After an offseason filled with marquee departures, the door was open for several players on the Baltimore Ravens to step up and fill the spots. The team drafted young defensive talent to help fill the holes and while nothing will be given to the rookies no matter where they were drafted, several are looking poised to take over the starting spot. Matt Elam has done nothing but wow the coaching staff and could be ready to win a role as a starting safety.
Michael Huff is already penciled in as one of the starting strong safeties. After Ed Reed left for Houston, the spot to start opposite Huff is wide open. The Ravens drafted Elam out of University of Florida to compete for the spot and so far the rookie is impressing.
"It really doesn't matter if it's preseason or regular season. I just want to go out and get better and show the coaches what I can do. They tell me to keep on improving and doing the small things right," Elam said via the Baltimore Sun.
As of now, the rookie is set in a competition with veteran James Ihedigbo for the starting spot. While the veteran has taken a lot of the work with the first-team offense, that could very easily change as Elam is the one creating headlines.
In his first preseason game, Elam played a majority of the second and third quarter, coming up with the some big hits. He finished the day recording two official tackles, one on Buccaneers running back Peyton Hillis. The second came on backup running back Michael Smith. He drew positive reviews from the coaching staff and from Ihedigbo.
"My guy is playing awesome," Ihedigbo said. "He's really coming into his own with his ability to play man-to-man and his knowledge of the defense. It's all about knowing everything and everybody's job in the secondary. He's a sharp guy and a hard worker who loves the game."
Ihedigbo certainly has the resume of a starter after impressive years with the New England Patriots and New York Jets. Baltimore opted to hold on to him during free agency with a one-year contract, but many assume Elam is being groomed to take over the starting spot.
The coaches certainly appreciate the veteran experience and leadership that Ihedigbo brings, but in the end, the best guy will be put on the field.
"The best guy has to play," Ravens secondary coach Teryl Austin said this spring. "It doesn't matter where you're drafted and how you got here. If you're here and are performing the best, you're going to play."