[News] Dean Pees: Matt Elam Having Best Offseason Yet

[BR News]

The Ravens defensive coordinator praised the third-year safety for his performance during OTAs.

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[Bleedpurple&black52]

Sounds good, I hope he does improve BUT talk to me when the pads are on & more contact is allowed. You can't TACKLE in shorts, one of Elams biggest problems along with coverage/finding the ball.

[VeiledPsychosis]

We'll see...a lot of fans have already jumped ship and disregarded the 3 year rule. Lets hope Elam proves them all to be fools...

[Kwilliams84]

Lets go elam. im sticking by you everybody is already ready to give up on you sounds familiar they did the same thing with jimmy smith now everyone loves him and hes a top cb in the league.

[mettro79]

I was excited when we drafted him and I still have hope that he can end up as we hope. As long as each year he's talented enough to make our roster, I'll keep that hope.

[ravensrock007]

Go Elam!

[JoeyFlex5]

ive seen this before... 11 times as a matter of fact.

[Drew P]

Great. He's buried on the depth chart though.... correct?

[ravenstrong]

Matt has the talent, if he can work on his tackling (which he's done well with in the past so I believe he can improve here) and on the mental side things will click for him. I still believe in this guy, but another disappointing year would be enough for me, and likely our FO. This may be irrelevant, but I find myself thinking back to his first off-season (I believe) with the Ravens when he took a job at a sporting goods store hoping to learn the ins and outs of running a business etc. Remember thinking at the time that he probably should have been more focused on football and refining his craft in his first off season, especially playing a very mentally demanding position like safety. I always felt that would hamper him rather than help him (in football anyways), perhaps there's some legitimacy there. Anyways I'm rooting for Matt and believe we now have the necessary depth back there at safety. Can't wait for the pads to come on.

Edited June 8, 2015 by ravenstrong

[ravgo52]

Keep up the good work Matt! Show 'em what ya got buddy!

[Flamengo1265]

Looks like we got our quota of Gators and Seminoles at the safety position.

[steelcityraven]

Good to hear. I am glad that he is growing - lets hope it translates on the field! If he steps up.... that can really be a positive step for our defense moving forward!

[Legendary Ravens]

ive seen this before... 11 times as a matter of fact.

I concur... Same wording and everything... I truly believe some of these stories are recycled and scripted. He was Light years ahead last year according to the print. I'm rooting for him I just want it to be true. 

[hen826957]

I believe Matt would shock a lot of people this year. If Jimmy can do it why not Matt. Prove a lot of people Matt because I believe in you can play at your full potential.

[KidNme]

We shall see. He has the physical ability and now it looks like he may have the right attitude. Attitude is everything on our team. Play like a Raven!

[757RavensFan]

Great. He's buried on the depth chart though.... correct?

Not really...I've read that he's practiced with the 1st team quite a bit.

[BallsoHard622]

I'm still pulling for him. He was playing out of position a lot so you that's a big reason why his growth was stunted. Safety is already one of the hardest positions to learn in the nfl, an with us moving him around so much...I mean what should we expect. He's a strong safety not a free or a starting slot corner. He does have some corner skills an he can function at free safety but let's just keep him at strong safety an let him get better an focus on that.

[TorryGundy]

The guy has played 3 different positions in two years. He was a SS in college converted to FRee here, hadd to learn that position. Then moved to Strong, Then moved to Nicle Corner, Then as a Dime back. That is very tough to do. I think now we have depth at every position in the secondary he can really study and master the SS position. I think he will positively surprise a great deal of people.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Good I still prefere Hill. We will see when they get to tackle.

[harfordravenfan]

Sounds great but as others have said... holding some of my excitement till the pads come on. Can't believe I didn't see one certain member commenting on how much of a bust he is lol

[cobrajet]

Maybe things are starting to click this season. I hope he can continue to work hard and develop into the SS we were hoping he could be.

[Purple&Black]

Easy to say without pads on, but I do hope it starts to click for him.

[OzzieBisciotti]

Elam won't be able to tackle a slug when the pads come on... Good luck Elam..

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I am pulling for Elam but I have to see it for myself.....PERIOD!!!!!!!

[Rasenshuriken84]

well i'm glad they are saying he's doing good, but until the pads come on and he can "tackle" then i'll wait to give judgement

[KiwiRaven52]

I'm one of the many naysayers but I'm happy to be proven wrong Mr Elam. Best of luck this year

[balfan23]

The guy has played 3 different positions in two years. He was a SS in college converted to FRee here, hadd to learn that position. Then moved to Strong, Then moved to Nicle Corner, Then as a Dime back. That is very tough to do. I think now we have depth at every position in the secondary he can really study and master the SS position. I think he will positively surprise a great deal of people.

I agree - so it has been hard for him to find consistency. However, the concept that we can just lock him into SS is gone. Barring injury to Hill, I don't know that he'll be able to do anything aside from get on where they can ... which means he'll be moved around. In the end, he's going to have to make an impact where ever they put him. 

[bmoraven]

Good News. Let's hope he can do it during the ON Season

[Purpleghost23]

Man last year was ugly, in that pats game he missed one that ended in td, and another on 3 and long that after was an td to..hoping for improvement

[Mr.Incredible]

Good to hear, hopefully he can continue his strong play into the regular season.