Matt Elam

[dart]

S Josh Evans, Florida (6-1, 200, 4.54) -- When discussing Florida safety prospects in this draft, most conversations will be dominated by the hard-hitting Matt Elam. However, Evans deserves to be mentioned in the same breath. A rangy, physical player, he led the Gators in tackles this past season with 83 stops, adding three interceptions and six passes defended. Evans is aggressive near the line of scrimmage and surprisingly does a nice job working through traffic, but he needs to improve his consistency in space, often taking streaky angles and gaining poor positioning in coverage. While Elam is the more well-known safety from Gainesville, Evans matches his toughness and energy and isn't far behind him in regards to his NFL future.

[Shinywalrus]

I would be shocked if we went OL or S instead of DL in Round 1.

[Future]

I don't understand how there isn't more love for Rambo. The guy is a perfect FS to compliment Church in a cover 2 type of scheme.

He might not be as good a tackler as guys like Vaccaro or Reid, but I don't think there is a better ball hawk type available this year.

[SoCalCowboyFan]

Originally Posted by Future

I don't understand how there isn't more love for Rambo. The guy is a perfect FS to compliment Church in a cover 2 type of scheme.

He might not be as good a tackler as guys like Vaccaro or Reid, but I don't think there is a better ball hawk type available this year.

^this has had 16 interceptions in his career.

But he was suspended for 1st game in the '11 season for possession of a marijuana joint and 4 games to start this past season for failing a drug test. Claims he ate brownies that he didn't know were laced with marijuana. Of course this will probably drop his stock a little and if he has that all behind him, he'd be a great day 2 pick up.

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by Future

I don't understand how there isn't more love for Rambo. The guy is a perfect FS to compliment Church in a cover 2 type of scheme.

He might not be as good a tackler as guys like Vaccaro or Reid, but I don't think there is a better ball hawk type available this year.

Yeah. Rambo could be a really nice fit, if Church is healthy. Tackling is a huge factor in this scheme though. But it's not like he's a terrible tackler.

[Future]

Originally Posted by SoCalCowboyFan

^this has had 16 interceptions in his career.

But he was suspended for 1st game in the '11 season for possession of a marijuana joint and 4 games to start this past season for failing a drug test. Claims he ate brownies that he didn't know were laced with marijuana. Of course this will probably drop his stock a little and if he has that all behind him, he'd be a great day 2 pick up.

I agree it's going to cause his stock to drop, but I don't see him falling out of the second round. Guy is a playmaker.

[ABQcowboyJR]

Originally Posted by Future

I don't understand how there isn't more love for Rambo. The guy is a perfect FS to compliment Church in a cover 2 type of scheme.

He might not be as good a tackler as guys like Vaccaro or Reid, but I don't think there is a better ball hawk type available this year.

I'm right there with you. I would loveto see rambo on the cowboys. I realize he might not be the RKG but at a point in the draft you take a chance. We should have taken a chance on Dennard last year.

[AsthmaField]

The last time we took #22 from Florida it worked out pretty well.

Having said that, I like Elam against the run but not so much in the passing game. He's ok, but he wouldn't be the savior here. Would be fun to watch though.

Don't like Reid very much. Something about his game bothers me and it is hard to put my finger on it. Even die hard LSU fans around here aren't very high on him.

I could be wrong though.

McDonald is interesting but I haven't seen him enough to really know (SEC country here).

[reddyuta]

what we need a a Earl thomas clone or someone close,a guy who can track the ball in the air and get there to make the play;we have no one close on our roster who fits that description and we need one if we have to have success in the Tampa 2.

[kirkjrk]

Originally Posted by RS12

Inside info? All I care about is getting the best covering safety, violent hits dont win, covering does.

Exactly!!

[Avery]

I don't care for his ball skills too much. He doesn't wrap up very well and looks to simply just pop guys which doesn't really work in the pros.

I would go in another direction unless we're looking at him in round three.

[AsthmaField]

I think he's better in coverage than a lot of people on here think he is. He isn't Ed Reed, but he can cover pretty well. He just is so strong against the run that that's what people talk about.

For all we know Kiffin might think he's the perfect safety to play in his scheme.

[CowboyStar88]

This is the guy I want with our first pick. I love watching this kid play and I think we need a bit of that confidence and nasty in the defensive back field. It's something we are missing and have been missing for a long time. Maybe Church can provide that, but I think the safety duo of Elam/Church will be a great combo for years.

[AsthmaField]

Originally Posted by CowboyStar88

This is the guy I want with our first pick. I love watching this kid play and I think we need a bit of that confidence and nasty in the defensive back field. It's something we are missing and have been missing for a long time. Maybe Church can provide that, but I think the safety duo of Elam/Church will be a great combo for years.

I wouldn't mind it, although I think we go elsewhere with our first pick.

[RS12]

According to the National Football Post's Russ Lande, opinions among NFL scouts are mixed on Florida S Matt Elam's NFL Draft value.
"Some (scouts) think he's a first-rounder, some think he's more of a second- or third-round guy," said Lande. "From what I've heard from scouts, pretty much all I've spoken to, is they love his aggressiveness, he has great range, he can run. He's willing to hit. They'd like him to be a little more consistent as a tackler." Lande also noted Elam's inconsistencies in deep pass coverage.