Originally posted by SolRebe1:
Don't like all the Elam hate
me neither. there's a reason he's rated pretty high, yet people like to criticize the negatives in his game.
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Originally posted by SolRebe1:
Don't like all the Elam hate
Originally posted by SF69ers:You know who was rated pretty high? Donte Whitner was rated pretty high, that's why he was a Top 10 pick in the draft. Dashon Goldson meanwhile was a 4th rounder and yet given the choice, I don't think a single poster on these forums would have chosen to give up Goldson if he could have been retained by simply cutting Whitner. But yeah, Whitner was rated pretty high.
me neither. there's a reason he's rated pretty high, yet people like to criticize the negatives in his game.
Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Originally posted by SF69ers:
me neither. there's a reason he's rated pretty high, yet people like to criticize the negatives in his game.
He's an under-sized strong safety who struggles in coverage. Beyond that...he's outstanding. All the stuff people hate about Whitner, Elam brings in spades....and before we get into the whole "they're not the same"....bottomline, they were pretty similar as college players, go watch Whitner in college, he was the same sort of player, very explosive run defender, hard hitter, making plays all over the place, but questions about his size and coverage ability that have never gone away. Elam is somewhat better in terms of coverage ability but takes way too many chances, is always headhunting, looking for the big hit instead of just wrapping up.
I just don't see how you logically go from wanting Whitner booted off this team to proclaiming Matt Elam as the answer, that makes absolutely no sense to me at all.
If anyone, I think Evans has been grossly underrated as he took on a lot of responsibility on his own shoulders to let Elam go run around near the line of scrimmage. There are scouts who actually see Evans as the better pro prospect ultimately.
Originally posted by 5280High:
Here is some good video of both safeties...
Elam is #22, Evans is #9... this is supposed to be an Elam film but the more you watch the more Evans really stands out (also easy to identify with the dreads). Definitly has some potential.
Originally posted by GatorDoc77:
I have seen every Gator game during the times both Evans and Elam have been there and there is no way anyone in their right mind should want Evans over Elam as an nfl prospect.
While Evans is a solid player, he is by no means exceptional. He made nice strides to improve his play from his earlier years when he even lost his starting job to a freshman. His weaknesses are more glaring than Elam's. He is not better in coverage. In fact, he tended to take bad angles and get beat. Elam on the other hand is not just a hitter. As a freshman, in order to get him on the field, he was THE starting nickle back.
Also, my gators defense plays safeties in a way that they are interchangeable, not true free or strong safeties.
Sure Elam lacks height but he makes it up with tremendous skill, instincts, leadership and other intangibles. The guy is a football player period with star potential as a safety...remember Sanders from his days in Indy?
Now Evans is a good later round prospect and I would welcome him to the team but I don't forsee him becoming a probowler. He's marginal in most things he does and he is not very fluid.
That is my assessment of their games and I generally critique more than usual bc I have to rewatch many games on dvr due to my work schedule.
Go Gators and Go Niners!
Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:This. Elam is far too similar to Whitner. Sure you can argue Elam is better in coverage, but he's still suspect. Why would we want two similar safeties who are 5'10 with neither having coverage ability as their strong suit? Good luck having either of those guys trying to guard the bigger tight ends and receivers. Whitners lack of length and height is a large reason why he gets beat in coverage so often. Bigger and taller tight ends/receivers easily are able to box him out and get great body position (see dennis pitta, tony gonzalez). You need at least one guy (ideally your FS) back there with some height and length.
Originally posted by SF69ers:You know who was rated pretty high? Donte Whitner was rated pretty high, that's why he was a Top 10 pick in the draft. Dashon Goldson meanwhile was a 4th rounder and yet given the choice, I don't think a single poster on these forums would have chosen to give up Goldson if he could have been retained by simply cutting Whitner. But yeah, Whitner was rated pretty high.
me neither. there's a reason he's rated pretty high, yet people like to criticize the negatives in his game.
Elam is an under-sized strong safety who struggles in coverage. Beyond that...he's outstanding. All the stuff people hate about Whitner, Elam brings in spades....and before we get into the whole "they're not the same"....bottomline, they were pretty similar as college players, go watch Whitner in college, he was the same sort of player, very explosive run defender, hard hitter, making plays all over the place, but questions about his size and coverage ability that have never gone away. Elam is somewhat better in terms of coverage ability but takes way too many chances, is always headhunting, looking for the big hit instead of just wrapping up.
I just don't see how you logically go from wanting Whitner booted off this team to proclaiming Matt Elam as the answer, that makes absolutely no sense to me at all.
If anything, I think Evans has been grossly underrated as he took on a lot of responsibility on his own shoulders to let Elam go run around near the line of scrimmage. There are scouts who actually see Evans as the better pro prospect ultimately.
Originally posted by SammyFrancisco:
Elam is quicker and much more instinctive than Evans. I don't see much in Evans and certainly wouldn't take him before the 4th Round.
Elam is similar to Whitner, but a young Whitner - i.e. much faster and more athletic than the current model. The allure of a longer, faster pure FS like Amerson is understandable, but Elam wouldn't be bad either if that's the FO's guy.