broke up a pass, but what i was thinking. Why wasnt that ball intercepted. Lets not forget how slow Elam is either.   

That ball was way out of the reach of being intercepted (would have been the best of the best on ESPN if it were intercepted) and he ran a 4.43 at the combine, from what I just read, so he's not slow, at all.

[PeRK82]

His coverage isnt as bad as people like to make it seem,  a lot of the time he's there just needed a little extra jump to make the play.  And something people really overlook about Elam is his playmaking ability.  Granted he's not getting many picks, he has a knack for plucking the ball out.  Not many DBs in the league are getting as many strips as he does.  

 Not trying to insult you by any means but do you have video link of him '' plucking the ball out "  And honestly, i think he may have one strip but ill be honest, i have no reculation at all.  And even if he has multiple strips, they are way way too far and thin.

 

Elam gets targeted more than anyone and for good reason, im sorry but when i see him run, it looks like i have my tv on slow motion and he is a cb, he plays one of the fastest positions.  I think the only reason he is playing is because we literally do not have anyone else.

[PeRK82]

That ball was way out of the reach of being intercepted (would have been the best of the best on ESPN if it were intercepted) and he ran a 4.43 at the combine, from what I just read, so he's not slow, at all.

 I have to disagree,  that ball could have easily been int. all he had to do was look. Shaw wasnt throwing lasers. He may have ran a 4.4 but when i see him on the field, i have never once thought, speed, watching Elam. 

[BmoreBird22]

People say they haven't seen flashes from Elam, but he certainly has shown a lot of flashes. The Bears, Lions, and now the Browns games were all very complete games. Of course, three complete games in two years isn't ideal, but he's also shown flashes within games, such as the huge strip sack in the Colts game. I know people love to hate on Elam because he'll give up plays, but he's certainly made some plays.

 

One thing I can say is that if he learned to tackle, he'd easily justify his draft position. He's in the backfield or ready to blow up wide receiver/running back screens so frequently, but just doesn't finish he tackle. He's honestly generally in the position to make the play, but just doesn't always. So instead of it being, "Wow, Elam just made a tackle for a five yard loss," it turns into, "Wow, Elam just missed another tackle." If he could improve on his fundamentals and tackling, he'd be a very solid strong safety/nickel-back, at the very least

[BmoreBird22]

 I have to disagree,  that ball could have easily been int. all he had to do was look. Shaw wasnt throwing lasers. He may have ran a 4.4 but when i see him on the field, i have never once thought, speed, watching Elam. 

It was even out of the reach of the receiver because it was thrown too wide. What makes you possibly think Elam could have gotten it? It was definitely a very difficult interception because it was no where near either one of them

[BmoreBird22]

 Not trying to insult you by any means but do you have video link of him '' plucking the ball out "  And honestly, i think he may have one strip but ill be honest, i have no reculation at all.  And even if he has multiple strips, they are way way too far and thin.

He had one against the Colts, possibly the biggest defensive play of the game, and one against the Browns

[xxhighriser]

 Not trying to insult you by any means but do you have video link of him '' plucking the ball out "  And honestly, i think he may have one strip but ill be honest, i have no reculation at all.  And even if he has multiple strips, they are way way too far and thin.

 

Elam gets targeted more than anyone and for good reason, im sorry but when i see him run, it looks like i have my tv on slow motion and he is a cb, he plays one of the fastest positions.  I think the only reason he is playing is because we literally do not have anyone else.

Nah, no video.  But I know a couple weren't recovered so he wasn't credited, another was given to Mosley I believe.  He also had one yesterday going out of bounds.  Elam was one of my favorites coming out of college but trust me my patience is running thin on him, thats one of the few good things I really collected from his season. 

 

Yea he's definitely slow for where Pees plays him, lack of length doesn't help at all if you're a slow DB too.  I wanna give him one more year though if not we have Brooks and Will Hill is a MUST resign.