NFL Source - Elam Benched Tonight

[boyst]

17 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

If it is that is a worry.

Rhodes had a decent game by what we could see. Not hard to hold up decent to Mac Jones, tho.

 

He didn't seem to get out of position but did seem slow. 

[Maybe Someday]

In pregame they mentioned load management and hitting the rookie wall. Don’t know if that’s it completely but kind of makes sense. Pats WRs are nothing special and maybe this was a good game to keep the old and slow Rhodes a shot from getting beat. 

[Saxum]

It could be a personal issue the team does not want to discuss.

[Riverboat Ritchie]

What about illness?  

[BigAl2526]

Was he active for the game and sat on the bench, or was he inactive?  Hopefully, whatever happened to prompt this action is a one time thing and he'll be able to contribute moving forward. 

[boyst]

Just now, BigAl2526 said:

Was he active for the game and sat on the bench, or was he inactive?  Hopefully, whatever happened to prompt this action is a one time thing and he'll be able to contribute moving forward. 

Inactive 

[HappyDays]

McDermott was just asked about this, he basically said it was just about what they saw on tape and alluded to a "good competition" between Rhodes and Elam. This is pretty troubling.

Gross answer.

[Warriorspikes51]

6 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

McDermott was just asked about this, he basically said it was just about what they saw on tape and alluded to a "good competition" between Rhodes and Elam. This is pretty troubling.

Gross answer.

how exactly is a former all pro vet CB playing well enough to start troubling???

[YoloinOhio]

43 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

It could be a personal issue the team does not want to discuss.

And if that’s the case I’m pretty sure we will never know. Hope he’s good and it’s only up from here 

[Playoffs?]

I still feel like there is more to the story.  And would love to know where Elam’s head is at. 
 

Benching your #1 draft pick, who plays a position where we have a shortage of healthy guys.  

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, Playoffs? said:

I still feel like there is more to the story.  And would love to know where Elam’s head is at. 
 

Benching your #1 draft pick, who plays a position where we have a shortage of healthy guys.  

hello?  Tre and Xavier played well tonight. Sean likely doesn’t trust a rookie against Bill

[Playoffs?]

Just now, Warriorspikes51 said:

hello?  Tre and Xavier played well tonight. Sean likely doesn’t trust a rookie against Bill

Agree on Tre and Xavier. Guess we didn’t know how much Tre would be playing. Benford is out. Dane has been struggling. And from what I’ve seen with Elam, the kid can play. Just surprised he’s the guy they sat.

[Big Turk]

16 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

McDermott was just asked about this, he basically said it was just about what they saw on tape and alluded to a "good competition" between Rhodes and Elam. This is pretty troubling.

Gross answer.

 

Not troubling at all. A lot of these defensive miscues the last few games with guys running wide open have been due to the rookies...especially with them not passing off receivers in stacks/bunch formation pick plays leading to guys being wide open. 

 

Bills probably have given him a bunch of chances to correct it and he is still making the same mistakes. 

 

McD have him a night off to reevaluate what he needs to do and maybe watch a vet do it.

 

Likely not a punishment, more like a learning experience for him.

 

Edited December 2, 2022 by Big Turk

[Beck Water]

2 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

hello?  Tre and Xavier played well tonight. Sean likely doesn’t trust a rookie against Bill

 

It could be as simple as feeling Rhodes would be a better tackler against Rhamondre Stevenson, who is A Lot

[RocCityRoller]

4 hours ago, babulator said:

He has been, certainly better than Benford and Jackson. There has to be more to this.

 

Through game 10

QB Rating against Corners this season (Pro Football Reference)

Jackson: 77.2 (33/59 55.9% 3TD 2INT) def snaps 620

Benford: 84.1 (17/28 60.7% 1TD 1INT) def snaps 363

Elam: 88.4 (28/40 70.0% 2TD 2INT) def snaps 390

Johnson: 105.6 (45/67 67.2% 5TD 1INT) def snaps 667

 

Jackson certainly did struggle the past 2 games or so, But Elam is allowing a 70% catch and an 88.4 QB rating against.

 

Stats also back up the eyeball test that Taron Johnson is having a terrible season

[Big Blitz]

Most important thing it worked out.  So the kid has to see what the coaches told him they wanted and weren’t getting - they got today.  
 

NE just put up over 400 yards and 26 points at Minnesota in 23 mins TOP.  Our secondary has been a hot mess for weeks.  I’m not against McD wanting to mix it up and go with steadier vets here on the road.  
 

I will question why George Pickens isn’t on this team.  
 

Whatever.  
  

Great win.  

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Let’s just be happy it’s not because he’s getting toasted. It’s never a bad thing to slow cook a rookie if you can.

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

McDermott was just asked about this, he basically said it was just about what they saw on tape and alluded to a "good competition" between Rhodes and Elam. This is pretty troubling.

Gross answer.

 

Uh oh.
 

Basically, Elam has not been playing well.

47 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Not troubling at all. A lot of these defensive miscues the last few games with guys running wide open have been due to the rookies...especially with them not passing off receivers in stacks/bunch formation pick plays leading to guys being wide open. 

 

Bills probably have given him a bunch of chances to correct it and he is still making the same mistakes. 

 

McD have him a night off to reevaluate what he needs to do and maybe watch a vet do it.

 

Likely not a punishment, more like a learning experience for him.

 

 

lol it’s pretty troubling to not understand assignments this late in the season.

[JerseyBills]

2 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Rhodes I believe had most of the snaps. 

Pardon me

[Richard Noggin]

54 minutes ago, RocCityRoller said:

 

Through game 10

QB Rating against Corners this season (Pro Football Reference)

Jackson: 77.2 (33/59 55.9% 3TD 2INT) def snaps 620

Benford: 84.1 (17/28 60.7% 1TD 1INT) def snaps 363

Elam: 88.4 (28/40 70.0% 2TD 2INT) def snaps 390

Johnson: 105.6 (45/67 67.2% 5TD 1INT) def snaps 667

 

Jackson certainly did struggle the past 2 games or so, But Elam is allowing a 70% catch and an 88.4 QB rating against.

 

Stats also back up the eyeball test that Taron Johnson is having a terrible season

 

These metrics are a welcome addition to the dialogue surrounding Elam's healthy scratch tonight. 

 

Seems like a predictable selection of posters are eager for this to be more than a coach's decision based on perceived matchups and competitive advantage. I've read some reasonable guesses at the Bills looking to employ a more zone-heavy scheme, which is not Elam's strength and DOES typically help DBs rally to stop the run.

 

We SHOULD probably trust McD and Frazier when it comes to DB development and gameday management, no? 

 

Also, whatever they were trying to do with the secondary DID coincide with Taron Johnson apparently (to my eye) having a heck of a game. So there is that. When he's playing well this defense is playing well. 

Edited December 2, 2022 by Richard Noggin