[News] Matt Elam: It's Time For Me To Get To Next Level

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I really hope Elam proves people including myself wrong he would just be another piece to the puzzle. But I just want to see it for myself before I believe. Right now I am very happy with Hill and Lewis.

[gametyme]

I Hoping and I really believe that Elams struggles were more of a lack of maturity issue and not a lack of talent issue. He always seemed to be a little immature and goofy and hopefully he takes things more serious now and can live up to his full potential.

[Ravens07]

Ravens07 I agree he is a decent SS. Yet, still disagree because he struggled at tackling. A player in the box cannot struggle THAT bad when tackling!

 

He was an outstanding tackler in college and that one of the primary reasons he was drafted. I feel like with Elam it's all mental. He has lacked confidence and has played scared since he came into the league. He worries so much about not messing up that he forgets to just play and he, of course, messes up. I think this is the year he gets his mentality right and he plays like he did back in college.

[Halshayeji]

He was an outstanding tackler in college and that one of the primary reasons he was drafted. I feel like with Elam it's all mental. He has lacked confidence and has played scared since he came into the league. He worries so much about not messing up that he forgets to just play and he, of course, messes up. I think this is the year he gets his mentality right and he plays like he did back in college.

I totally agree. I watched a lot of film on this guy at Florida. Elam was an awesome tackler at that level.

Last year he really doubted himself way too often. Should I wrap up? Head up or down? Should I no high or low? Then it's too late. His hips were so stiff and he barely got any momentum while tackling.

Just keep your head up and take someone out! I promise you'll feel a lot better about ur selfie. He needs to bring back his headless chicken tackling style that he dominated with at Florida.

[jdynamite]

This time last year, I remember reading similar stories on here about Elam looking confident, playing faster in pursuit of the ball, etc. I specifically recall an article where L.Webb spoke about Elam being very vocal and much improved. So I can't say this article has restored my confidence as of yet.

I just hope he has really watched plenty of film, went over mistakes, errors. Work on form tackling, just his overall coverage skills, back pedaling, turning, breaking on balls.

i hope to see a strong preseason from him.

[trevorsteadman]

He obviously needs to improve his tackling and awareness. Is it just me, or did it seem like they used him as the 3rd or 4th corner a lot last year? Man coverage is not his strength. They need to use him more in packages where he can utilize his strengths. Definitely not giving up on him yet, but this is a make or break year.

 

He had to.. I mean I'm pretty sure the Ravens had at least seven injuries to cornerbacks last season if not more just counting off of the top of my head.... And Elam being the nickel corner didn't even last long because he lost the job to Levine. Would be great if he could finally get his act together and the Ravens could have a solid rotation at safety to keep them fresh. Or they can freak opposing defenses out by doing the 3 safety packages New Orleans did a couple years ago when they were a top 5 defense. I mean Will Hill and Kendrick Lewis are both good at tackling and in coverage, if Matt can do the same just think about it... They wouldn't know who we would be sending down in the box and in coverage. Would also help with getting pressure to the quarterback. 

[RavenManiac#7]

Well, all I can say is that I hope he finally gets it. I've never been able to understand players like Elam. I mean, just compare his attitude, possibly before this year, to the attitude Justin Forsett has Always had. It shouldn't take a professional football player two lousy years of football and a statement from his GM that his team has Not been satisfied with his play for two years to, finally, light a fire in him and inspire him to train and play to the best of his ability. That kind of effort should be as natural to a player as breathing. This man was a first round draft choice, but he has played like anything but that. And his effort level has been pathetic. Well, I guess it makes no sense to dwell on all that. I can only hope that he actually does finally play at a level that will truly give Will Hill real competition for the starting strong safety job. As a third year 1st rd choice, he most certainly should be doing that. I do admit it, though. I find it very hard to understand players that don't go all out, play with reckless abandon, using All their God given talents, and play hard to the utmost of their ability. I don't believe we've seen that from Elam. Instead, we've watched a player go through the motions, not take their opportunity seriously, and rest on the laurels of being a 1st rd draft choice. Has the man Never heard the term BUST? You have backed yourself into a corner, Mr. Elam. Now, let's see how you respond.

[matts10]

I honestly don't want Lewis to start. He's really not that great of a player, he's kind of the same as when we brought Michael Huff here. Everyone said "oh he's a quality player, not amazing, but quality" and then he just fizzled out. I have the same feeling about Lewis. I'd much rather see Will Hill at Free Safety and Elam at Strong Safety. If Elam plays well, and you put those two with Smith and Webb we could be dangerous

[Crusader]

I calling it right now it's going to be a total different Matt Elam this year. He will be another version of Jimmy Smith.

I hope so but I just seen a guy for the last two years that look look it was his first day on a football field. He kept falling over his own two feet.

[Ravens_Flock]

People were super patient with Jimmy Smith, even though he didn't contribute much at all his first two seasons. Many of those same people called Elam a bust after his rookie year, even though he was playing out of his natural position (SS), and has been ever since he's been here. He would be a far better starting SS I'd wager than Hill, if they'd just play him in his spot and develop him right. And if he suddenly blows up this year, many of his same detractors will be singing his praises. The fickle nature of sports fans is often saddening.

[Zeus]

Get to the next level, haaaa that's funny

[Dorota]

This time last year, I remember reading similar stories on here about Elam looking confident, playing faster in pursuit of the ball, etc. I specifically recall an article where L.Webb spoke about Elam being very vocal and much improved. So I can't say this article has restored my confidence as of yet.

I just hope he has really watched plenty of film, went over mistakes, errors. Work on form tackling, just his overall coverage skills, back pedaling, turning, breaking on balls.

i hope to see a strong preseason from him.

That's two of us that are hoping. You're right about the articles.

 

However, last year I also remember Elam working all summer, but to make sure he has some experience outside of football. Rookie year he won out the starter job week 2, not least because Michael Huff was so horrible and maybe he underestimated the necessity do not only work on the physical year round, but also on football skills and knowledge.

This off season was one he spent solely concentrating on football, getting back on form and doing his best so that he has an opportunity to stay in the league, because his year 2 was a rude awakening. He lost out the starter job, he performed poorly, there was little veteran leadership in the secondary, apart from Webb, who spent a large part of the season injured and due to other injuries Elo was rotated around, playing this position one week and that position the next. My bet it, that changing positions, he was out of his depth and once he had a couple mental errors, that started messing with his confidence, which in turn impacted his play more. And he went into the off season knowing that, so my bet is he worked his behind off.

 

I'm curious as to what he can do if he plays one position (and ideally in special teams, to get the extra experience).

[huntrgathrr]

This off season is not where Elam has to improve. He just doesn't seem to be "football smart" and continually ends up in the wrong spot. I'm not sure he has what it takes to make it in the NFL. It's not physical, it's mental. But at the end of last year he was playing poorly from am physical standpoint as well.

He would need a miraculous transformation IMO to get playing time over Hill or Lewis. It would be nice but I hardly expect it. I'd rather see them cut Elam and keep an extra cornerback once Brooks is healthy. I like Brooks as a safety of the future. He did very well for a rookie until he got hurt last year.

[rick from oregon]

Ah, i hope so but a guy gets benched because o

f sloppy tackling (read scared) and then gets penciled back in the lineup and misses tackles again, gives me much doubt.

[Crusader]

People were super patient with Jimmy Smith, even though he didn't contribute much at all his first two seasons. Many of those same people called Elam a bust after his rookie year, even though he was playing out of his natural position (SS), and has been ever since he's been here. He would be a far better starting SS I'd wager than Hill, if they'd just play him in his spot and develop him right. And if he suddenly blows up this year, many of his same detractors will be singing his praises. The fickle nature of sports fans is often saddening.

Jimmy had flashes of great plays like the one in the Superbowl but there were other before then. I seen more of the opposite in Elam.

[OzzieBisciotti]

Too little, too late.

Matt Williams = Lee Evans

[OzzieBisciotti]

Elam can't tackle a dead slug... He can't cover an ant if his back was to the sun, standing over the ant.. I hope he turns it around so then we can blame Ozzie again for having 20 safeies on our roster and 20 wide receivers as well- but no corners- same as last year

[Fastynart]

Next level? What level is that? He hasn't even gotten to the first level. What a wasted pick. He can't even cover the tight end. His tackling is atrocious. Who exactly watched this guy before making him a number one pick? I could tell after seeing him for one game that he sucked.

[concretejimmy]

I've seen flashes his rookie year. I wonder if breaking James Jones' leg went to his head. Not all football players are out to hurt the opponent. Not to mention the mess he had to play in last year. Did anyone stand out? Ravens secondary looks much improved and I think Elam will be also. Continuity can be a wonderful thing. There was none of that last year in the Ravens secondary.

[jdynamite]

Too little, too late. Matt Williams = Lee Evans

 

Who?