Will Matt Elam be a force this year?
- Thread starter Raptureme
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IMO, at best, a space eater. At worst, a guy who is neutralized on almost every snap due to poor technique and cardio and plays only about 20 snaps a game.
Hope he becomes a factor and requires double teams...and if teams single up on him I hope he is able to create havic and forces teams to have to adjust.
It is his job to basically be a space eater. A NT is not really a stat filling impact player. They are supposed to somewhat anchor your line and force opposing teams to block them with two players. He eats up space and blockers and the linebackers get to play downhill and make the plays that fill the stat sheet.
If you start at the 50 second mark of this video then you will see a good example of it, and then another perfect breakdown on the very next play they do (may be the same play). On the second clip Elam only gets a double team for a split second, but getting that double team keeps the linemen off of Forrest and Henderson (IIRC) and allows 22 to get down fill the gaps and make the play. Elam doesn't get any stat credit and some people will say he was slow off the line and "got blown up," but it is because of him that the play was made.
If you start at the 50 second mark of this video then you will see a good example of it, and then another perfect breakdown on the very next play they do (may be the same play). On the second clip Elam only gets a double team for a split second, but getting that double team keeps the linemen off of Forrest and Henderson (IIRC) and allows 22 to get down fill the gaps and make the play. Elam doesn't get any stat credit and some people will say he was slow off the line and "got blown up," but it is because of him that the play was made.
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We need Elam to be a space eater. If he takes on a double team and doesn't get moved he has done his job.
Yeah the original question suggests a lack of understanding.
Good post. I'm not sure everyone really understands what the role he plays is. "Just a space eater" isn't a bad thing. That's like complaining that your left guard only clears running lanes for the RB. That's actually his job. If Elam only becomes a space eater then he could still be first team all SEC. The question with Elam is whether or not he's in good enough shape to be a legit space eater consistently. The problem for Elam is that he looks like an all american for about 5 to 10 plays and then gets blown out of the hole the rest of the game. This is because of conditioning. When he gets low and uses correct technique he's actually really good. He still takes too many plays off though. Elam will never be a high stat guy though. That's not his role on the team.
NT is one of those positions where you're like "hot damn, we're stopping the run! Must be the LBs!" Well not really. It's the fact that the C is 3 yards behind the LOS.
Big NG are suppose to eat up OL by requiring double teams keeping LBs clean and take up space. Calling one who is doing his job "merely" a space eater is pretty insulting. UK fans best hope he is a space eater, even if it seems to be a negative term to you.
damn straight. If fact, people, if you wanna learn a bit more about football, watch the line for the first 2 seconds of every play. Football is about way more than stats.
Yes, to me "space eater" is a guy who commands a D/T block to be neutralized. IOW, he will read/get penetration if not D/T-ed. And penetration by down linemen usually messes up just about any inside run game by either stopping the play or spilling it to the outside.
So far that has not been the case with Elam. I noticed UofL (and I'm sure some others) pretty much manned him up and sometimes zone/combo blocked off him. Also, like most teams, UK did not play Elam exclusively in a 0 technique and would sometimes play him in a 1 technique. Personally, I though this was where he looked the most effective, basically holding the A gab to which he was shaded and often contributing help to the adjacent B gap. JMO.
Peace
Matt will be fine- he should of red shirted his Freshman year. There is a reason why Saban flew to E-town. If you can see how much he had developed while he's been at UK then you don't know football.
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This is about where I'm at... Probably closer to the "at worst" position. Nothing I've seen from Elam gives me confidence that he has the fortitude to get his mind/body right.
He'll never be what most fans want him to be. Because of where he is from and the stars next to his name people expect this highlight reel type of thing from this guy. He won't do that at UK but he won't do that anywhere. If he improves his footwork and his timing off the snap of the ball, the guy will play on Sunday and make an impact here.
Comeback,
I feel that I understand what a NT's role is in our system and, to some extent, I know that Elam is not necessarily supposed to penetrate and blow up plays and have highlight reel stats. However, the first two plays of the video which you cite as Elam 'doing his job', I noticed that at no point was he able to shed a blocker or, in my opinion, really fill the hole he was supposed to fill. Was he there and in the way? Yes. Could he have made a play/tackle on the RB if the RB had run in his gap? I don't think so. To me, THAT'S the problem. Yes, he occupies space and a blocker and sometimes two, but he doesn't shed them (like Meant did on the first play and get in on the tackle). Just stands in the way. I don't think that's an effective NT performance. Don't expect him to make a bunch of tackles but I do expect him to shed a block and get a piece of the tackle when it's run in his hole.
Maybe that's just me.
I feel that I understand what a NT's role is in our system and, to some extent, I know that Elam is not necessarily supposed to penetrate and blow up plays and have highlight reel stats. However, the first two plays of the video which you cite as Elam 'doing his job', I noticed that at no point was he able to shed a blocker or, in my opinion, really fill the hole he was supposed to fill. Was he there and in the way? Yes. Could he have made a play/tackle on the RB if the RB had run in his gap? I don't think so. To me, THAT'S the problem. Yes, he occupies space and a blocker and sometimes two, but he doesn't shed them (like Meant did on the first play and get in on the tackle). Just stands in the way. I don't think that's an effective NT performance. Don't expect him to make a bunch of tackles but I do expect him to shed a block and get a piece of the tackle when it's run in his hole.
Maybe that's just me.
I disagree with that somewhat. A NT of Elam's size is suppose to tie up blockers, keep them occupied, which keeps the LBs clean and able to fill holes and make tackles without having to shed those blockers. If the NG is shedding those blockers he is also freeing them up to get to the next level and block LBs. A NT doing his job will never have good looking stats, but those LBs playing behind him will, or the defense will be giving up lots of points.
It is $$$$$$$$$$$$ time for him and he better wake himself up unless he wants to be back home working in a grocery storein a couple of years
UK fans in general have a low football IQ.
Repeat after me: Elam has TWO jobs:
1) Take on a double team
2) DON'T GET MOVED
If Elam accomplished these two things he's done his job. Period. Done. End of story.
If that's not crystal clear, I don't know what is. NTs rarely do any type of penetration because they really aren't suppose to. If they do somehow create penetration great, but if he holds off the opposing lineman creating gaps for our LBs to get the sack also great.
Agreed, but he has to learn to pursue down the line better. He improved at that during the last part of the year. Hopefully he will be better this year. Hoping for a breakout season.
Good point. Also he must stay lower which he did at times. If he can be consistent then a breakout year could be in the works.
The issue with Elam is his lack of mobility really suggests he doesn't command a double team...you can single block him and he really can't get to anything outside of the A gaps. I see Matt not getting moved...but I've never seen teams seeing the need to double team him so far at NT.
Then he is not doing his job. If only one OL is engaged he should be able to free himself. If he does and starts making things happen, the opposing offense will double team him. It is when he commands a double team that he is truly effective. Then it makes it 10 defensers against 9 players on O.
People expecting sacks and hurries from Elam do not understand what a 3-4 NT does.
Again, repeat after me:
1) Take on a double team
2) DON'T GET MOVED
K-Time basically said what I was saying (only much better): he's not requiring a double team and he's not shedding the single blocker he's engaged with. Okay, he's not being moved. Nor is he moving so anything even a little distance away from where he's engaged may as well be on the other side of the field. I understand what he's supposed to do. I just haven't seen him do it nearly often enough. He MUST be significantly better and DEMAND a double team almost every snap this year or I'm afraid he'll be as largely ineffective as he's been thus far. I hope he's in much better shape and plays with his pads much lower this year. Otherwise, I'd vote he's not going to be a force and may be in danger of being a 2nd stringer.
If only one OL is engaged, and he is not moving the OL, then he isn't doing his job. A 3-4 NT should be able to handle one OL on most snaps. The moment he commands a double team, the dynamic changes to DON'T GET MOVED. If he does that, the other 10 guys will be the ones making plays because 2 OL are occupied on him and no one is moving. THIS is where a 3-4 NT is the most effective.
Now, there will be occasional tackles, hurries, perhaps even a sack. But taking on a double team and holding your ground will increase overall statistics for the rest of the team, even if Elam's name hardly shows up on the stat sheet.
Actually he should DEMAND a double team because a single blocker cannot control him. A significant difference. Whether he makes a tackle is not as important as is if something (double team) is not done about him, he would.
Exactly what I said. He should demand a double team. If only one OL is blocking him and Elam is not shedding the block, he is not doing his job.
If I gained about 200# I might give it a go, I would still be underweight for the position but my wife always complained about how hard I was to move in the morning.
Hard to believe what has happened to football, whatever happened to our All American tackles that weighed 240 to 245# like Sam Ball and Doug Davis?
Something I should have mentioned in my above post....
You seldom see offenses using a "true" D/T block anymore, regardless of the size of the defensive player. That is one of the reasons "why" Elam does not command a D/T block.
What you usually see is a combo block or a zone block. In a true D/T block the 2 blockers stay engaged with the targeted DL the entire play. In a combo or zone block two OLs attack the targeted DL but one will "peel off" after the other secures the block. In combo blocks the blocker who peels off is usually "pre-determined". A classic example might be the old "power off tackle" play. The TE blocks down (i.e., "chipping) a 5 tech DT to allow the OT get leverage then he release to seal off the ILB. In the zone block the 2 blockers attack the DL then, depending on the alignment of the defenders, one will peel off to seal the LB. HERE is a pretty good link on the subject.
So, in this sense, the NT position does not require a player really any different physically than the other DTs. Sure, it's great if you have true 330 beast but there are plenty of 300# - 310# NTs out there. According to Phil Steele's 2015 rosters, here are some of the other SEC NTs......
AL : S. Robinson,6'4", 312#
AR: B. Jackson. 6'2", 324#
MS: D. Jones, 6'2", 310#
GA: C. Mayes, 6'4", 317#
TN: D. O'brien, 6'2", 286#
MO: J.Augusta, 6'4", 345#
FL: T. Bryan, 6'5", 275#
SC: G. Dixon, 6'3", 325#
Vandy: J. Woods, 6'3", 283#
Peace
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I believe Matt Elam will be a better player, in better condition, this year. I believe his improvement will help our defense against the run. But I do not believe Elam will be a star level player or an all conference player this year. 2017 could be another story though.
I always try and watch o.line. Sat in end-zone Spring game and Matt was doubled team many times. But the play that stood out was center Bunchy Stalling one on one moving Matt back and down line a couple yards. I think Matt will start but needs another improving year before he becomes a ever play factor.
There is a lot of good information in this thread but also some misconceptions. A NT doesn't "have to" command a double team. In fact when they play the zero-technique they often don't draw a double. They just have to control the center.
If they shade to one side or the other....a one-technique....they are more expected to draw a double based off of their starting positioning. And even then their job is just to hold their position and disrupt what the o-line is trying to do.
For thus far being an underclass two-down nose playing next to a not yet fully developed front-7 roster (and an offense that didn't help) Elam has performed decently.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/defensive-line-techniques-the-prototypes/
If they shade to one side or the other....a one-technique....they are more expected to draw a double based off of their starting positioning. And even then their job is just to hold their position and disrupt what the o-line is trying to do.
For thus far being an underclass two-down nose playing next to a not yet fully developed front-7 roster (and an offense that didn't help) Elam has performed decently.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/defensive-line-techniques-the-prototypes/
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Elam will never be 2nd string his last two years because UK does not have much quality depth behind him. He plays no matter what. UK's perceived weak dline this coming season can be greatly exaggerated if Matt comes ready to make a real impact. He needs to live, eat, and breathe football/conditioning this summer.
I can't think of a player that would've benefited more from a redshirt year more than Elam. He should be a sophomore going into this season but we kinda screwed the pooch on him and his development by playing him a couple snaps his freshman season.
Bottom line: if Elam is owning the opposing Center, he will eventually draw a double team. Opposing team cannot afford to have a NT dominate their C with a 3-4 alignment. They will bring in an extra blocker (TE, flex receiver) for the other linemen, but you cannot have your Center blown up on every play.
Again Elam needs to be very effective against one blocker so that they are forced to double team him. Once he is double teamed, DON'T GET MOVED. The other 10 guys will make plays.