Predicting Big 2023 Season for Kaiir Elam and James Cook

[RoyBatty is alive]

I think both will have a major uptick in playing time and productivity in 2023.  We all know how difficult it is for rookies in the NFL and how reticent McDermott is to play rookies.  Both now have a year  and I think both have have a great season.

 

James Cook. On his first career carry, Cook fumbled which really put him in the dog house.  With the exception of the blowout win 41-7 over the Titans, Cook averaged only 3.7 carries a game until December after which he averaged 8.6/game, among other factors took a while for them to have faith in him.  He only had 89 total carries for the years with 507 yards, an impressive 5.7/carry (even if you take out his longest run, a TBD favorite stat, it was still 5.4/carry).  He didn't have much in terms of a seasoned RB room with Zach Moss and Devon Singletary.  I think the addition of veterans Murray and Harris (the "patriot way", fwiw) can only help.  Most importantly, the Bills made a concerted effort to beef up the interior of the O Line. He can crack through the front line with some real O line help, he might get into the open to use his speed.

 

Also more experience receiving the ball.  I think the much maligned Dorsey could even split him out as a WR.  In combination with the hybrid WR/TE Kincaid, could present some real match opportunities.

 

He isnt the biggest back and probably never be a 200+ carry/year, (good reason to have Murray and Harris) but I think in yards from scrimmage, he can crack 1,000 yards.

 

Kaiir  Elam.  I strongly encourage listening to the Cover 1 interview with Kaiir Elam.  The easy manner he can discuss in depth how he reads and bates the QBs is entertaining, not something I expected from a 1 year experience player.  And he answered decisively, he appeared to know what he is supposed to do cold.  I love it when talking about Pickett he said he was "young" and tried to be a "gunslinger", not arrogantly just matter of fact and how he baited Pickett to throw the int.  He studies his opponents and if you recall, on the draft interview he had notes on all the college receivers he faced, it wasn't marketing ploy, i think it was legit.

 

He came out of Florida , transition from more man and it takes time to master the NFL zone coverages, one of the factors why he had a regular season PFF grade of only 56.7 but then a playoff PFF grade of 87.1.

 

I think Kaiir wins starting CB#2 and I will put  the over/under on regular season INTS in 2023 at 4.

Edited June 26, 2023 by RoyBatty is alive

[Royale with Cheese]

I have no idea what to expect for Elam.

 

I do expect Cook to become lethal.  I think he explodes this year.

[K D]

I don't think any 2022 draft picks start this year. Ouch! Go Bills?

[The Jokeman]

Just now, KDIGGZ said:

I don't think any 2022 draft picks start this year. Ouch! Go Bills?

Elam, Cook and Shakir have a good shot of starting. Benford could be in the mix as a spot starter.  Bernard has a chance but I like Dorian Williams' speed better. 

[K D]

31 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Elam, Cook and Shakir have a good shot of starting. Benford could be in the mix as a spot starter.  Bernard has a chance but I like Dorian Williams' speed better. 

So none of them. Coulda woulda shoulda

[msw2112]

31 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Elam, Cook and Shakir have a good shot of starting. Benford could be in the mix as a spot starter.  Bernard has a chance but I like Dorian Williams' speed better. 

 

I agree that Shakir will have a good season, whether he starts or not.  I also see contributions from Benford (he contributed last year and has one more year of NFL experience under his belt).  I also agree that Elam and Cook should be better and contribute more.  I have not see enough of Bernard to make a judgment, but hopefully a year with an NFL training and nutrition staff has bulked him up a bit, plus another year to learn the playbook.  Bernard is a guy that is supposed to have great intangibles, so hopefully some work on the physical and mental side of the game will pay off.

[Einstein]

Too many variables. Can’t predict. 

[billsfan89]

I expect Cook to be a thousand-yard rusher by a wide margin. I think getting a year under his belt plus the revamped interior O-line will only help him. Given that Hines is likely a third-down back and Harris/Murray are likely situational power backs I see plenty of carries and snaps for Cook to achieve these lofty expectations. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

2 minutes ago, Einstein said:

Too many variables. Can’t predict. 

Thanks for stating the obvious with another value added opinion..

 

Life must be very difficult for you, too many variable, you cant predict anything.

[Einstein]

2 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

Thanks for stating the obvious with another value added opinion..

 

Life must be very difficult for you, too many variable, you cant predict anything.

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

6 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

I expect Cook to be a thousand-yard rusher by a wide margin. I think getting a year under his belt plus the revamped interior O-line will only help him. Given that Hines is likely a third-down back and Harris/Murray are likely situational power backs I see plenty of carries and snaps for Cook to achieve these lofty expectations. 

 

I hope we just use Hines like a running back and not some... specialty gadget player.  Guy averages like 100 or so touches per year and buffalo can't even get him 100 SNAPS in 9 games.  He had fewer snaps than Moss who he was traded for.  

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

I hope we just use Hines like a running back and not some... specialty gadget player.  Guy averages like 100 or so touches per year and buffalo can't even get him 100 SNAPS in 9 games.  He had fewer snaps than Moss who he was traded for.  

I don't necessarily disagree with you but think that was more or less decided when we added Harris and Murray.  He will be a return man/backup RB and gadget player.  A McKenzie that doesn't drop the ball as much.

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 minute ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

I don't necessarily disagree with you but think that was more or less decided when we added Harris and Murray.  He will be a return man/backup RB and gadget player.  A McKenzie that doesn't drop the ball as much.

Agree. I think his path to snaps is in the event of a Cook injury. Other than that I see Hines getting maybe 1-3 touches a game on offense. I think Cook/Harris eat up the high majority of RB touches.

[eball]

In the “name your breakout player” thread a month or so back I named Cook. I think he’s going to be a beast. 
 

I also think Elam will quiet his detractors; he was already showing signs of “getting it” at the end of the year. 
 

[John from Riverside]

28 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

OK I spit my coffee out over this one pretty good Einstein

[BigDingus]

I'll be honest, I don't have any expectations for Elam this year. I hope to be surprised & that he kills it out there, but I don't buy the idea that McDermott is just too conservative with rookies & was afraid to play him much.

 

On the other hand, the sky's the limit with Cook. It requires Dorsey to commit to using him, but I think he'll be great if given more opportunities. If the Bills can finally figure out how to use screens effectively, it'll be even better.

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

Cook - A revival of 1973 -  2003 yards.

Elam. - the second coming of Robert James.

[billsfan89]

43 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

I hope we just use Hines like a running back and not some... specialty gadget player.  Guy averages like 100 or so touches per year and buffalo can't even get him 100 SNAPS in 9 games.  He had fewer snaps than Moss who he was traded for.  

 

Hines should both be a gadget player and a third-down back on third and long/medium situations. He is by far the best pass catching back on the roster so it would be a tragic misuse of him to not have him in the backfield on obvious passing situations. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Hines should both be a gadget player and a third-down back on third and long/medium situations. He is by far the best pass catching back on the roster so it would be a tragic misuse of him to not have him in the backfield on obvious passing situations. 

Makes sense, I have no idea if Hines can pass block.  Cook is supposed to be a great receiver as a RB, lets see if Dorsey can adequately use him.

 

Just like Kincaid at TE, lets see what Dorsey can scheme up to utilize him to the utmost.

[Don Otreply]

55 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

You’re stealing my stuff dude, 😂