Is Matt Elam a bust?

[PurpleCity5]

The tackling is a real issue and it really needs to be remedied. If it isn't, he is gone because there is no sense in having a safety that cannot tackle and perform the most important role a safety brings. He isn't generating TO like Ed Reed. 

 

For every game Elam looks good, there seem to be more where he gets abused. I almost want to call the crisis center it's that bad at times. He's very hot and cold. But more than anything, Elam needs to fix that tackling. I think he stays next year but if he doesn't fix his game, he is gone in 2016. 

Lol Crisis Center. 

 

Yeah, it's that way, it's very noticeable that defensive backs typically struggle in their first two seasons, as far as giving up on Elam I'd say they should monitor his 3rd year, I still have faith due to his heart and passion, I think it's too soon to give up players like that. 

 

I bet if we had won in Indy and Cinci everyone would be talking about the flashes Elam has showed due to the fact that he created the chance for us to tie in Indy, or put the game away in Cincinnati. 

 

Elam has to show consistency in 2015, that I will say. 

[BmoreBird22]

Tackling and coverage has been a struggle, but he hasn't shown flashes? That's kind of unfair to Elam IMO, he made big plays in Indy and Cincy.

and he played very well in Cleveland and in Pittsburgh the third time the Ravens faced them. He also played stellar games against Detroit and Chicago last year.

He has definitely shown a lot of flashes and I'd argue he's even improving in a lot of aspects of the game. His man coverage and deep cover skills are likely a disappointment for the coaching staff, but he's improving in other areas

[FastEddie]

I don't think you can call a 2nd year player a bust after watching Jimmy Smith turn it on early this year before his injury. It took Jimmy two years to let the game slow down before he was a starter. Hopefully Matt will be the same type of play, however he has looked awful thus far when he hasn't been in the box

[ravensfan160]

He's not there yet but he is approaching bust territory especially when you consider we have slightly higher expectations out of our 1st round defensive players. Look no further than CJ Mosely to see what our expectations are.

 

At least the safety that went next to the Jaguars hasn't been too good either from what I've heard. That would have hurt even more if we passed on a good safety for Elam. As it stands though rookie safeties haven't played that well in the NFL lately. I remember everyone raving about Kenny Vaccaro and he's really struggled too.

[TDubbs]

Elam can't cover, but I thought that was something he could learn like most young Safeties. Against NE he proved he absolutely cannot tackle, which is something I thought he could at least do well. I don't want to call him a bust, but he needs a good offseason/training camp to prove otherwise. 

[PerpetuallyBored74]

He needs to forget about selling shoes this off season and spend a few hours each day with a tackling dummy, practicing using proper form when tackling. Right now, he's not running straight through the ball carrier and wrapping up, he's either stopping and lunging or he's waiting for the guy to come to him and lunging. Then, in part because he's short, he usually misses. Taking bad angles hasn't helped either.

 

"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.

 

Just how bad were the safeties in that draft that Elam was regarded by Ozzie as "the better tackler" ?!

[Sami84]

"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."

 

 

ouch..make no mistake..i watched elam ( last year i bothered watching college football) and all i saw was a low IQ flash over substance undersized safety that was not NFL material.

[Hardbaugh]

Although I've longed believed Elam was a poor choice(especially since they paid Pollard to leave) , I haven't given up on him yet.

 

I think the thought of elite SS has long since been buried but he can be a salvageable draft pick. He seems willing to work and listen to coaching but am wondering if his football IQ is good enough for this league. He started pretty much out of the gate so my thoughts say he has the smarts.

 

Elam , has poor technique and always seems like he's going for the big shot even in space.  I do believe playing him out of his natural position has hurt his development and confidence.   If he can get the fundamentals  and confidence back this can still work.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Hardbaugh

[redrum52]

He needs to forget about selling shoes this off season and spend a few hours each day with a tackling dummy, practicing using proper form when tackling. Right now, he's not running straight through the ball carrier and wrapping up, he's either stopping and lunging or he's waiting for the guy to come to him and lunging. Then, in part because he's short, he usually misses. Taking bad angles hasn't helped either.

Just how bad were the safeties in that draft that Elam was regarded by Ozzie as "the better tackler" ?!

I keep trying to tell people this about your second point. Go back and look at the first round of that draft.

[Sami84]

heres the thing..he couldn't tackle freaking amendola.

 

He makes that stop..who knows…we are talking FG.

 

If he's pollard he not only makes the stop ..he knocks amendola out and he's out of the game..

[balfan23]

Very disappointing up to this point, but you'll need to ask me next year at this time. If his 2015 looks anything like his 2014, the answer will be yes. 

[1/28/01]

Yes.

Edit - Yes, he is.

Edited January 14, 2015 by 1/28/01

[Ravenseconbeast]

I think Elam needs to find what he is great at and just focus on HIS game. Dont try to imitate anyone else.

Ward is certainly limited player. You know he can't cover guys man to man, but the coaches find a way to use him within what he does best.

Maybe Elam can do that also. 2015 is basically his year to figure that out. Else its over for elam

[balfan23]

I think Elam needs to find what he is great at and just focus on HIS game. Dont try to imitate anyone else.

Ward is certainly limited player. You know he can't cover guys man to man, but the coaches find a way to use him within what he does best.

Maybe Elam can do that also. 2015 is basically his year to figure that out. Else its over for elam

All we heard this off-season was how Elam was thrust into a role he's not suited for (FS) in game 2 of his rookie year and understandably struggled. That was going to change in year 2 ... we went out and got a FS (well, sort of) in Stewart and that would allow Elam to play his natural SS position and all would be well. 

 

So this year gets going and where was Elam? He was getting rotated all over the place it seemed. The secondary was such a shambles, it was hard to evaluate. Nonetheless, tackling properly should be independent of your position on the field and his technique was troubling. 

 

I agree, they need to find him his spot and keep him there. If that fails, then raise the white flag. 

[Fred Sanford]

I was concerned in his rookie year on plays vs. Jordan Cameron and Cordarelle Patterson, when Elam was playing way deep and tripped over his feet.  He looked scared and panicky, and his interviews are a bit like that, jittery and Bolleresque.  He almost dropped the interception vs. the Lions when it was dropped right in his lap.

 

The Sun had some quotations by Elam on his benching, where he said he was mad at first and didn't want to be here anymore.  That's a loser's attitude, as if he was playing great and the Ravens conspired against him.  A winner would immediately acknowledge he was badly underperforming and work like crazy to find out what he was doing wrong and fix it.  Cary Williams used to act like that, and Ray Lewis spent a ton of time teaching him the right way to approach things.  I think Elam needs some similar mentoring.

[AsianRice]

I was concerned in his rookie year on plays vs. Jordan Cameron and Cordarelle Patterson, when Elam was playing way deep and tripped over his feet.  He looked scared and panicky, and his interviews are a bit like that, jittery and Bolleresque.  He almost dropped the interception vs. the Lions when it was dropped right in his lap.

 

The Sun had some quotations by Elam on his benching, where he said he was mad at first and didn't want to be here anymore.  That's a loser's attitude, as if he was playing great and the Ravens conspired against him.  A winner would immediately acknowledge he was badly underperforming and work like crazy to find out what he was doing wrong and fix it.  Cary Williams used to act like that, and Ray Lewis spent a ton of time teaching him the right way to approach things.  I think Elam needs some similar mentoring.

Cary Williams is a 7th round draft pick and Elam is 1st round pick so that speaks volume about Elam's bust.

 

Elam is about to secure his bust unless he drops it in 2015, but it seems so far he has maintained the possession of the bust throughout the process....

[The Raven]

I was concerned in his rookie year on plays vs. Jordan Cameron and Cordarelle Patterson, when Elam was playing way deep and tripped over his feet.  He looked scared and panicky, and his interviews are a bit like that, jittery and Bolleresque.  He almost dropped the interception vs. the Lions when it was dropped right in his lap.

 

The Sun had some quotations by Elam on his benching, where he said he was mad at first and didn't want to be here anymore.  That's a loser's attitude, as if he was playing great and the Ravens conspired against him.  A winner would immediately acknowledge he was badly underperforming and work like crazy to find out what he was doing wrong and fix it.  Cary Williams used to act like that, and Ray Lewis spent a ton of time teaching him the right way to approach things.  I think Elam needs some similar mentoring.

 

If you continued reading the Baltimore Sun story, you'd see that Elam said, "“I was mad about my reps and not playing as much, but I can’t let that affect me. This team still needs me and I still I can make plays. I just need to go out there and play my role as best as I can.” He also said, "“I’m trying to do the small things right. It’s actually transferred to the game, the way I’m practicing, the way I’m studying, the way I’m keeping my body up. It’s starting to show from the practice field to the game. I’m just trying to stack these games, stack these practices and keep improving. I feel like the sky is the limit and I want to do whatever I can to help this team win.”

 

He also said, "They brought me here in the first round after getting rid of Ed Reed. They had very high expectations of me. When they threw me out there, I should be able to handle it. I didn’t feel like it was too much. They got me in the first round for a reason. It’s just something I have to handle – prepare better and put myself in better situations to make those plays. I know I can.”

 

What a loser, right?

 

Great job at cherry picking one bad quote from Elam to make him look bad. Real impressive. If you actually read the whole story, which you apparently didn't, you'd see he's dropped the loser attitude. He said he's trying to prepare better to get back on the field and do better. He might suck, but don't question his attitude.

Edited January 14, 2015 by The Raven

[TwinRivers]

He can't cover or tackle. What else is there? He's a bust so far.

[Sami84]

busts do happen..and what has he shown to indicate anything otherwise? how much worse could or would he need to play? 

[Bltravens]

All we heard this off-season was how Elam was thrust into a role he's not suited for (FS) in game 2 of his rookie year and understandably struggled. That was going to change in year 2 ... we went out and got a FS (well, sort of) in Stewart and that would allow Elam to play his natural SS position and all would be well. 

 

So this year gets going and where was Elam? He was getting rotated all over the place it seemed. The secondary was such a shambles, it was hard to evaluate. Nonetheless, tackling properly should be independent of your position on the field and his technique was troubling. 

 

I agree, they need to find him his spot and keep him there. If that fails, then raise the white flag. 

The tackling issue transcends positions though.  You can be awful in coverage but still know how to tackle properly.  Elam can't tackle.

[Sami84]

If you guys are saying there is hope he might be a below average safety then i'll agree to that. Thats best case scenario.

[ravensnick]

Still too early to deem him a full on bust. I'd say if he shows no improvement next season and goes down a similar path of miss tackles, coverages, and getting benched than he will be as close as you can be to the B word.

I think it's just a formalty at this point. He should never see the field without marked improvement. 

[FlocksGottaFeed]

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.

 

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.

Good points, but never count a player out because of size. Many "too small" players are in the HOF and they had to go through similar NFL adjustment periods. Fundamentals can be and have been taught at the NFL level and it always takes a few seasons for some. That's why we have NFL coaches (unless you have no faith in our coaches). I'm sure many of the college transitional areas can and will be addressed.

 

If there isn't any improvement next season with a healthy and stable defensive backfield, I believe this will be his last with us and you could officially call it a bust. That said - Until then trust in our coaches and organization to do what we know they can. Remember - Many said Jimmy Smith was a bust before he became Probowler-like Jimmy Smith. It took a few years.

 

In Oz we trust.

[ravensnick]

Good points, but never count a player out because of size. Many "too small" players are in the HOF and they had to go through similar NFL adjustment periods. Fundamentals can be and have been taught at the NFL level and it always takes a few seasons for some. That's why we have NFL coaches (unless you have no faith in our coaches). I'm sure many of the college transitional areas can and will be addressed.

 

If there isn't any improvement next season with a healthy and stable defensive backfield, I believe this will be his last with us and you could officially call it a bust. That said - Until then trust in our coaches and organization to do what we know they can. Remember - Many said Jimmy Smith was a bust before he became Probowler-like Jimmy Smith. It took a few years.

 

In Oz we trust.

Most "too small" player don't even see the NFL or the field. The one that do often have elite physical skills such as Barry Sanders or are fundamentally some of the best. Elam is league average with his physical skills and one of the worst at fundamentals. I don't want to throw him in the garbage, but his future is pretty dim. 

[Sunday QB]

Besides to small he just can't tackle.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

Most "too small" player don't even see the NFL or the field. The one that do often have elite physical skills such as Barry Sanders or are fundamentally some of the best. Elam is league average with his physical skills and one of the worst at fundamentals. I don't want to throw him in the garbage, but his future is pretty dim. 

Definitely see your point, but you have to consider HOF DBs like Darryl Green and Troy Polamalu (future HOF) who are very similar in size. They didn't start-out 'lights-out'. They we're surrounded with defensive backfield vet-talent, leadership and continuity 1st. This allowed them to become the best that they could be.

 

I'm not saying that Elam will ever achieve these 'heights' but size won't be his biggest challenge. Some of us just need to be honest and admit that the guy hasn't had any of the 3 'most haves' before any real assessment can take place. Bust? It's a little too early. The upside to this would be that I think next season we'll see his true development/adjustment. Until then - In Oz I trust.

 

Important Edit - added: defensive backfield vet-talent, leadership and continuity

Edited January 15, 2015 by jkm5bmore

[balfan23]

All we heard this off-season was how Elam was thrust into a role he's not suited for (FS) in game 2 of his rookie year and understandably struggled. That was going to change in year 2 ... we went out and got a FS (well, sort of) in Stewart and that would allow Elam to play his natural SS position and all would be well. 

 

So this year gets going and where was Elam? He was getting rotated all over the place it seemed. The secondary was such a shambles, it was hard to evaluate. Nonetheless, tackling properly should be independent of your position on the field and his technique was troubling. 

 

I agree, they need to find him his spot and keep him there. If that fails, then raise the white flag. 

 

The tackling issue transcends positions though.  You can be awful in coverage but still know how to tackle properly.  Elam can't tackle.

Yes - I said that. 

[52N19]

in addition to his inability to tackle his theatrics on the field seem immature. suggs was micked for the patriots game and he was giving him hell for missing a tackle.

[drdoub]

Good points, but never count a player out because of size. Many "too small" players are in the HOF and they had to go through similar NFL adjustment periods. Fundamentals can be and have been taught at the NFL level and it always takes a few seasons for some. That's why we have NFL coaches (unless you have no faith in our coaches). I'm sure many of the college transitional areas can and will be addressed.

 

If there isn't any improvement next season with a healthy and stable defensive backfield, I believe this will be his last with us and you could officially call it a bust. That said - Until then trust in our coaches and organization to do what we know they can. Remember - Many said Jimmy Smith was a bust before he became Probowler-like Jimmy Smith. It took a few years.

 

In Oz we trust.

I hope he proves all of us wrong and works his tail off this offseason and crushes it next year. That would be awesome. He has got a lot of work to do.

However to your point above, first round picks should not have to be coached rudimentary fundamentals of the game especially when that pick does not have the size or speed to compensate for their limitations. That is the whole point of a first round pick. either they are an instant plug and play or they possess some inherit physical trait that could make them a beast if they are coached properly.

Elam I am sorry to say has neither speed ( he faster than any of us) size or football IQ to make up for his poor fundamentals. That is why he is a bust at present time.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

I hope he proves all of us wrong and works his tail off this offseason and crushes it next year. That would be awesome. He has got a lot of work to do.

However to your point above, first round picks should not have to be coached rudimentary fundamentals of the game especially when that pick does not have the size or speed to compensate for their limitations. That is the whole point of a first round pick. either they are an instant plug and play or they possess some inherit physical trait that could make them a beast if they are coached properly.

Elam I am sorry to say has neither speed ( he faster than any of us) size or football IQ to make up for his poor fundamentals. That is why he is a bust at present time.

Once again, I agree he's under-performed. However, I'm sure this will be addressed in the offseason. If there's still no improvement  before the season or after the season begins then there will be no reason to 2nd guess. He'll officially be a 'Bust'. But if he makes the adjustments with veteran leadership, coaching and a stable group around him, the rewards could me priceless. One thing you can't teach is 'big play' ability. He had it in college and that's why we picked him up. He could end-up being an impact player, again. At this point we have nothing to lose with him and everything to gain for one more off-season. Relax.

 

If he's a bust the Ravens organization will determine that. Who am I to say? Until that, have some trust.

 

In Oz I still trust. Why not? The best GM in the game.