Look through just about any mock draft out there and you’ll see either an offensive or defensive lineman headed to the Cowboys in the first round. There’s no doubt that the ‘Boys need to upgrade the interior of both units, but let’s not forget that new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has traditionally favored small, ball-hawking safeties.
The Cowboys don’t have that type of player on the roster right now. If they choose to retain Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff, safety could all of a sudden become a position to watch. If so, Florida’s Matt Elam could be on the Cowboys’ radar.
Scouting Report
Elam’s greatest strength as a safety is his versatility. At Florida, he lined up all over the place—in the box, in the slot, and in a single-high deep position. He’s a highly-athletic football player who can do a lot of things well; he’s a sensational tackler—more consistent than people think—and can be solid in coverage if used properly.
In the running game, Elam excels when he can fly up to make hits. Even from a deep position, he’s capable of making big plays behind the line-of-scrimmage. You can see an example of that at the 27-second mark below. The willingness to come up to make a hit that you see there is an always-present characteristic of Elam’s game. He’s much like former Colts safety Bob Sanders in that way.
Elam’s also capable of playing in traffic. He’s a really strong, physical safety who can resemble a linebacker when he’s in the box, taking on blockers, shedding, and making tackles.
In the passing game, Elam has the ability to make big plays. He had six picks last year and he has good (but not great) speed. Elam is strong in underneath zones, reading the quarterback very well and jumping routes. He was used to cover slot receivers at Florida, although he doesn’t display the same sort of consistency in man coverage. You can see him whiff on a press at the 4:56 mark above.
As a deep safety, Elam doesn’t seem as instinctual as he does playing underneath. He’s by no means a poor deep cover guy, but he’s not the type of ball-hawk others have labeled him. If you forward to the play at 4:11, you can see Elam letting a receiver deep down the sideline in his Cover 2 responsibility. That was especially concerning because there was no one threatening the deep middle of the field, meaning Elam’s read should have taken him straight over to the sideline.
Overall, Elam is a plus athlete who does a lot of things really well. He can play deep, thriving when he flies up to make plays against the run, as evidenced by his team-leading 12 tackles for loss in 2012. At 5’10’’, 202 pounds, Elam is a much more physical player than his frame suggests. He also played special teams at Florida and he seems to genuinely love playing football.
Projection
Elam could get selected as high as the mid-first round, although the back portion of the first or the second round are more likely. Because he’s not a true “centerfield” cover safety or elite in deep coverage, I think he’s a late-first round talent that would be good value anywhere in the second.
Fit In Dallas
There are some who think the ‘Boys will play solely two-deep looks in 2013, but that’s not the case. Monte Kiffin said he wants the defense to play like that in Seattle in 2012. If you watched the Seahawks this year, you likely saw a whole lot of single-high coverage. The ‘Boys will play more zone coverage than in past years, but you’ll still see a safety down in the box on plenty of snaps. That makes Elam a consideration, although it’s unlikely Dallas will take him at No. 18. If he starts to fall in the second, he’s a strong possibility.
The Cowboys don’t have that type of player on the roster right now. If they choose to retain Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff, safety could all of a sudden become a position to watch. If so, Florida’s Matt Elam could be on the Cowboys’ radar.
Scouting Report
Elam’s greatest strength as a safety is his versatility. At Florida, he lined up all over the place—in the box, in the slot, and in a single-high deep position. He’s a highly-athletic football player who can do a lot of things well; he’s a sensational tackler—more consistent than people think—and can be solid in coverage if used properly.
In the running game, Elam excels when he can fly up to make hits. Even from a deep position, he’s capable of making big plays behind the line-of-scrimmage. You can see an example of that at the 27-second mark below. The willingness to come up to make a hit that you see there is an always-present characteristic of Elam’s game. He’s much like former Colts safety Bob Sanders in that way.
Elam’s also capable of playing in traffic. He’s a really strong, physical safety who can resemble a linebacker when he’s in the box, taking on blockers, shedding, and making tackles.
In the passing game, Elam has the ability to make big plays. He had six picks last year and he has good (but not great) speed. Elam is strong in underneath zones, reading the quarterback very well and jumping routes. He was used to cover slot receivers at Florida, although he doesn’t display the same sort of consistency in man coverage. You can see him whiff on a press at the 4:56 mark above.
As a deep safety, Elam doesn’t seem as instinctual as he does playing underneath. He’s by no means a poor deep cover guy, but he’s not the type of ball-hawk others have labeled him. If you forward to the play at 4:11, you can see Elam letting a receiver deep down the sideline in his Cover 2 responsibility. That was especially concerning because there was no one threatening the deep middle of the field, meaning Elam’s read should have taken him straight over to the sideline.
Overall, Elam is a plus athlete who does a lot of things really well. He can play deep, thriving when he flies up to make plays against the run, as evidenced by his team-leading 12 tackles for loss in 2012. At 5’10’’, 202 pounds, Elam is a much more physical player than his frame suggests. He also played special teams at Florida and he seems to genuinely love playing football.
Projection
Elam could get selected as high as the mid-first round, although the back portion of the first or the second round are more likely. Because he’s not a true “centerfield” cover safety or elite in deep coverage, I think he’s a late-first round talent that would be good value anywhere in the second.
Fit In Dallas
There are some who think the ‘Boys will play solely two-deep looks in 2013, but that’s not the case. Monte Kiffin said he wants the defense to play like that in Seattle in 2012. If you watched the Seahawks this year, you likely saw a whole lot of single-high coverage. The ‘Boys will play more zone coverage than in past years, but you’ll still see a safety down in the box on plenty of snaps. That makes Elam a consideration, although it’s unlikely Dallas will take him at No. 18. If he starts to fall in the second, he’s a strong possibility.