'14 KY DT Matt Elam (Kentucky Verbal)

[Bluto]

Mail this kid a ding dong cake spelling ND and shut this puppy down.

 

[koonja]

But he did show something when asked to.

I don't think this is the first time he's been asked to though.

He's been playing sparingly all year.

 

[Brooklyn]

I think Jarron Jones just made a statement that the NT position isn't quite as open as previously believed.

A little early to consider him a lock to be great, its only one game. But even then, thats still one guy. The NG position is usually a position where the snaps are split.

 

[Brooklyn]

Yes i agree that we should tout that as much as possible. Just to be clear, I wasn't saying we aren't or shouldn't. My previous comments were about what Matt is thinking or looking at. From his point of view.

I understand. Just hope he and/or Holley see the value here at ND.

 

[Luckylucci]

ND offers a path to the NFL as well.

I am fully aware of that. I was talking from his perspective, it sounds like he views that as well as other prospects as the best way to the league. It's not a new thing that some prospects look for the best or easiest path to the NFL. We don't offer the easiest path, maybe the best but he's well aware that he'll have to work in the classroom and many have said that it may be the deciding factor.

 

[Luckylucci]

I understand. Just hope he and/or Holley see the value here at ND.

Agreed, I am going to be cautiously optimistic until I can't be.

 

[dwshade]

We have some recent success to point to with Nix and Tuitt but Bama clearly has a lot larger sample size to look at.

Outside of Marcel Dareus a few years ago Bama has had zero DL 1st round draft picks in Saban's years. We have two this year. Of the 7 or 8 Bama DL playing in the NFL most were late round guys who are backups in the league.

 

[Irish#1]

I am fully aware of that. I was talking from his perspective, it sounds like he views that as well as other prospects as the best way to the league. It's not a new thing that some prospects look for the best or easiest path to the NFL. We don't offer the easiest path, maybe the best but he's well aware that he'll have to work in the classroom and many have said that it may be the deciding factor.

I'm sure BK and staff will discuss that with him, probably more than once.

 

[pumpdog20]

A little early to consider him a lock to be great, its only one game. But even then, thats still one guy. The NG position is usually a position where the snaps are split.

Yeah, for some reason I'm having trouble finding anywhere in my post saying I said he was a lock to be great, or even hinted at that.

 

[Brooklyn]

Yeah, for some reason I'm having trouble finding anywhere in my post saying I said he was a lock to be great, or even hinted at that.

Bad wording by me. Just saying its one game and there will be an open competition at NG. One game doesn't make a person great and lock down a position. Although Jarron had a great game, this is pretty much as open a job as there is at the NG position.

 

[Cackalacky]

I'll be cautiously optimistic, but IMO it's too early to say this.

JJ was on scout team two weeks ago, and he's never shown anything until tonight.

Agreed. A6'5 NT is not ideal. I do like how athletic he and Okwara looked. They both had several plays where their arms up in the air that kept Hill from passing.

 

[FLDomer]

Agreed. A6'5 NT is not ideal. I do like how athletic he and Okwara looked. They both had several plays where their arms up in the air that kept Hill from passing.

Isn't Elam 6'6?

 

[ThePiombino]

I don't think this is the first time he's been asked to though.

He's been playing sparingly all year.

Yes, and he's been effective pretty much every time he's seen the field - nothing like yesterday mind you, but effective nonetheless. I think his issue has been more on the practice field than game time.

 

[Cackalacky]

Isn't Elam 6'6?

Lol. I thought about that after I posted. I guess I think the ideal NT is like Nix or Wilfork. Proportionally though his height to weight is probably similar. Would we want a 6'6 350 lbs NT?

Haha. What do I know? I would make a great scout.

 

[ThePiombino]

Lol. I thought about that after I posted. I guess I think the ideal NT is like Nix or Wilfork. Proportionally though his height to weight is probably similar. Would we want a 6'6 350 lbs NT?

Haha. What do I know? I would make a great scout.

I would imagine that if the kid can move, it doesn't really matter if he's 6'3" or 6'6", no?

 

[Cackalacky]

I would imagine that if the kid can move, it doesn't really matter if he's 6'3" or 6'6", no?

I guess not. Get after the QB. That's all I care about.

 

[ThePiombino]

I guess not. Get after the QB. That's all I care about.

Not even. Just be able to take on two blockers and penetrate. I don't care if he doesn't record a single sack in his career. I'll take the occasional deflection and a consistent run stuffer/disruptor. Let the CAT and DEs get to the QB and get those TFLs

 

[Meacon Irish]

I'll be cautiously optimistic, but IMO it's too early to say this.

JJ was on scout team two weeks ago, and he's never shown anything until tonight.

He's a redshirt freshman. It's quite possible the "light just came on".

 

[koonja]

He's a redshirt freshman. It's quite possible the "light just came on".

I hope you're right. But almost everyone said the same thing about GAIII after the Oklahoma game and they were sorely mistaken. I need to see him against more/different competition. I know nothing about BYU's interior OL, but I know Stanford's is really, really good.

I wrote my feelings in Jarron's thread if you care to look. Probably a waste of time though .

 

[IrishFaninTX]

I hope you're right. But almost everyone said the same thing about GAIII after the Oklahoma game and they were sorely mistaken. I need to see him against more/different competition. I know nothing about BYU's interior OL, but I know Stanford's is really, really good.

I wrote my feelings in Jarron's thread if you care to look. Probably a waste of time though .

I bet if we went back to Louis Nix' thread from 2011 we would see similar posts. I seem to recall that he did not practice hard enough and even after the 2011 season had briefly lost his job to Kona because Kona brought it every single day and Nix wasn't going full speed a lot of the time. Now he is arguably the #1 NT in the country. Not saying Jones will be the #1 NT when he leaves ND but he has the size to be a dominating force in the middle and be very effective if the light comes on and at least for 1 game it looks like he is starting to get there.

 

[FLDomer]

This JJ discussion is wonderful but can we move it to his thread and save this one for discussion for....I don't know....maybe Elam?!?!?

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Well considering Jones is roughly the same size as Tuitt, 3-4 DE is probably his more natural position (Tuitt is a prototypical 3-4 DE). Elam is considered a NT despite being 6-6 because he has an extra ~50 lbs on Jones.

The caveat in my argument though is that Jones looks great at 300, Elam looks like he carries a lot of bad weight (which isn't surprising for a high school NT). Elam could definitely use a D-1 exercise program.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

@FballIsLife69: I Dont Care Who Commits To Where, I Love Competition. Its Just Going To Make Me A Better Player !!

@FballIsLife69: @D_Barker7 @DavidCornwell5 Lmfao Best QBs In The Nation Hands Down !! Either Way Im Going To Sack Them Both !!! 😎😏💯

 

[CanadalovesND]

You don't sack your own QB, Matt....

ND Bound.

 

[Kak7304]

Well considering Jones is roughly the same size as Tuitt, 3-4 DE is probably his more natural position (Tuitt is a prototypical 3-4 DE). Elam is considered a NT despite being 6-6 because he has an extra ~50 lbs on Jones.

The caveat in my argument though is that Jones looks great at 300, Elam looks like he carries a lot of bad weight (which isn't surprising for a high school NT). Elam could definitely use a D-1 exercise program.

I'm also skeptical of his listed weight. I wouldn't be surprised if Elam is 400 lbs.

 

[dwshade]

You don't sack your own QB, Matt....

ND Bound.

Maybe he means he'll sack one in practice and the other in a real game.

 

[Crazy Balki]

So with Frazier committing to Alabama, does this mean ND is the huge leader? I'd assume so, since it seems to have gone more towards a ND/Bama battle for him, and with another DT on board, I think Elam will avoid the logjam. Meanwhile it seems like Kentucky has played their way out of contention for him. I don't think he was expecting a great season, but 2-9 has to be setting off bells in his head.

 

[GBdomer]

So with Frazier committing to Alabama, does this mean ND is the huge leader? I'd assume so, since it seems to have gone more towards a ND/Bama battle for him, and with another DT on board, I think Elam will avoid the logjam. Meanwhile it seems like Kentucky has played their way out of contention for him. I don't think he was expecting a great season, but 2-9 has to be setting off bells in his head.

 

[irishff1014]

So with Frazier committing to Alabama, does this mean ND is the huge leader? I'd assume so, since it seems to have gone more towards a ND/Bama battle for him, and with another DT on board, I think Elam will avoid the logjam. Meanwhile it seems like Kentucky has played their way out of contention for him. I don't think he was expecting a great season, but 2-9 has to be setting off bells in his head.

I wouldn't say that. It might help us a little but he probably already knew that he was going to sit some behind the talent they already have there.

 

[Cackalacky]

Everything I have seen from twitter denziens (#BBN) is they are just begging him to stay in-state. They don't even talk shit. They are just flat out begging for him to go to UK.