Alphadawg7

This is what I think too, and what I’ve been saying is what I think will happen at CB2 all camp. So totally agree with that

I agree, again was not proposing this, was wondering if this was why Benford started given Dane seemed to be in the lead to start all camp and preseason. I want to keep them all too Yeah all good

I agree, I think people might be over analyzing or overly down on Elam thus far. He was pretty good last year when he played, and got stronger down the stretch. He has had a good camp for the most part, not like this competition is against scrubs, I mean Dane and Benford are having good camps too. They are different players than Elam though and there have been plenty of times where both Dane and Benford were getting cooked out there due to the lack of speed and physicality. So I think its going to be more of a platoon at CB2 and they are going to use Elam more in those situations and Dane/Benford as more the zone schemes and play calls.

Honestly I would call him a lock

I dont disagree with you at all, like I said, I want to keep him and agree with what you are saying here. The main reason I didn't look at Elam as a potential trade candidate is 2 fold: First, they invested more into him just one year ago and Elam played well down the stretch last year including an INT in the playoffs. They knew the areas he needed to improve when they drafted him and doubt they would just give up on him over those one year in after using a 1st and a 4th to get him. Plus, he has had a pretty good camp himself and his rank on the depth chart is less about his struggles and more about all 3 guys have had strong camps. Second, if they were willing to trade him, I think they get him into this last preseason game either earlier or even as the starter to raise his value, especially given what they invested in him. Moving him down to CB4 is going to lower his perceived trade value, and that doesn't seem like a Beane move to me. So I am skeptical Elam went into the final preseason game as someone they were considering trading as it just doesn't make a lot of sense. I still think its most plausible all 3 stay here and there are no trades at CB. Just the late over taking of Dane by Benford in the final start felt odd given how well Dane played and made me wonder if its to see what kind of offers Benford might get given they already were getting calls for him last offseason as Beane stated.

Where did I suggest it as an idea though? I said I don't want to trade him right out the gate. I just simply wondered if there was more to him starting over Dane who has had a great camp and preseason and lead the CB2 race all preseason.

Ha, its all good...I figured most would take this wrong and react like I am saying we should or its for sure happening, which is not at all what I was saying. Im 100% with you, I don't want to trade him and feel the same as you where you can never have too many good corners. And we have a gauntlet of WR's amongst the top contending teams in both AFC and even NFC. This was more about being surprised Dane didn't get the start in the dress rehearsal given he has been leading the race thus far and has had a great camp and preseason, so was a bit surprised to see Benford start over him this final week. Personally, as I have said before, I still think CB2 may be more of a platoon based on scheme and matchups anyway and that the "starter" designation doesn't mean as much as it does for say Tre who dominates the snaps at CB1.

Thanks, had not seen those reports. So if that’s the case, then the start would make more sense. My main thought here was that starting over Dane felt a bit more surprising given how well Dane has also played. So the start felt more out of place on the surface to me because I had heard as much about Benford as Dane personally

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to trade him either. Just seemed like Dane was the clear leader at CB2 all preseason and had played good throughout camp. So Benford making a last minute leap frog just seemed a bit unusual given Dane did nothing to lose it. And Beane has showcased players before in preseason before trading them (as do many GMs), so it made me wonder did he really pass Dane, or were they seeing if he might garner some trade value if they decide to move one. But my personal stance has been keep all of them and that’s what I hope happens.

Interesting, you’ve previously been in the camp that Dane was leading the race prior to this game. What has changed that makes you think it’s Benford now instead of Dane? Was it just his start this week, or has there been other reports or anything prior to the game that makes you think it’s now Benford? I mean if Benford is the starter the. Obviously his start makes a lot more sense this past week. It’s just the fact that it seems like Dane had been in that slot heading into the game and had not done anything to lose it that surprised me about Benfords start this week.

Let me clarify...I am not advocating to trade him or even saying he is for sure being traded. Unlike many others, I am not concerned with the 3 way log jam at CB2 because I love having the depth, especially given the injury issues we have had at times at CB and the number of high level WR groupings we will face both in regular season and playoffs. IMO, you can never have too many good CB's. BUT...we have a roster that isn't easy to make and we may need to make some tough decisions in places on players at various positions. Plus Beane loves and needs more draft capital given our tight cap for the foreseeable future. So, I don't think anyone would be surprised if Beane traded a player or two either for both roster space and gaining more draft capital. So why do I think Benford might be one of those players...2 main reasons: Beane already knows he has trade value and teams are interested given he was getting calls last year for Benford and he has only increased his value since then. His surprising start - In a 3 man battle at CB2, Dane was the clear leader in the race, and in the game where most starters played, Benford gets the start. So this begs the question why did Benford start? Was it because he passed Dane? Doubt it, Dane has not only been leading in the battle, but done nothing to lose his spot either as he has played well all camp and preseason and there is nothing Benford really does that Dane can't do. Was it to just give him his chance to "start" in the 3 CB race? Doubt it because they did not do that with Elam who didn't start any preseason game despite being in the race to "start". So there isn't a pattern of consistency there if they were all going to equally get that chance. OR...Was it to showcase Benford, potentially increase his value as showing him as a possible starter and see what kind of trade interest it might create? Well, for me personally, I think it may be to showcase him to see what kind of trade interest and potential compensation it might create if he showed well, which he did. This also tracks with what Beane has done in the past as well and its a common tactic when teams are considering a trade during preseason as well. So while others are focusing on what Benfords start meant for Elam, I think it may be less about Elam and more about Benford and seeing what kind of trade value a good showing might drum up. I don't think Beane would "dump" any of the CB's for cheap if teams call, so I don't think he is say aggressively shopping him or trying to dump him. But I think Benford starting may have been to try and increase his value for any calls he may get or already have gotten on one of our CB's. To me I think it shows that maybe Benford of the 3 is the one he would be more willing to trade for the right offer. And teams are always lookin for CB's, so I would suspect Beane will get some calls this year on one of them, if he hasn't already. So while I like Benford and personally prefer to keep all 4 CB's (Tre, Dane, Elam, Benford) for depth, this feels like he was just showcased to maybe gauge trade interest and value. And if Beane gets an offer he feels is good value for him, I think it might result in Benford being on the move.

Well questioning to move up to get him is a different conversation than calling his actual career a literal disappointment. If he was as bad as many make him out to be he wouldn’t have gotten paid. Should we have paid him, nope, agree with not resigning him at what the market dictated for him. But he was a better player than some are making him out to be who act like he was a total bust or something. He wasn’t perfect, but he wasn’t a bust either. Fans gross over exaggeration isnt a real fact either, yet that didn’t stop this thread from happening

Not wanting to pay a MLB what the got with our cap space isn’t disappointing after having a player for 5 years with his production at his rookie bargain price. That’s called making sound cap decisions.

You've got an interesting definition of “disappointing”. Multiple Pro-Bowls and top 5 in tackles in the NFL since entering the league…lol. I’ve seen you prop up way worse players but you can’t help but over exaggerate Edmunds cuz he wasn’t the next Ray Lewis lmao

This

I didn’t say he’s starting, but doesn’t mean he’s 4th string

And how do you know he is CB4?

Or…it’s possible you’re reading too much into this final preseason game considering they have been giving 3 guys looks at CB2 and that the order they played today may not be an indicator of final depth chart. It could be, but we don’t really know. They also could be showcasing one of the other DBs for a potential trade and getting them work. So before we jump to conclusions, I’d prefer to see how it plays out and what week 1 depth chart looks like.

I agree with that, but I wouldn’t classify it as that if he splits some time with Dane/Benford in different schemes. He’s already the better CB than them at press and man, but the other two are good corners themselves. So if they decide to use Elam where he is is strongest and using the others while Elam is continuing to improve in the other areas, I don’t see anything wrong with that.

I think this is what people miss on this topic. They look at it that if Elam doesn't win it then it means Elam was not good, which isn't the case, he has had a good camp. Its just that we have 3 guys all having good camps at the same position. Which to me is a good thing. Personally, I think CB2 is going to be less about who starts and more about defensive calls and matchups. I can see for example Elam out there more on press/man coverage and Dane or Benford more zone for example. So I am not convinced that whoever wins CB2 is going to dominate the snaps like Tre does in regard to "starting".

Anyone who claims Allen lacks leadership literally knows nothing about Allen as countless players have talked about his leadership and not being like anything they have been around before.

Playoff record is a product of the NFC being the weaker conference compared to the AFC over the same period.

No disagreement that our backups aren’t much better likely, but I still would not want to spend a 4th to get someone who couldnt beat out Sam Darnold as the backup for the team that spent 3 first round picks on him. All for it if he’s cut though where we aren’t risking a good draft pick on him.

Just referencing that outside MIlano, Dorian has reportedly had the best camp of any other LB so far. So it’s both that Dorian has seemed to have had stood for positive reasons and had a solid or strong camp and the other LBs over at the MIKE have not stood out as much and the pecking order is still up in the air.

This is pretty right, but without Ramsey, I think the Bills have the slightly better overall CB group, we are just deeper than them. With a healthy Ramsey I think its fair to say Dolphins. I do think the better roster even without factoring in the QB's is the Bills, and its not close if you add in QB's because Allen is a lot better than Tua. But the roster in Miami is still also still good overall, but their OL is a mess and they have a QB who gets a concussion when he gets a papercut. So without those two criticial areas improved they will not be a better football team than the Bills IMO. I mean they are the 3rd best roster just in our own division. Jets hype is legit...that D is no joke and they got the weapons on offense as well. Biggest achilles heal is the OL. Ive seen Rodgers play on some good teams with bad OL's and it held those teams back, so hoping that repeats itself some here because they to me are a real threat if not. Dolphins not so much.