[News] Matt Elam Suspended One Game For Substance Abuse

[MarioDrama]

Looking through the last years of the Draft since 2010, so five years. The Ravens have taken 7 players for their backfield and none of them have done anything. Look at Arizona and how they have built a secondary through the draft by using high picks. Ozzie has to wake up and start making moves to get a top CB/S/FS. Because the boys we have just aren't cutting it. The whole philosophy best player available hasn't really worked for us as of late.

[Zeus]

Can't believe this guy was a 1st rd pick. We've been missing a lot lately. T Walker, Myers, Taliaferro, Melvin, A Brown, Simon, M Anthony, Mellette, Upshaw, Pierce, Gradkowski, C Thompson, A Jackson, Streeter... That's a lot of picks to contribute next to nothing in the last few years. Especially those secondary guys...

Add Perriman to the bust list

[Zeus]

This guy can't tackle, bust bust

[EddiOK]

Wow, what a bust.

[RavensVAfan]

Forget Elam and even Arthur Brown from that draft class. We can admit they aren't what we'd expect. However that class also gave us Brandon Williams, Kyle Juszczyk, Rick Wagner, and Kapron Lewis-Moore who are all making an impact.

[Crusader]

Can't play, might as well do drugs

[TheConquerorWorm]

Looking through the last years of the Draft since 2010, so five years. The Ravens have taken 7 players for their backfield and none of them have done anything. Look at Arizona and how they have built a secondary through the draft by using high picks. Ozzie has to wake up and start making moves to get a top CB/S/FS. Because the boys we have just aren't cutting it. The whole philosophy best player available hasn't really worked for us as of late.

You forgot to mention that the Cardinals have only been to the play-offs once since 2010 (losing in 1st Round), are paying Peterson $15 million per year and have both safeties about to be free agents. Oh, and 1st Round picks Jonathan Cooper, DJ Humphries & Dan Williams have all been busts. Same goes for 2nd Round picks Troy Nicklas, Ryan Williams, Jamell Fleming, & Kevin Minter. Every team misses on top picks, the Ravens have a better record than most.

[kennethyamini1989]

Courtney Upshaw has been pretty good. Other than that though the picks have been washy. But hey at lease we passed on Tyrann for...wait who?

[Sami84]

Courtney Upshaw has been pretty good. Other than that though the picks have been washy. But hey at lease we passed on Tyrann for...wait who?

 

damnit it..upshaw has not been good at all..

 

he's been so irrelevant in a position of strength that he flew under the radar because of it.

[Ravensfolyfe]

What a waste of a draft pick.

[Ravensfansince03]

That first round was a desperation pick to replace Ed Reed

[OzzieBisciotti]

damnit it..upshaw has not been good at all..

 

he's been so irrelevant in a position of strength that he flew under the radar because of it.

 

Courtney Upshaw hasn't been good either and CJ Mosely isn't having a great year either- he's exposed in pass coverage- however, Ozzie likes to draft from his alma mater, Bama, so we're kind of stuck with these two- I'd say they've been just okay- nothing like JJ Watts, Clay Matthews, Luke Kuechly.. It's funny, these last five drafts haven't really netted us an impact player- I don't think CJ Mosely wll ever be anything like the three linebackers i mentioned above.  If Elam was supposed to replace Ed Reed (LOL) and Mosely was supposed to replace Ray, then we're in big trouble- outside of that we have some old LB like  suggs who will be 34 next year and Dum wil ll be 32 next year- we're getting old back there quick.  We just need to build this team up all over- 

[OzzieBisciotti]

You forgot to mention that the Cardinals have only been to the play-offs once since 2010 (losing in 1st Round), are paying Peterson $15 million per year and have both safeties about to be free agents. Oh, and 1st Round picks Jonathan Cooper, DJ Humphries & Dan Williams have all been busts. Same goes for 2nd Round picks Troy Nicklas, Ryan Williams, Jamell Fleming, & Kevin Minter. Every team misses on top picks, the Ravens have a better record than most.

It's too early to tell because the Cardinals GM started his job in 2014.  I agree, IN THE PAST, we've drafted well, but go online and you'll fine numerous articles stating that we've not drafted well in the past five years- that's why Oz tries to pick up all these FA that are cut from other teams- look at our secondary, wr position- esp, WR position.  We've probably had 20 wr in camp for the past two years and not had anyone good- Oz can't draft WRs -that's just a known fact.  He should've googled Perriman and injury and he should've known he had a lifelong knee condition where his knees can buckle all the time- in my mind, that was the wasted pick of the year-- 

[RavensFanThick&Thin]

I agree with the poster who said the comments are kind of harsh regarding recent drafts. The comments suggest that the Ravens front office has become god awful at evaluating talent. IMO, it is a combo of A LOT of things this year. Dead money, injuries, unforeseen incidences, etc. Not to mention the flurry of things not "bouncing the Ravens way" (e.g. the Cleveland game when the ball was knocked right into the ankles of the TE, the Chris Johnson crowd surfing "untackle", Sinkhole of Death on J Tucker's foot...If anything, I think 2 things:

 

(1) When a team is literally one play away from winning EVERY game, you have to blame the coaching as much as anyone. You honestly think the 20 something teams in front of the Ravens defensively have that much better talent? Coaches should be ale to adjust and scheme lesser talent to at least one more game changing play.

 

(2) Ravens fans are spoiled. I get it. I miss the glory days of knowing week in and week out playoffs wasn't a question, it was whether they'd win a super bowl. That means HARD criticism from every angle because this is the first time in the HISTORY of the Ravens they have started this bad.

 

I'm not making excuses for some less than stellar drafts lately or Matt Elam, I'm just saying it isn't THAT bad. The record says 1-6 but anyone who has really watched the games knows that barring another "murphy's law" type of season, there's no way the Ravens look like a team who can't bounce right back into playoff contention next year. They aren't a perennial losing franchise. If anything it's just a lot of bad things happening all at once making a nice CRAP cake and Elam is just another sprinkle on it.

Edited October 31, 2015 by RavensFanThick&Thin

[cobrajet]

They never say what the substance was, so I wonder if that is because of HIPAA?

[DrinkmoreBeer]

Matt Elam suspended! Big shoes to fill! Is Jerry Logan available?

[whobilly]

Ravens Fans are spoiled. I agree. It will be interesting to see how many "Fans" are disguised as empty seats tomorrow. My call is approx. 10,000 NO SHOWS.

[balfan23]

Looking through the last years of the Draft since 2010, so five years. The Ravens have taken 7 players for their backfield and none of them have done anything. Look at Arizona and how they have built a secondary through the draft by using high picks. Ozzie has to wake up and start making moves to get a top CB/S/FS. Because the boys we have just aren't cutting it. The whole philosophy best player available hasn't really worked for us as of late.

I know he isn't looking like a world beater at the moment, but I'm not sure Jimmy has not done anything. I'm still optimistic that he can regain form and be a solid CB for us. 

 

Getting a can't miss top CB in the draft is tough, when you are drafting 26+ year after year. Peterson was #5 overall. Mattieu was a 3rd rounder, but was a clear risk. If we make that pick and he goes south, fans are screeching "how could we have been so stupid". Hindsight tells us it is a risk we would have done well to have taken. 

 

Point taken though ... our secondary needs help - big time. I'd say without a doubt we're going to be looking very long and hard at top CBs in the upcoming draft and may have a high enough pick to get one that is as close to can't miss as we can get. Of course there is OLB as a major future need ... but CB is a clear immediate need. I'll be surprised if we don't end up going CB/OLB #1/#2 this coming draft (in no particular order). 

[Run Pass Pass Punt]

Add Perriman to the bust list

I was thinking about it... trying to hold out some hope for the kid, not looking good is it?

[ravensohyea]

Elam is a free safety we used as a corner. Of course he's going to flounder. Watch his UF highlight reel again and it's clear to me we need this guy back.  Use Elam the way the Cardinals used the "Honey Badger" Mathieu and we could have another game changer.

Edited October 31, 2015 by ravensohyea

[The Greek]

matt elam i believe was the highest rated safety in the draft and he fell to us. i cannot blame the fo for drafting him. he was actually descent his rookie year and showed signs that he would be the real deal. his 2nd season he was playing out of position and it showed plus he was lazy when it came to fundamental tackling techniques. i am not ready to give up on him yet but his failed test for substance abuse should be a concern to the team. look at the idiots like justin blackmon and josh gordon who could not stay away from the crap long enough to have solid nfl careers. hope elam gets the help he needs to become the player we expected him to be

Edited October 31, 2015 by The Greek

[cbrook1862]

Just can't get right

[HuginnJaMuninn]

I still have faith in Elam. He lost a brother and a sister to gang violence and held his brother as he died in his arms. He is motivated and has a great attitude and superb athleticism. We were playing him in all the wrong positions last year, I still believe he is the future SS for Ravens.

[feartheflock]

And who was it that drafted him again? I know, beating a dead horse, but I can't help it because some people still refuse to blame the real man responsible for so many bad drafts and the 1-6 record.

They're not as bad as all the Flacco fanatics who still call Joe Flacco elite.

[Crusader]

Joe could become elite if somebody would stop picking losers in the draft.

[feartheflock]

Joe could become elite if somebody would stop picking losers in the draft.

Wouldn't that make Joe Flacco as one of those "losers" that Ozzie has drafted since 08?

[burnstr19]

goodbye.

[WordProphet]

Substance abuse hu, tell him straighten out or you're gone, one thing you have to understand is that he has to do this for himself and no one else. But this could be a real serious problem and he just keep messing up, but he can stop if he truly wants too but drug addiction is a sickness of the mind, body, heart, and soul that's why it's so hard to beat. But for me God was the only answer and now I've been free from drug addiction for years since the nineties but it will always be one day at a time!!!

[rmcjacket23]

That first round was a desperation pick to replace Ed Reed

They don't play the same position...

[Crusader]

Yes they do play the same position,you just can't tell because matt is not were he is suppose to be.