Is Elam Done?
- Thread starter mrhotdice
- Start date
If Pringle is a lot better and I agree he is, then why did it take so long for the change to be made? This is a failure of coaching and contributed to the current mess we are in.
it took so long to make the change because when Elam selected UK over Alabama and ever other place that offered him he did so because he thought he wouldn't have to work hard here, and because Stoops promised him the world and so they felt like these last couple years they had to play the upright shirt puller even though he didn't deserve it. The fact of the matter those that are and were still defending Elam into this year just don't know what they are seeing. Is Elam's job to make tackles or get sacks? Not really, his job is push the line or at least hold it and take up space and blockers for our linebackers to make tackles. He doesn't do that and never has, in fact the opposite probably happens with him 80/20 he gets knocked off and stands straights up.
What did Stoops promise him? You act like you are in the know, tell me what he was promised.
I can't figure him out. Evidently the coaches can't either. JMO but he doesn't seem to 'get it'. I think he passed the look test but doesn't have the talent at this point to get the job done.
Maybe he needs to take a redshirt year and hope that fire starts to burn in his belly again. He's to big to get handled the way he does. He needs to play with more heart and desire.
he promised him immediate playing time to begin with but beyond that do you not think Stoops told him whatever he wanted to hear to get him here?
First, linemen above all other positions take longer to develop.
Second, Elam showed up at over 4 bills.
Third, he plays at a position where he is actually too big.....enough so that his technique has to be sound enough to make up for the fact he's borderline 6'7".
So, no, he's not done. Nor is he a "bust" yet. There have been far too many linemen who have 'gotten it' in their final yr.
That being said, it hasn't looked stellar so far.
Second, Elam showed up at over 4 bills.
Third, he plays at a position where he is actually too big.....enough so that his technique has to be sound enough to make up for the fact he's borderline 6'7".
So, no, he's not done. Nor is he a "bust" yet. There have been far too many linemen who have 'gotten it' in their final yr.
That being said, it hasn't looked stellar so far.
totally agree. Elam should should absolutely be moved to O-Line. Redshirt next year try and learn and see how it goes. He has no other future in football past college if he doesn't. whoops quoted the one underneath the one i meant to
What mess? I agree it looked like a mess after game 2 but now...... Really? 2-2 in the SEC is a mess? Really? Think positive!
IMHO, you can't teach quickness and Elam has none. No way you can play in the SEC with no quickness. Him being tall and heavy with no quickness is a handicap. He is easy to block and that comes from standing up. He would do better if on every snap he would just dive at the centers feet and then stand up.
Second, he has no quickness in his body so weither you red shirt him or don't, it won't make him quicker in a position He will never be a NT in the SEC or anywhere else.
The fact he showed up over 400 pounds tell me and should have told Stoops he is not serious about football. He was probably told to lose weight and lift weights for months before and after he signed with UK but he chose to remain fat and out of condition.
Second, he has no quickness in his body so weither you red shirt him or don't, it won't make him quicker in a position He will never be a NT in the SEC or anywhere else.
I remember getting blasted in the offseason for saying Elam was a bad football player and his hopes of being something in sports at this point are shattered.
He's been in the program for three years now (and the guy who's replaced and far outplayed him is in his first year here, btw). I'm afraid the "takes awhile to develop" excuse no longer flies at this point.
There have been scores of players who have played HS ball while wildly out of shape. They stay out of shape because they can get by with it in HS. And many of that same population get their act together in college. Elam has clearly slimmed down quite a bit over the last yr. So, there's at least a decent amount of effort there.
Having seen him in person, he's actually rather agile and quick for a guy his size. What you are perceiving as "lacks quickness" is actually a lack of technique.
And to the "standing up" that everyone talks about. That's lack of technique as well.....mixed with physics. Almost every lineman that he goes up against is going to be several inches shorter.....and already have leverage. When those two forces converge it results in Elam being stood straight up. I've always wanted to see Elam down in a 4 point stance where he could use his power and size as a weapon.....by getting lower and more horizontal.....but that too takes quite a bit of technique to master.....otherwise they will shove you right to the ground.
I like the idea of a RS yr that some have mentioned. It should've been done in yr 1. I think it certainly would've helped.
Bottomline is that Elam still has a chance to do fairly well in college. The forecast looks fairly bleak right now and the odds appear to be against him but he's not completely done.
Does it? Out of the hundreds of linemen who currently play in college ball, what proportion of them are upperclassmen? What about the thousands upon thousands throughout the history of the sport? There will always be exceptions but the precedent is so highly in favor to the older guys....especially along the lines.
Now once again, it certainly appears that the outlook for Elam isn't great but he absolutely still has a window of opportunity left.
I wish I could say otherwise but I think you nailed it. I do think, as you do too, that he tries.
I could buy that view if there was some evidence of progress with Elam, but there really is not. If he has not shown discernable "development" after THREE YEARS here, I don't think there's much hope that the switch will magically flip for him in his fourth year. Especially since Pringle, a juco transfer in his first year here, has now taken his job and clearly shown himself to be the far better player.
I'm afraid folks are hoping for something out of Elam that is simply not in the kid. That "talent" they assumed he had because of high school hype is really not there. The kid was wildly overrated in HS where he just overpowered inferior Kentucky schoolboy competition with sheer size and strength. But you need plenty more than just size/bulk to compete on the DL against D1 competition, and he does not seem to have any of the other things.
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Elam has done absolutely nothing in his time at UK to warrant any more playing time, and he's done even less to suggest he can flip the switch and get it right in year 4. I have never seen his "standing straight up" as a flaw in technique...I see it as a guy with zero endurance. He looks exhausted after his very first snap. And for those that say he just needs to work on his 4 point stance...why is he always standing up with his hands on his knees right before the snap? I would assume it's because he is too out of shape to even get in a 4 point, let alone stay in one for any length of time prior to the snap.
I am not bashing the kid, he just isn't a good football player. I hope he is taking his classwork seriously because a free education is a beautiful thing, regardless whether you've met expectations on the field or not.
I am not bashing the kid, he just isn't a good football player. I hope he is taking his classwork seriously because a free education is a beautiful thing, regardless whether you've met expectations on the field or not.
This is why a lot of teams wanted him. If I were him and truly wanted to play in the nfl one day I'd switch to that side of the line. Take a redshirt next year and grow into a offensive lineman. He could be a good one.
D line is all about leverage and low man wins. That is not good for a 6-7 guy. Most centers will be quicker (esp off ball as they are kinda who sets time of play and knows exactly when to go) and smaller height wise. Once someone is under your pads you ain't getting push and all you can do is raise up, hope to disengage from block and maybe cause some blockage in middle or bat down a pass.
Elam's chief problem is technique--not talent. He plays high and when he gets gassed, he plays real high, getting washed out by linemen that get under his pads. He's lost weight, but loosing weight is only half the battle. Now he needs to enhance his quick-twitch muscle mass and play with disciplined technique down after down. The ability is there; he just needs to tap that ability through technique.
Many critics charge that at 6'7", he'll never be an effective DT. They might note that Marcus Stroud (UGA) and John Henderson (UT) both had long NFL careers as 6'6" / 6'7" DT's. Elam isn't washed up just yet, but his window is closing. Perhaps watching a less heralded player take his snaps will shake reality into the kid. If it doesn't and he resorts to pouting and low effort, then he doesn't deserve success.
Many critics charge that at 6'7", he'll never be an effective DT. They might note that Marcus Stroud (UGA) and John Henderson (UT) both had long NFL careers as 6'6" / 6'7" DT's. Elam isn't washed up just yet, but his window is closing. Perhaps watching a less heralded player take his snaps will shake reality into the kid. If it doesn't and he resorts to pouting and low effort, then he doesn't deserve success.
Sometimes when you get "knocked-down", you realize you've got to get up, or you can just lay there. We'll see what Elam is made of, now that's he's lost his starting position. Does he has the"**** in his craw", to bow his neck and fight for the position. None of us know, only time will tell.
He sure seems like a nice guy, but as an old coach told me, "Sometimes you just have to spit on the floor, and knock someone on their A$$."
I'm betting on Elam!
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
He sure seems like a nice guy, but as an old coach told me, "Sometimes you just have to spit on the floor, and knock someone on their A$$."
I'm betting on Elam!
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
I'm not sold on our NG position being a clog. The defense has gotten better since Pringle has stepped in. Elam clogs, where Pringle can push back the OL and get into the best position to make a tackle or allow someone else to make it.
http://www.ukathletics.com/page/team-stats_m-footbl_stat-crew
TOTAL TACKLES ua-a total usm uf nmsu sc ua vandy
Jordan Jones 41-15 56 13-6 5-4 6-1 6-2 7-1 4-1
Mike Edwards 30-21 51 2-7 3-3 8-4 3-1 9-3 5-3
Courtney Love 15-19 34 6-3 1-5 2-1 1-5 5-1 0-4
Josh Allen 17-15 32 4-5 2-2 2-0 5-2 2-2 2-4
Marcus McWilson 10-18 28 2-5 2-4 1-3 1-1 3-3 1-2
Denzil Ware 15-11 26 2-2 1-3 0-4 4-1 3-0 5-1
Blake McClain 13-12 25 3-6 6-3 0-1 2-1 2-1 -
Derrick Baity 20-3 23 5-0 3-0 1-0 5-0 2-0 4-3
Naquez Pringle 8-12 20 DNP 3-2 1-2 1-3 1-2 2-3
J.D. Harmon 11-9 20 3-5 1-3 3-0 2-0 - 2-1
Chris Westry 15-5 20 3-1 3-0 3-0 1-2 1-1 4-1
C. Miggins 9-10 19 2-1 0-2 3-2 1-4 1-1 2-0
Alvonte Bell 9-8 17 2-2 0-1 5-2 1-3 DNP 1-0
De'Niro Laster 7-7 14 - 2-3 0-2 2-1 3-1 DNP
Eli Brown 8-5 13 1-0 0-2 1-1 - 6-1 0-1
A. Middleton 7-5 12 1-1 2-2 0-2 1-0 2-0 1-0
Kobie Walker 2-8 10 2-8 DNP - - DNP DNP
K. Randolph 5-5 10 1-0 2-0 1-4 1-0 - 0-1
T.J. Carter 2-4 6 DNP 0-2 2-0 DNP - 0-2
Matt Elam 1-3 4 1-3 - - - - DNP
Kash Daniel 3-1 4 0-1 1-0 - - 1-0 1-0
Tymere Dubose 3-1 4 DNP - 2-1 1-0 - -
Marcus Walker 2-1 3 DNP 1-1 - DNP DNP 1-0
Sihiem King 1-2 3 0-1 1-0 - - 0-1 -
Nico Firios 1-2 3 - 0-1 - - 0-1 1-0
Tristan Yeomans 0-2 2 - 0-1 - - - 0-1
Benny Snell 0-1 1 0-1 - - - - -
Jordan Bonner 1-0 1 DNP - - - 1-0 -
J. Bannerman 0-1 1 0-1 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Jordan Griffin 1-0 1 DNP DNP 1-0 DNP - DNP
Garrett Johnson 1-0 1 - 1-0 - - - -
Nick Haynes 0-1 1 - - 0-1 - - -
Kengera Daniel 1-0 1 DNP DNP DNP DNP - 1-0
S. Williams 0-1 1 - - 0-1 - - -
T. Richardson 0-1 1 0-1 - - - - -
Jeff Badet 1-0 1 - - - - - 1-0
Charles Moushey 0-1 1 DNP DNP DNP DNP 0-1 -
C.J. Conrad 1-0 1 1-0 - - - - -
TOTAL TACKLES ua-a total usm uf nmsu sc ua vandy
Jordan Jones 41-15 56 13-6 5-4 6-1 6-2 7-1 4-1
Mike Edwards 30-21 51 2-7 3-3 8-4 3-1 9-3 5-3
Courtney Love 15-19 34 6-3 1-5 2-1 1-5 5-1 0-4
Josh Allen 17-15 32 4-5 2-2 2-0 5-2 2-2 2-4
Marcus McWilson 10-18 28 2-5 2-4 1-3 1-1 3-3 1-2
Denzil Ware 15-11 26 2-2 1-3 0-4 4-1 3-0 5-1
Blake McClain 13-12 25 3-6 6-3 0-1 2-1 2-1 -
Derrick Baity 20-3 23 5-0 3-0 1-0 5-0 2-0 4-3
Naquez Pringle 8-12 20 DNP 3-2 1-2 1-3 1-2 2-3
J.D. Harmon 11-9 20 3-5 1-3 3-0 2-0 - 2-1
Chris Westry 15-5 20 3-1 3-0 3-0 1-2 1-1 4-1
C. Miggins 9-10 19 2-1 0-2 3-2 1-4 1-1 2-0
Alvonte Bell 9-8 17 2-2 0-1 5-2 1-3 DNP 1-0
De'Niro Laster 7-7 14 - 2-3 0-2 2-1 3-1 DNP
Eli Brown 8-5 13 1-0 0-2 1-1 - 6-1 0-1
A. Middleton 7-5 12 1-1 2-2 0-2 1-0 2-0 1-0
Kobie Walker 2-8 10 2-8 DNP - - DNP DNP
K. Randolph 5-5 10 1-0 2-0 1-4 1-0 - 0-1
T.J. Carter 2-4 6 DNP 0-2 2-0 DNP - 0-2
Matt Elam 1-3 4 1-3 - - - - DNP
Kash Daniel 3-1 4 0-1 1-0 - - 1-0 1-0
Tymere Dubose 3-1 4 DNP - 2-1 1-0 - -
Marcus Walker 2-1 3 DNP 1-1 - DNP DNP 1-0
Sihiem King 1-2 3 0-1 1-0 - - 0-1 -
Nico Firios 1-2 3 - 0-1 - - 0-1 1-0
Tristan Yeomans 0-2 2 - 0-1 - - - 0-1
Benny Snell 0-1 1 0-1 - - - - -
Jordan Bonner 1-0 1 DNP - - - 1-0 -
J. Bannerman 0-1 1 0-1 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Jordan Griffin 1-0 1 DNP DNP 1-0 DNP - DNP
Garrett Johnson 1-0 1 - 1-0 - - - -
Nick Haynes 0-1 1 - - 0-1 - - -
Kengera Daniel 1-0 1 DNP DNP DNP DNP - 1-0
S. Williams 0-1 1 - - 0-1 - - -
T. Richardson 0-1 1 0-1 - - - - -
Jeff Badet 1-0 1 - - - - - 1-0
Charles Moushey 0-1 1 DNP DNP DNP DNP 0-1 -
C.J. Conrad 1-0 1 1-0 - - - - -
What makes you think he can play oline? Hes slow, cant get a push one on one. If he cant get a push on the dline, what makes you think hell be able to run block?
He needs to move to the O line and start learning the offense. If he is a bust there and he may well be, then he needs to understand football is not in his future and he needs to get a solid degree to earn a nice living.