Is Matt Elam a bust?

[Inqui]

Why is this still an open topic?? Just change the heading to "Matt Elam is a bust"! And close it moderators, please.

Doesn't hurt that you just dug it up.

[mmcclend]

Let's give him until the end of his rookie contract. Like the rest of you guys he has pissed me off to the max but he is still a Ravens and we must be optimistic. He has a skill set that can be utilized but he thinks too much instead of just playing. He just needs to settle down and let the game slow down for him.

Edited February 5, 2015 by mmcclend

[Inqui]

Let's give him until the end of his rookie contract. Like the rest of you guys he has pissed me off to the max but he is still a Ravens and we must be optimistic. He has a skill set that can be utilized but he think too much instead of just playing. He just needs to settle down and let the game slow down for him.

I agree, but I'd change the "end of the rookie contract" to "end of next season". If he hasn't gotten it together after his third year in the league there isn't much hope imo.

[mmcclend]

I agree, but I'd change the "end of the rookie contract" to "end of next season". If he hasn't gotten it together after his third year in the league there isn't much hope imo.

Lol trust me man I feel the same way I was just being optimistic for him since everybody here hates him now. Honestly if he gets beat out in camp by a free agent signee or a random 4th or 5th round gem we find then so be it.

[Ravenseconbeast]

The FS position is Terrence Brook's position to lose. If he doesn't lose it, then Will Hill will be our starting SS.

Edit: I forgot that Brook's injury was late in the season. So, I say we run with the core group we have. The priority position will be CB regardless.

You really Dont think that would be a wise move would you? Putting chips on Brooks as a starter would be a nasty gamble. That move would look like a Gino Grad-matt Birk transition all over it.

[Ravens1991]

Brooks has shown he is the most talented player besides Hill for our safeties and has made plays in his rookie year. He is just very raw and seems to be in the "dog house". Gino hasnt shown anything.

[Tru11]

Brooks has shown he is the most talented player besides Hill for our safeties and has made plays in his rookie year. He is just very raw and seems to be in the "dog house". Gino hasnt shown anything.

 

brooks is coming back from an injury.......

[ellicottraven]

Doesn't hurt that you just dug it up.

 

I know right? Here we go again! I am now a serial grave digger!

Edited February 5, 2015 by ellicottraven

[Ray Lewis 4 President]

At this point in his career - Yes - Matt Elam is a bust.

When Baltimore drafted him - we had aspirations of him becoming a physical - in-the-box style safety.

That just hasn't been the case.

He seems to be all talk - not only that, his inconsistencies in tackling have been cringe worthy.

Which isn't saying much, as we all know how below average his coverage skills are.

He should be demoted to strictly special teams next year - if not cut.

[Alexir]

I ll give him the 3 year rule. First year, wasn't terrible. Second year, was terrible. Let me see how year 3 goes.

[tolucaraven]

Good pickup. Ravens should try to trade Elam for a 6th or 7th rounder.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

I highly doubt we trade Elam...he's only 2 years into his contract.  I'm not ready to call him a complete bust yet.  Plus, no one's going to give us jack for him lol.

[PurpleCity5]

Good pickup. Ravens should try to trade Elam for a 6th or 7th rounder.

I think we'd get a higher pick than that since he is young and isn't a huge cap hit. Maybe a 5th. 

Edited March 15, 2015 by PurpleCity5

[tolucaraven]

Better to get something for Elam a late draft pick and get rid of salary. Some one will take him on and thinks he can be get better.

[blitzking33]

I think we'd get a higher pick than that since he is young and isn't a huge cap hit. Maybe a 5th. 

Trade him to the Jets.. I think we can get their 5th or 6th

[PurpleCity5]

Trade him to the Jets.. I think we can get their 5th or 6th

Jets got Pryor and Gilchrist, I don't think they'd take Elam. 

[A Fish Called Yanda]

People calling for us to trade Elam are probably the same people that asked for us to trade Jimmy back before the 2013 season.

Edited March 15, 2015 by A Fish Called Yanda

[GrimCoconut]

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.

[Purple_ICE 81]

People calling for us to trade Elam are probably the same people that asked for us to trade Jimmy back before the 2013 season.

Its just hard to fathom anytime you invest a high pick on a guy and they go through a few rough years of development and getting benched and what not. But you have to hope that's exactly what is happening and what is needed...development.

IMO its all on Elam whether he can make that push. He needs to buckle down and do everything possible this offseason to try and make the improvements he needs to become that ace we drafted him to be. His leash is most definitely getting shorter and shorter though.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

Its just hard to fathom anytime you invest a high pick on a guy and they go through a few rough years of development and getting benched and what not. But you have to hope that's exactly what is happening and what is needed...development.

IMO its all on Elam whether he can make that push. He needs to buckle down and do everything possible this offseason to try and make the improvements he needs to become that ace we drafted him to be. His leash is most definitely getting shorter and shorter though.

 

For sure...I just don't see Ozzie giving up on him until his rookie contract is done, or his play is so poor that he's completely benched.  Sometimes it takes a while for the lights to turn on for players - Matt is an incredibly smart guy who obviously wants to play better...I'm sure he is supremely pissed at himself for how poorly he's played in the last two seasons.  Give the guy a fair shot at proving that he's a true Raven and if, at the end of the day, it doesn't work out then so be it.

[SemiHolsen]

We've seen this before too many times - Elam is going to show a glimmer of hope next year, then the year after he's going to be a Pro Bowl safety who subsequently gets signed by another team for a lot of money.

there's always a silver lining... compensatory picks !

[Dr. Kelley]

Wrong.. Elam has shown a few flashes of great play..

More has been asked of him in first two years than was asked of Jimmy

Elam made that interception in detroit. Name one other "flash of greatness".

[DomMcRaven]

Problem is, there is enough tape to prove elam is worthless now. We could maybe trade him for a new washing machine at the castle but that's about it. Dude better rock this year or he is washed out of the league.

That's how I see it. Kinda like the "three strikes and you're out" type of thinking.

[sflegend89]

how in the world do you know how much time he spends watching film and learning? do you know him personally? are you a member of the ravens coaching staff?

 

im not a fan of matt elam or anything but thats just a ridiculous statement to make, unless you know him personally. for all you know he could be in the film room 24-7.

 

I don't know for certain how much film he watches lol. If you notice I prefaced that assessment by saying "Personally", indicating that is merely my personal opinion. After watching every game of his career thus far I think it's clear that his struggles are mental. We've seen Sizzle chewing him out for taking bad angles, Elam didn't forget how to tackle he's just not using his head out there and being technical in is play. 

 

Look at another safety who is exactly Matt's size (5'10,200 lbs) in Earl Thomas who is among the NFL's elite at his position. The biggest difference that jumps off the page between the two are mental game. Earl is a student of the game, he's clinical with his movement, he takes good angles, he's technical when making an open field tackle and doesn't just rely on brute force. The difference between the two is significantly more mental than it is physical ability.

 

I don't expect Elam to ever be Earl Thomas, different body types, different position.. but a lot of the principles of Earl's game that make him so effective are mental. Everyone playing safety in the NFL is at least a good athlete , that's a given, what separates the average joe's from the pro bowlers is to what extent they understand defensive/offensive concepts among other more technical mental aspects of the position. If Matt appears unfocused and overwhelmed mentally in game situations why should I believe he's putting in the time learning and preparing? I've seen players that have a highly developed football IQ but don't have the physical tools to be effective, but I've never seen a player with a developed football IQ and the physical tools have the type of mental lapses Elam has so that's why I feel the way I do.

Edited March 15, 2015 by sflegend89

[Dr. Kelley]

That's how I see it. Kinda like the "three strikes and you're out" type of thinking.

Guy has had more than three strikes. He was a first rounder, then couldn't preform. Then he posts on his instagram about pot. I mean... at this point he is only on the team because he was a first rounder who hasn't played out his contract yet and has developed zero trade value because he sucks so much.

[Dr. Kelley]

I don't know for certain how much film he watches lol. If you notice I prefaced that assessment by saying "Personally", indicating that is merely my personal opinion. After watching every game of his career thus far I think it's clear that his struggles are mental. We've seen Sizzle chewing him out for taking bad angles, Elam didn't forget how to tackle he's just not using his head out there and being technical in is play.

Look at another safety who is exactly Matt's size (5'10,200 lbs) in Earl Thomas who is among the NFL's elite at his position. The biggest difference that jumps off the page between the two are mental game. Earl is a student of the game, he's clinical with his movement, he takes good angles, he's technical when making an open field tackle and doesn't just rely on brute force. The difference between the two is significantly more mental than it is physical ability.

I don't expect Elam to ever be Earl Thomas, different body types, different position.. but a lot of the principles of Earl's game that make him so effective are mental. Everyone playing safety in the NFL is at least a good athlete , that's a given, what separates the average joe's from the pro bowlers is to what extent they understand defensive/offensive concepts among other more technical mental aspects of the position. There's no way you can tell that it isn't something Elam struggles with and has held him back thus far. If you appear unfocused and overwhelmed mentally in game situations why should I believe he's putting in the time learning and preparing? I've seen players that have a highly developed football IQ but don't have the physical tools to be effective, but I've never seen a player with a developed football IQ and the physical tools have the type of mental lapses Elam has so that's why I feel the way I do.

Can't thank you enough for posting this.

[codizzle]

Elam made that interception in detroit. Name one other "flash of greatness".

His FF against Indy was a big play... Didn't lead to the win but still

[Sami84]

I'll keep this simple. If we had Pollard Landry or Ihedigo on the field instead of elam in that game vs the patriots at the VERY LEAST we would be driving for a Field Goal to win the game and wouldn't have had to take that shot at the end ( we didn't need to take that shot anyway but you get my point)

[codizzle]

I'll keep this simple. If we had Pollard Landry or Ihedigo on the field instead of elam in that game vs the patriots at the VERY LEAST we would be driving for a Field Goal to win the game and wouldn't have had to take that shot at the end ( we didn't need to take that shot anyway but you get my point)

And if pitta was healthy, boldin hadn't been traded, webb was 100%, Daniels had caught that TD, etc

That's a fun game

[Sami84]

And if pitta was healthy, boldin hadn't been traded, webb was 100%, Daniels had caught that TD, etc

That's a fun game

 

Yeah but all I'm talking about are a couple of simple tackles that would have been either no gain or tackles for a loss for 98% of all DB's in this league.

 

Small things..btw daniels TD chance wasn't easy..he had his arm swiped at and he had to stretch quite  bit for it.