[News] Matt Elam, Terrence Brooks Both Coming On Strong

[BR News]

The two safeties are at a critical point of their careers, and they have both made good progress in training camp.

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[sami]

the biggest problem Elam had was his tackling. That's something that's hard to show in practice. Wrapping up and consistently making the stop has to be shown in the preseason games.

[Steve32]

Everyone assumes that Kendrick Lewis will make the team.

But based on how Elam and Brooks are playing, maybe they surprise us and cut Lewis and keep the 2 younger safeties.

Lewis is older and more expensive than those 2, and he won't get a lot of playing time behind Weddle and Webby.

[Dumbo of Rome]

A bunch of our young players will have to find a way to IR. No way some of our TE, DL, LB, RB, S, even WR, will not be claimed out of the practice squad.

[cbrook1862]

Everyone assumes that Kendrick Lewis will make the team.

But based on how Elam and Brooks are playing, maybe they surprise us and cut Lewis and keep the 2 younger safeties.

Lewis is older and more expensive than those 2, and he won't get a lot of playing time behind Weddle and Webby.

I kinda forgot about him, i haven't heard his name on the site other than injury updates. You bring up a good point. Maybe it's possible Brooks and Elam re out performing him

[cbrook1862]

the biggest problem Elam had was his tackling. That's something that's hard to show in practice. Wrapping up and consistently making the stop has to be shown in the preseason games.

Agreed. Is an underrated skill, but for any defensive player, it may be the most important

[fusuymada]

We talk about Elam and Brookes like it is one or the other. However, by the depth chart that is making the assumption that Kendrick Lewis is a shoe-in. I am sorry but he was horrible last year. When he wasn't horrible he couldn't be found on the field. The guy was tackling receivers 3 seconds before the ball got there or just let them walk by. I would rather have two young players trending up than one vet who was cut before he got here and has been an absolute waste of a roster spot since he got here.

[Ravensfan23]

Both of these guys are in a great place being in year 3 of their onfield development. I know Elam is a 4th year guy but a full season was taken from him. There has been a shift in the NFL for a while now. I want to say it started with Flacco and Ryan but it could have started before those guys. That shift is young players coming in and making a big impact from day 1 or at some point in their first season. Because of this more is expected of young guys. It used to be a point in time where teams allowed young players to get to year 3 because that's typically when the light switch flips. However now if you haven't shown much by year 3, you might just be cut. 

Both Brooks and Elam seem to be that oldschool version of young players that take time to develop properly, but now the light is coming on for both guys. Brooks played a really strong game vs the Panthers. I don't know how PFF grades but i'd say that plus 1.4 isn't high enough. His decision making was really good, his tackling was sure, his instincts were sharp and his coverage was really good. He made the QB move off his target a few times. I've seen a lot of people and reports saying that he's the odd man out in the safety position, but I don't see how. I believe Brooks is developing into a quality FS and i could easily see him pushing Webb at some point this year. 

[Maryland]

Gotta give Elam credit: he was getting to his spot and disrupting plays in that first preseason game, even if he wasn't making perfect tackles.

[Halshayeji]

2 hours ago, fusuymada said:

We talk about Elam and Brookes like it is one or the other. However, by the depth chart that is making the assumption that Kendrick Lewis is a shoe-in. I am sorry but he was horrible last year. When he wasn't horrible he couldn't be found on the field. The guy was tackling receivers 3 seconds before the ball got there or just let them walk by. I would rather have two young players trending up than one vet who was cut before he got here and has been an absolute waste of a roster spot since he got here.

I wouldn't go as far as horrible but I feel ya. He was such a heartbreak of a player. He was always half a second too early or half a second too late.

This is the NFL and chances are one of these guys will get hurt sooner or later. I'm happey having the remaining 4 fight for playing time. 

id also like to see some 3 Safety formations every once in a while. We have 5 good guys and each one of them brings something different to the table. 

[sizzlingdoom]

I wish Elam well but I will be VERY disappointed if he makes the team. Very. I know a lot of people might not like my post and will come to his defense but I think he cost us a chance at another ring with his missed tackled vs NE in the playoffs. One in particular. He CANT tackle. Period. End of discussion

[DrinkmoreBeer]

With Webb moving to safety, why do we need Kendrick Lewis? He was terrible last year. I remember him dropping a pick-six thrown right to him.

[sizzlingdoom]

With Webb moving to safety, why do we need Kendrick Lewis? He was terrible last year. I remember him dropping a pick-six thrown right to him.

Lewis has been very underwhelming no doubt. Definitely not a playmaker at all. But to respond to your question. Webb has never played safety before. And he's been injury prone lately. So if we let him go, Webb would be our only "true FS"??

[ravensnj]

Elam coming on strong....sounds like a broken record.

[Tru11]

7 hours ago, sizzlingdoom said:

Lewis has been very underwhelming no doubt. Definitely not a playmaker at all. But to respond to your question. Webb has never played safety before. And he's been injury prone lately. So if we let him go, Webb would be our only "true FS"??

webb played safety in college.

[OUravensfan]

On August 17, 2016 at 3:29 PM, Steve32 said:

Everyone assumes that Kendrick Lewis will make the team.

But based on how Elam and Brooks are playing, maybe they surprise us and cut Lewis and keep the 2 younger safeties.

Lewis is older and more expensive than those 2, and he won't get a lot of playing time behind Weddle and Webby.

I remember Kendrick Lewis giving the steelers a gift TD demonstrating the worst ball skills I've ever seen when he hit Brown a full two seconds before the ball got there.

 

Also remember Lewis getting burned by Green.