Starting CB2...

[eball]

...so, I know a lot of folks are ready with the pitchforks for Beane if Elam doesn't win the CB2 job, and certainly that is a disappointing result given his draft status...but if Benford wins the job because he is a player who was severely under-drafted but is actually very good, and the Bills still have a guy like Elam (who has talent) for depth, is it really a problem?

 

[Buffalo716]

2 minutes ago, eball said:

...so, I know a lot of folks are ready with the pitchforks for Beane if Elam doesn't win the CB2 job, and certainly that is a disappointing result given his draft status...but if Benford wins the job because he is a player who was severely under-drafted but is actually very good, and the Bills still have a guy like Elam (who has talent) for depth, is it really a problem?

 

Long answer, no.. especially of they keep elam for his contract

 

Benford was obviously under drafted because Villanova..  he's like the 5th player drafted from there in 20 years

 

Even if he was at University at Buffalo he probably would have been a top 4 rounder 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Buffalo716

[NewEra]

It’s not a problem as long as CB2 isn’t a problem.  

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, eball said:

...so, I know a lot of folks are ready with the pitchforks for Beane if Elam doesn't win the CB2 job, and certainly that is a disappointing result given his draft status...but if Benford wins the job because he is a player who was severely under-drafted but is actually very good, and the Bills still have a guy like Elam (who has talent) for depth, is it really a problem?

 

 

The bold will be the key. Did the Cheaters* ever regret who they MIGHT have drafted in the 6th round instead of Brady? (I bet some did at the time!)

[Warcodered]

Except isn't it Dane whose in the lead again somehow?

[Airseven]

Jackson is CB2. Still.

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

Except isn't it Dane whose in the lead again somehow?

 

We either have terrific depth, or Tre still isn’t Tre and we are completely DOOMED! 

 

I’ll wait to decide. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

As with all things it depends. If you are just talking play on the field then no it doesn’t matter much. If either are capable solid #2 CBs(assuming White is back to form) then the defense will be fine. However if you are talking about cap management, a #1 draft pick that is sitting on the sidelines is a massive waste of cap dollars that could have been allocated elsewhere.

[Success]

I remember people were saying similar things about Edmunds that they are saying about Elam now.

 

Both were really young guys when they came into the league. Elam is only 22 this year.  I have no worries about him - he made some great plays last year & you could see the potential. If he doesn't get the starting job, it doesn't mean he's not going to be a good or even great one for us down the line.

 

[FireChans]

29 minutes ago, eball said:

...so, I know a lot of folks are ready with the pitchforks for Beane if Elam doesn't win the CB2 job, and certainly that is a disappointing result given his draft status...but if Benford wins the job because he is a player who was severely under-drafted but is actually very good, and the Bills still have a guy like Elam (who has talent) for depth, is it really a problem?

 

Dane Jackson is going to win the job. It is a problem that Elam can't beat out two super late round drafted players, neither of which are that good.

 

We may as well have drafted a different position in the first round of 2022 and kept Levi Wallace around.

[ngbills]

Its Tre, Jackson, Johnson followed by Elam. Benford. 

[wppete]

1 minute ago, ngbills said:

Its Tre, Jackson, Johnson followed by Elam. Benford. 

Solid 5 CBs. One of the strongest groups on the team. 

[GunnerBill]

I don't care which of the 3 wins the job if they then perform. But it is legit to say that a 1st rounder who can't beat out a former 7th rounder and a 6th rounder from his own class by year 2 is a bust of some description. 

 

And I hope if Benford or Jackson win it they have a plan that still involves Elam vs Tyreek

[FireChans]

11 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I don't care which of the 3 wins the job if they then perform. But it is legit to say that a 1st rounder who can't beat out a former 7th rounder and a 6th rounder from his own class by year 2 is a bust of some description. 

 

And I hope if Benford or Jackson win it they have a plan that still involves Elam vs Tyreek

I would add that this regime has been GREAT at getting "solid" play out of the CB2 position, largely due to Tre's skill, and our S duo backing them up. Levi, Dane, Benford are all examples of guys who are not that physically gifted but have able to perform well in spots due to our coaching and scheme.

 

If Elam with his physical gifts can't muster up a level of play consistently superior to that, it's a large disappointment and I think McD and Beane would agree.

[drummernut74]

Put the playbook on the plane 

[eball]

26 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I don't care which of the 3 wins the job if they then perform. But it is legit to say that a 1st rounder who can't beat out a former 7th rounder and a 6th rounder from his own class by year 2 is a bust of some description. 

 

And I hope if Benford or Jackson win it they have a plan that still involves Elam vs Tyreek

 

Draft analysis is wrong so often I don’t know if I agree once you get past the first 10-15 selections in the 1st round…but I understand your point.

 

[HappyDays]

Elam is trending towards bust status. He is the only 1st round pick under this regime to not be a full time starter by his 2nd season. Not too late to turn it around but the clock is ticking. If he is a bust it sucks but it happens to every team. Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, 49ers, all had 1st round busts within the last few years. We've been spoiled by the fact that each of our 1st round picks since McDermott took over have become at least capable starters. This was bound to happen eventually.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

I have two thoughts on this:

 

1) Is this a GOOD thing that our depth a CB is so strong, or a BAD thing that we can’t even figure out who CB2 should be…

 

2) If it is the former, then you have to seriously wonder if moving on from Tre White is in play next season. 

[oldmanfan]

2 hours ago, eball said:

...so, I know a lot of folks are ready with the pitchforks for Beane if Elam doesn't win the CB2 job, and certainly that is a disappointing result given his draft status...but if Benford wins the job because he is a player who was severely under-drafted but is actually very good, and the Bills still have a guy like Elam (who has talent) for depth, is it really a problem?

 

No it is not.  Tre is Tre, Taron is Taron, and then we have 3 capable guys as well.  Most teams would salivate over having that kind of depth.

[Coach Tuesday]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

Elam is trending towards bust status. He is the only 1st round pick under this regime to not be a full time starter by his 2nd season. Not too late to turn it around but the clock is ticking. If he is a bust it sucks but it happens to every team. Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, 49ers, all had 1st round busts within the last few years. We've been spoiled by the fact that each of our 1st round picks since McDermott took over have become at least capable starters. This was bound to happen eventually.

It may have been bound to happen but the timing of a completely crap draft couldn’t have been worse - the entire 2022 draft is looking like a throwaway.  Benford and maybe Cook can partially salvage it, but considering what the Chiefs pulled from that draft class (and the Jets who took 2 likely All Pros in Round 1 alone), the Bills lost a major opportunity to capitalize on the end of Allen’s cheap window.