Why doesn't he move to offensive guard? Seems like he would be a better fit there. He isn't quick enough to play on D. I know he was guaranteed to play on D or something of sorts but he definitely isn't making it to the next level playing nose guard.
Matt Elam?
- Thread starter gomminit33
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No he isn't. He's waaaaayyyyyy too slow and has no mean bone in his body. Dude isn't good at all. I think he should move to OT
I tell you what, I watched a lot of games since the beginning of the season. Elam is the only defensive linemen who cannot push his player back. I have seen little NT move bigger centers, take on double teams and move the center and guard, but Elam never moves his man back.
I remember back when picked UK and me + others said how badly he needed a redshirt to get in shape how so many said it's fine he'll be gone after three years so no reason for a RS. Good stuff people.
I'm sure he's a great kid too. That doesn't make him great on the football field though
You are seeing the same thing I have been seeing. Because of Elam, I concentrate on the NG, when I am watching games. I have to say that in any game I watch Elam is the least effective NG I have seen this year. I love the fact that Matt came to UK, so I would love to see him become a big time player. If he could be a better Oline player than Dline player then he should make the switch.
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The "Elam to Offensive Line" argument is laughable. While offensive lineman are big and somewhat slow, their footwork and hands have to be sharp to play the position effectively. In 3 years on campus, Elam has shown absolutely nothing to suggest he could make the transition. He is a cartoonishly large kid with absolutely zero quickness, and perhaps even less motivation. Probably a nice kid, but arguably one of the biggest busts in UK football's less than glorious history. I hope he is taking his schoolwork seriously, because 4-5 years of free college can really help. My guess is he will need it.
So your saying that Elam would be a totally different player if only he redshirted his freshmen year??? I assure you if he had redshirted for 2 straight seasons what you see today from him is what you would see if he had redshirted.
So far the best thing for him to do is transfer and use that redshirt hear to sit out and learn a new position and D.
It would do uk a disservice if they had him for another 2 years taking up a scholarship. Pringle is light years better.
I actually think he's more effective at DT than NG. Gets no push whatsoever at NG. I have actually witnessed a play or two where he moved his man back from a DT position. That said, he's not even starting on this defense. That should tell you about his development.
You're right, Stoops wanted him so badly that he honored his request to play over red shirting and now him and Stoops are both paying for it.
Player development seems to be an issue on that side of the ball. Even the two NFL prospects they inherited were labeled as "raw" by NFL people. My question is why?
Hard to say what kind of player he could've been with some decent coaching and development..Stoops, Eliot and Brumbaugh teach these guys to stand straight up. They even found a way to make Bud and Za'Darius look mediocre when they were here. Players rarely ever progress under this coaching staff.
All the coaching and technique can't make him quick. His lack of quickness is his problem and that will stay with him forever.
You recruit quickness and teach technique
Moving him to right offensive tackle is something that has entered my mind as well, I must admit.
I think the no redshirt was part of the recruiting pitch, Elam needed as redshirt more than almost any kid because of several things. The most obvious was his conditioning, he needed a year to get in some kind of playing shape. Not only was he at least 60 lbs overweight, he wasn't very flexible, still an issue with him and generally not very athletic. Then there is his fundamentals and techniques, they were at middle school level, not that isn't Matt's fault, his coaches in the past played him because he was just bigger than everyone else, he is trying to catch up on those.
He seems like a really nice kid, maybe too nice of a kid to be playing DT/NG, but the coaches did him no favor by playing him as a true frosh if he had hopes of making it to the NFL. He has some work to do if that is his goal, I hope he gets that degree,
If somehow Elam manages to put it all together by next year. He could still make it to the NFL. I'm not saying he will be a high draft pick or even a draft pick at all. But with Elam's size some team would give him a chance to prove he has what it takes in camp and possibly on their practice squad.
In my opinion if we have the players and enough depth at NG next year. I would redshirt Elam next season. With hope that the remainder of this season and a extra season to redshirt. He would still be able to practice. So we could possibly see the development we all thought and hope for when he signed.
There are 2 problems I see with this. The first being would Elam willing to do it. Or would it hurt his pride to much. Secondly would he be able to stay disciplined enough. To continue the weight loss and add much needed speed and strength. In my opinion it would be a win-win for all involved.
In my opinion if we have the players and enough depth at NG next year. I would redshirt Elam next season. With hope that the remainder of this season and a extra season to redshirt. He would still be able to practice. So we could possibly see the development we all thought and hope for when he signed.
There are 2 problems I see with this. The first being would Elam willing to do it. Or would it hurt his pride to much. Secondly would he be able to stay disciplined enough. To continue the weight loss and add much needed speed and strength. In my opinion it would be a win-win for all involved.
Until he makes a meaningful play in a game, He will not get drafted by the NFL
Through 3 games (all of which he started), he has a grand total of 4 tackles (1 unassisted).
It wasn't long ago when Freddie Maggard was on a twitter rant about how much better Elam looked. Freddie is constantly boasting about all of the film he watches. Makes you wonder if he really knows what he's looking at.
Not only is UK football roster thin when it comes to depth, so is the talent pool when it comes to analysts.
I think Brooks staff coached-up players with lower HS rankings than now are in the NFL.
IMO Kentucky high school players are likely over-rated most times due to the lack of competition.
If a kid is 100 pounds bigger than most his competition you don't need much technique to perform well.
It's really tough to put a finger on the KY football kids. On one hand you have Corey Peters and Myron Pryor, who were 2 of our best DTs of all time. Then you have Elam as the our largest Bust of all time
Reading comprehension 101. I did not say he was going to get drafted. Let me see if I can make it to where you can understand what I was saying.
With the natural size Elam posses (6'7 - 360lbs) compared to one of the NFL greats Vince Wilfork (6'2 325lbs). Now if Elam some how manages to put it all together before his final year. Some team will take a chance on him. I'm not saying he will be a high draft pick or even get drafted. He more than likely will go in as an undrafted free agent like some successful NFL players. Heck some team may even waste a 7th rounder on him If they don't have any glaring needs based soley on potential. Again no where did I state or guarantee he would get drafted because as of right this moment he would not.
I'm a slow learner - but I finally learned not to listen to any of the glowing reports coming out of practice by local sportswriters and especially fans that were able to attend practice WRT our players.
Go back and read some of the reports from the spring and summer - they are laughable and reveal essentially nothing as predictors of how a season is going to turn out.
It's the same thing with high-school all-star games, all-star camps and highlight reels. Almost a universal waste of time.
Go back and read some of the reports from the spring and summer - they are laughable and reveal essentially nothing as predictors of how a season is going to turn out.
It's the same thing with high-school all-star games, all-star camps and highlight reels. Almost a universal waste of time.
I agree. He could have redshirted his freshman year, got in shape and been serviceable his junior year and maybe started his senior year. At UK he hasn't had the right coaching to develop.
It's player development. Matt may have not been all world if he went to Bama but he would be a better player than is he is now at UK.
Totally agree with this. In fact, I have posted same in just about every Elam thread over the past year. UK has some fronts where they put Elam in what appears to be a 3 tech (hard to tell from sideline shots) and he seems to do a decent job "holding" the B gap and getting involved in plays between C and T on his side. As a 0 tech, he is just not getting involved in many plays (to either side) at all.
There are basically 2 approaches to playing as a 0 technique NT.
#1, explode into the C, read you key (usually flow, and work through the center to the play side.
#2, a stunt or slant to one side or the other.
Both of these technique require an explosive charge to effectively play the position. However, if playing a 1 gap technique (1, 3, 4i or 5) you are already "in" the gap which is your responsibility so "defensive charge" is a little less important. With todays 4 man spreads there are really only 4 gaps which is probably why more and more "3 down lineman" defenses are putting the NT in a 1 technique. JMO
Peace
The moral of the story with Elam and DLine in general...no matter how big you are, you have to have some burst and quickness to play at a high level on the DL. Just standing there chicken fighting with an OL and "creating piles" (how many stupid poster keep arguing all the NT has to do is this) isn't worth much of anything.
Freddie is on the UK payroll so you have to take everything he says with a grain of salt. He seems like a nice guy, but if you're looking for an objective opinion on UK football he's not the guy to give it. He's double fisting the blue kool aid. I was listening to the pregame show last Saturday and he basically spent the entire time praising UK's offense and defense.
Oh I agree. But he goes on and on about how objective he is. He's not. And quite frankly, he says a lot of dumb stuff to get attention.