| | Elam had 76 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks in his junior season for the Gators. Opting to forego his senior season, Elam was considered by most draft pundits as the second best safety in the draft behind the University of Texas Kenny Vaccaro, who went 15th overall to the New Orleans Saints.His selection, which ca [url=http://www.coach-onlinestoreoutlet.com/]Coach Outlet Online[/url] me with Notre Dame middle linebacker Manti Te o still on the bo [url=http://www.coach-onlinestoreoutlet.com/]Coach Outlet[/url] ard, marks just the second time in franchise history where the Ravens used a first-round pick on a safety. The other was in 2002 when the Ravens took Ed Reed with the 24th overa [url=http://www.coach-onlinestoreoutlet.com/]Coach Outlet Store Online[/url] ll pick.Reed, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, played 11 seasons for the Ravens before signing as a free agent with the Houston Texans this offseason. The Ravens also released Bernard Pollard, leaving the reigning Super Bowl champions without their two starting safeties from last season.The Ravens did sign former Oakland Raiders first-round pick Michael Huff and re-sign valuable reserve safety and special teams standout James Ihedigbo. However, Elam is expected to come in and immediately be given the opportunity to start. Aside from Huff and Ihedigbo, none of the other safeties on the Ravens roster have starting experience.Elam, meanwhile, started 26 games the past two seasons for Florida and in his three-year collegiate career, he registered 176 total tackles, including 23 for losses, six interceptions, five sacks and three forced fumbles.He is 5-foot-10, which is less than ideal size for an NFL safety and makes him vulnerable at times in coverage. His height is one of the reasons that most draft pundits projected that Elam would go in the second round.However, talent evaluators love his instincts and anticipation skills and think he ll continue to be a playmaker on the NFL level. The brother of lo [url=http://www.longchamp-handbag.com/]Longchamp Le Pliage[/url] ng-time NFL defensive back Abram Elam and a first-team All-American last season, Matt Elam has enough speed to match up with most of the players that he ll be covering and he gets good breaks, allowing him to make plays on the ball.He is also not considered a one-dimensional safety. Elam loves inching toward the line of scrimmage and getting involved in stopping the run.With Elam now having been added, the Ravens biggest needs are at left tackle, wide receiver and middle linebacker. They also are interested in adding to their depth along the defensive line and cornerback in the three-day draft. They still have 11 more picks remaining in the draft which continues Friday.The second and [url=http://chaussures-christian-louboutin.weebly.com]Christian Louboutin Pas Cher[/url] third rounds of the draft will be on Friday night, starting at 6:30 p.m. Rounds four through seven will then take place Saturday, starting at noon. The Ravens have one pick in each of the second and third rounds. They then have two picks in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds and three picks in the sixth round.
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