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

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I hate being down on Elam. I really hope he turns it all around but I just wont believe it till I see it with pads on and tackles being made.

[Halshayeji]

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.

I for one don't believe Elam is a bust. Not yet..... But I'm really concerned about how the ravens continue to use him. He is a bulky 5'11 downhill tackling guy that doesn't have enough fluidity to play nickel. He's too small to mark TEs and too stiff to mark slot WRs. We should keep him close to the line and attack instead of react. Put him in situations that are ideal to his skillet instead of situations where he is likely to struggle. When he does that then add stuff to his plate. One at a time.

[Ravens07]

It's all about establishing confidence for Elam. Once he's playing his natural game without thought or worry, we'll see what he's really about. This is his breakthrough year.

[Zeus]

Yeah everything is perfect with Elam in camp......

[PurpleLDN]

The biggest knock on Elam were his missed tackles, you cannot diagnose whether he's better at that from OTA's so it remains to be seen whether he has actually improved. The fact Elam played a few positions unfamiliar to him shouldn't be used to excuse his poor tackling; it also shouldn't cloud the fact that he played worse when moved to his natural position. Hope he steps up in the regular season, I think he will as he has the confidence of the coaches it seems.

[rick from oregon]

Coach Pees, don't make me laugh.

[DrinkmoreBeer]

I believe you do not have to tackle in OTAs.

[stampedehero]

“We don’t know [the tackling] yet, but as far as his communication, knowing the defense, being in the right spots, all of those things, it’s the best camp he’s had,” he said.  Mark those words......"the Tackling". Last year he looked like a ragged flag on a pole on tackles. Of all the players, he has to proove himself.  I'm not convinced.  

[RobHolthause]

I liked this guy when we drafted him, and I still like him now. We know he can play, he just needs to be calm and confident.

[Drew P]

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

 

Hopefully cause Kendrick was taking a breather

[757RavensFan]

Hopefully cause Kendrick was taking a breather

 

Elam would spell Hill for a breather since they're both slotted for SS this season.

[Crusader]

Yea right. Go ahead talk him up. He so far behind the curve he have to retire before he gets it.

[TheSim]

People forget that Jimmy Smith's first two years weren't exactly stellar, either. He was being labeled a bust shortly before emerging as one of the best CBs in the AFC. Everybody says the position that requires the biggest adjustment from college to the NFL is in the secondary, so it's totally possible that he's improved.