Is Matt Elam a bust?

[MrPlankton]

That missed tackle on the first Amendola touchdown made me physically ill.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

I know hindsight is agonizing for a fan/ exec but our 2013 1st and 2nd round picks were poor and really not in line with our defense scheme. Have not given up on brown but I am not at all impressed with Matt Elam.

Just think, here is what some fans were suggesting in the 2013 draft

Trade out of first

2-Keenan Allen wr ( was the closest wr coming out of college similar to bolden who got us the SB)

2-TJ McDonald SS ( big safety to cover big TE who give us tough mismatches)

Get extra 3rd

Elam hasn't had the season I expected but I'm not convinced that he's a bust. He has a quality that can't be taught 'big play' capabilities; however, needs to adjust his mechanics for this level (tackling, positioning).

 

Being dump into a Defensive backfield injury riddled with no continuity didn't help his cause. The good thing is the tackling and positioning can be addressed so there's still a chance he'll be able to up his game if he's surrounded with better talent for a full season.

[ratedr]

Can't cover, can't tackle, can't find the ball. Bust.

[Pirate88]

You can watch the dude play and see he won't get much better. A rare questionable pick for Oz n Decosta at the time and he hasn't lived up to first rd status for sure. He would possibly get cut this offseason if he were a Rd. 4 pick. First round safety should be plug n play. Decosta n Oz wanted to replace the end reed luxury so badly they broke the late round1 rule of best player available! The talk is the ravens really liked Johnathan Banks and Kiko Alonso but felt they could get Brown Banks or Alonso in mid RD2. Alonso is future all pro on par with Mosley. Anyways they reached for a safety in a poor safety draft. We really could have used Banks Saturday and Darryl Smith is nearing mid 30s. His play could slow down early as next year. Elam is a bust for a round3 pick much less first. Brooks looks more promising but no garuntees of becoming a good starter. Elam is terrible and not even the hitter he was touted as. After 2 seasons he isis clearly a bust. They lost focus trying to replace a first ballot HOF player and picked a lemon.

[drdoub]

Elam hasn't had the season I expected but I'm not convinced that he's a bust. He has a quality that can't be taught 'big play' capabilities; however, needs to adjust his mechanics for this level (tackling, positioning).

 

Being dump into a Defensive backfield injury riddled with no continuity didn't help his cause. The good thing is the tackling and positioning can be addressed so there's still a chance he'll be able to up his game if he's surrounded with better talent for a full season.

He had big play abilities in college but he is too small and lacks fundamentals to make those big plays in nfl. Sorry he is not that good. I will give him 1 more season before I call him a complete bust, but he has not showed any flashes that indicate that he has learned much over 2 years to say he will change. So I anticipate we stash him on the bench until his contract is up and then we will let him go to FA and watch nobody pick him up.

[1/28/01]

Can't cover, can't tackle, can't find the ball. Bust.

This!

[ratedr]

I anticipate we stash him on the bench until his contract is up and then we will let him go to FA and watch nobody pick him up.

This is exactly what's gonna happen. Ravens rarely part ways with high draft picks, even when they're awful. Look at Terrence Cody and Jah Reid.

[tolucaraven]

Not only is he awful at tackling, bad angles and coverage but he isnt even a good athelete... i Never saw him play in college but i just dont know what they saw in him.

[airconteka1]

I liked the pick at the time so have always held hope for him. I gave up on him after the NE game. Looks like he is getting worse to me, it seems to me like the more he is taught the dumber he gets.

[ellicottraven]

He is not a total bust quite yet, but getting there rapidly!

[Bltravens]

I know hindsight is agonizing for a fan/ exec but our 2013 1st and 2nd round picks were poor and really not in line with our defense scheme. Have not given up on brown but I am not at all impressed with Matt Elam.

Just think, here is what some fans were suggesting in the 2013 draft

Trade out of first

2-Keenan Allen wr ( was the closest wr coming out of college similar to bolden who got us the SB)

2-TJ McDonald SS ( big safety to cover big TE who give us tough mismatches)

Get extra 3rd

I still like Brown and think he played fairly well in preseason.  Brown and Mosley can still be a tandem, just that D.Smith is still playing at a ridiculously high level.  

[The Raven]

Not only is he awful at tackling, bad angles and coverage but he isnt even a good athelete... i Never saw him play in college but i just dont know what they saw in him.

 

Really? You never saw him play in college, and you don't know what they saw? Ya don't say.

[Gordo52]

Sucks that expectations for him going into next season are so low. Hope he makes an improvement and can at least elevate his play to bad or average.

No reason to cut him yet. Give him 1 more year

[good_n_purple]

I hate to say it but given I was completely wrong about Jimmy Smith I say keep him another season.  BUT, make sure there is a back up plan.  I would like to know how the coaches handle this type of thing, but I would think they would put him on notice that he is not pulling his weight and this is his last chance. 

[flynismo]

Really? You never saw him play in college, and you don't know what they saw? Ya don't say.

haha...that ranks up there with a comment I saw yesterday ---

 

"funny how nobody wants Castillo fired anymore now that the OL is playing well".....sigh...

[flynismo]

My brother asked me how Elam has been coming along...

 

I told him, remember Roy Williams from the Cowboys? Picture him, without the big hits laid down on RBs and TEs.

[MyRavenHaven]

Sometimes you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em and in Elam's case the vision is clear. They need to cut their loss and open up a roster spot for someone who can actually tackle and has a higher football IQ. I too had called Jimmy Smith a bust and he surprised me but even on his worst days, he was light years better than Elam. Heck, I think any one of us could be better than him at this point. You notice how just about every DB has been injured and missed time but Elam? That should tell you how much he actually plays even when he's playing.

[tolucaraven]

Jimmy Smith is way different. He was top 10 talent wise but offeild alcohol and pot history made him fall. You can see Smith has great talent, Elam isnt even a great athelete. This is what happens when you draft need over BPA.

Boller, Elam, Oher and Travis Taylor all need picks...always take BPA, reguardless of position outside of Qb if you got one. Then find a place for him.  Sorry didnt see Elam play in college i Live in LA.

[redlobster]

I still like Brown and think he played fairly well in preseason.  Brown and Mosley can still be a tandem, just that D.Smith is still playing at a ridiculously high level.  

Could you imagine if Brown was active vs NE and not "hurt"? At least he would have hit people and probably would have been a better match against Gronk, regardless of what he has or hasn't shown. Thats the exact reason he was drafted, his sideline to sideline speed and ability to cover while also being a very solid tackler (and underrated run stopper imo).

[rafahash]

Jimmy Smith is way different. He was top 10 talent wise but offeild alcohol and pot history made him fall. You can see Smith has great talent, Elam isnt even a great athelete. This is what happens when you draft need over BPA.

Boller, Elam, Oher and Travis Taylor all need picks...always take BPA, reguardless of position outside of Qb if you got one. Then find a place for him.  Sorry didnt see Elam play in college i Live in LA.

 

"Even though it was a position of need, whether you all believe it or not, he was the highest-rated player on our board," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "The thing we like about Matt is his speed. He's probably one of the better tacklers that we've seen play the position, and he enjoys practice and enjoys playing the game of football."

 

 

Sometimes Ozzie just makes mistakes. It's part of the job. Can't be right all the time.

[TSizzle00]

My brother asked me how Elam has been coming along...

 

I told him, remember Roy Williams from the Cowboys? Picture him, without the big hits laid down on RBs and TEs.

 

Add in horsecollar tackles and this is 100% accurate.

[fistfullwales]

Can't really call anyone a bust until they're gone, but if he doesn't fix his tackling problem he will be gone and labeled a bust. He gets 2015 to prove he's not.

[HoldingCall]

It appears Elam was drafted above his ability level. I see a decent 4th round (not 1st) pick who is still struggling in his second season. Compare this to McPhee's 5th round pick and you see what I mean. Actually McPhee plays like one drafted in Elam's spot (1st rounder).

 

I won't call him a bust yet, he is still listed at 23 years old, same age as Michael Campanaro and Crocket Gilmore. Some players are still in college at this age.

Edited January 13, 2015 by HoldingCall

[blitzking33]

I have extremely high hopes for Brooks. He himself put Elam on the bench quite a few times. He is 12x the tackler and enforcer that Elam is.

 

Someone tell me the last time Elam laid somebody out?

Randall Cobb? LOL.

But the last time I remember Elam laying a hit was on kickoff when he picked the returner up and slammed him.. maybe he should stay there.

[Militant X 1]

Bust?  I wouldn't say that perse.  However, this kid is horrible in certain aspects of his game especially with tackling!  All season long and in the playoffs he couldn't tackle a damn cold!  Smh!

[RavensFanMania]

Bust?  I wouldn't say that perse.  However, this kid is horrible in certain aspects of his game especially with tackling!  All season long and in the playoffs he couldn't tackle a damn cold!  Smh!

LOL, I agree it is too soon to say whether he is a bust or not.  Next season we will know much more being that it is his 3rd season and the secondary will hopefully be much better.

[3-4ravdef509]

Name two good plays from Elam this year...cause I can only name 1

[johnmike72]

He wags a pretty good finger once in a while.

[ravensdfan]

I think we are spoiled. We expected an Ed Reed and there is only one of them.

 

Plug and play guys are not that common. Only his 2nd season. Give the guy a chance.

[The Raven]

Like I said before, one more year. The third year is the most telling for a defensive back. That being said, if he can't grasp something as simple as tackling, his future is bleak.