Is Matt Elam a bust?

[JoeyFlex5]

This is an excellent post and I agree wholeheartedly that the Ravens will no if he is a bust or not during the offseason, maybe even before training camp.  If he is, expect Ozzie to attempt to trade him.

but he gets raving reviews every training camp. i dont know if its the reporting staff trying to hype up a busted first round pick or if he actually performs great when there is no pressure, ie. in real game situations. 

 

i still think the potential is there, if he can just go out there and play and stop overthinking and panicking on every snap then he will show why we picked him in the first, the kid has undeniable ability as a disruptive force playing in the box, but he has always been questionable in the open field being left on an island. the problem is, the coaching staff has realized this problem and they still scheme him in a way that plays to his strengths and he still cant do anything right, i think the mental aspect of the nfl is just hampering him big time. if he can understand the play book in his 3rd year and get his head on straight, and finally go out there and just PLAY instead of over thinking everything, he will be fine, but if he doesnt show a grasp on the playbook by year 3 then he is gone and its a missed pick.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

We will determine if he is a bust at the end of his rookie contract.

 

So far his performance has been far under what was expected of him.  People on this board seem to think that he's completely unaware of the situation, which is mind-boggling.  Matt is a smart guy who clearly wants to play better.  He knows it, we know it, the coaches know it.  He's got 2 more years to figure out how to play in the NFL, but until that time I will support the guy.

[MOMOQUE]

Why not move Elam to corner? What is his 40 time?

[1/28/01]

Why not move Elam to corner? What is his 40 time?

He cant cover and who cares what his 40 time is. 40 time doesnt make a CB.

[codizzle]

He cant cover and who cares what his 40 time is. 40 time doesnt make a CB.

Though it does make a raider

[Purple Nurple]

Though it does make a raider

Took the words right off of my thumbs.

[Sami84]

Matt Elam really thought he was the real deal from the get go. I remember the moment he got here he trademarked eat greedy and started printing teeshirts and i remember in his first game or two as a raven one of the commentators said they spoke to him about how he viewed his man to man skills ..his response '' elite'' then what about his cover skills '' exceptional''

[Militant X 1]

Elam can't wrap up and tackle himself out of a wet paper sack.

[Bruce_Almty]

Matt, and the rest of the NFL, will know his fate come Sept/Oct; either he will be playing or sitting on the bench. I don't have faith in him improving but I'll let his play dictate his boom or bust status.

[flynismo]

Took the words right off of my thumbs.

You type with your thumbs? :-O

[codizzle]

You type with your thumbs? :-O

Cell phone.. Mobile skin

The cool kids do it that way

[gooftroop]

Hard to say he's not a bust when he already has a reel full of lowlight moments in his brief career.

[jdynamite]

Why not move Elam to corner? What is his 40 time?

Not many safeties have the natural hips necessary to play Corner. Where they must turn or flip their hips on a dime to react to WRs. Elam's 40 wouldn't help his coverage ability, it would only help him recover from being burnt after bad coverage.

Elam is a strange case, he has played very poorly thus far, but he has never played as the in the box safety ( SS ) that he seemed more suited to be. It seemed with every week his tackling got worse, he definitely lacks the confidence needed to make plays in the backend. He thinks to much when the ball is in the air, then he tries to overcompensate with a "big hit" that usually leads to a missed poor formed tackle.

[blitzking33]

Elam for runningback.. trade Pierce.

 

I'm only kidding.

[Orange_Peanut]

NO, he's not a bust. Honestly think he just needs to spend more time in the film room. Brains over brawn. Ed Reed was a testament to that in his later years. 

[Guest]

Why not move Elam to corner? What is his 40 time?

 

Seem to recall 4.54

 

But the other poster is correct. He literally cannot cover.

[Guest]

Elam for runningback.. trade Pierce.

 

I'm only kidding.

 

Actually, that might not be a bad idea.

 

Elam is a physical specimen............give him a shot at running back........he doesn't have to tackle and doesn't really have to catch.  Maybe middle linebacker............but he'd have to tackle some.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Danny D

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

If Elam does not fix it he wont be here or anywhere  in the NFL for long well maybe the Raiders might look at him but last time I checked Tackling and good decision making is part of NFL 101.

[Ravenseconbeast]

I'm not his biggest fan, but I wouldn't trade Elam just because we signed Lewis. Lewis could be a free agent bust as well. Just because he played well for the Texans doesn't mean he'll light it up here. I think he very well could, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

Same thought. I Dont believe the lewis hype until I see him on the field producing. He could easily be Michael huff 2.0

[Ravenseconbeast]

NO, he's not a bust. Honestly think he just needs to spend more time in the film room. Brains over brawn. Ed Reed was a testament to that in his later years.

Ed Reed was a great SS and the best FS anyone seen in modern era...

[Gordo52]

Ed Reed was a great SS and the best FS anyone seen in modern era...

But what was his 40

[Sami84]

Same thought. I Dont believe the lewis hype until I see him on the field producing. He could easily be Michael huff 2.0

Agreed. Infact muchael huff had a better resume!

[codizzle]

But what was his 40

Bout tree fiddy

[Orange_Peanut]

Ed Reed was a great SS and the best FS anyone seen in modern era...

not comparing Elam to Ed. I think Elam has the tools to be great but not the football IQ. All of his Gator highlights showed that he can contribute to his team because he knew what he was doing and he played fast. Also safety is probably the position with the most learning curve in today's game.

[ludy51]

As far as I've heard is that Elam is determined, upset with himself and a really hard worker. It just hasn't clicked yet

Edited March 19, 2015 by ludy51

[Blackbirds Rule]

I made a thread about Jimmy Smith after his second year. I was wrong on him. I'm not going to make that same assumption for Elam. I'll give him a third season to see where he falls. If he has a bad 3rd season or regresses then I believe he's a bust. If he gets cut in training camp that'll also answer the question.

[AsianRice]

I made a thread about Jimmy Smith after his second year. I was wrong on him. I'm not going to make that same assumption for Elam. I'll give him a third season to see where he falls. If he has a bad 3rd season or regresses then I believe he's a bust. If he gets cut in training camp that'll also answer the question.

nothing wrong to call out under-performed players; if they are upset, they should work harder and make naysayers eat some crows or just fade away and find another job...

[PurpleCity5]

We all know Ed. Great vision, IQ, ball Hawk...ect....All of that is non-existent in Elam. I'm not giving up, but if he goes through Camp and isn't the starter, it's hard to imagine what his future will be. 

[Sami84]

Here is the problem

 

You either have Great Vision and football IQ or you don't. Ok well you could still be a hitter and tackler near the line..another problem..he's too small and he's an atrocious tackler.

 

Some people here were thinking Bob Sanders..

 

I cried..painfully..Bob sanders had high football IQ

 

altho pees was worse..comparing him potentially to Troy.

[monkeycatt]

i watched a replay of the week 3 game in cleveland last night on nfl network and a few things struck me (besides it being a very good game).

 

1.  torrey smith made some excellent plays in that game, i hope we won't miss his production

2. i'm glad we still have steve smith and i hope and pray we get pitta back. 

3. jacoby jones has trouble catching the ball

4. matt elam missed tackles and always seemed to be in the wrong place.

 

keep in mind, this was only this game i was observing, and it's different when you re-watch a game, as you look at elements you might not have before when caught up in the moment of winning vs. losing.