Benford - Was he being showcased? (Opinion, not a rumor)

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

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  

Respectfully my friend, I think you’re reading a little too much of the tea leaves into it.  They just want to figure out who’s the starter and why for the jets based on what they think the jets will do.

 

Each team Tre will always start, but they have different skills in Dane, to Benford to Elam.  When McD needs an athletic gift with natural press man coverage he’s going to start Elam.  When he needs which is more often zone he’ll probably toss up between Dane and Benford.

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

Analysis paralysis.

[stinky finger]

8 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Saw a Ravens guy on Twitter pushing for an Elam to the Ravens trade for a LB.

 

The Elam family has ties to the Ravens. Seems to think they would want Elam.

 

Seems credible and highly likely.

[John from Riverside]

I think there’s literally no chance that the bills trade Benford

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 hour ago, stinky finger said:

 

Seems credible and highly likely.

“Guy on twitter “ is never wrong.

[Thurman#1]

11 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I think Benford will start for the Bills. 

 

 

This is the general feeling I've gotten.

 

Uninformed feeling, I should say. But that's the way it looks to me to be trending.

[KOKBILLS]

11 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

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:  

1. 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.  
2. 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?

1.  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.  
2. 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.
3. 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.  

 

It's possible... I did not think of shopping Benford, but on another thread I commented that Elam coming in at CB4 in the final preseason game was not exactly improving his market value if Beane wanted to dangle him. So when you look at it the other way around with Benford it is interesting. Of course chances are they keep all 4. But the trade possibilities are not zero. 

[Alphadawg7]

3 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

Respectfully my friend, I think you’re reading a little too much of the tea leaves into it.  They just want to figure out who’s the starter and why for the jets based on what they think the jets will do.

 

Each team Tre will always start, but they have different skills in Dane, to Benford to Elam.  When McD needs an athletic gift with natural press man coverage he’s going to start Elam.  When he needs which is more often zone he’ll probably toss up between Dane and Benford.

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

[newcam2012]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So I think it is fair to acknowledge that coaches don't have to be right on every decision they make. Nor do GMs. The game isn't that much of a science. Really experienced and talented people can and do screw up in almost all walks of life. 

 

But I can't help but agree that when a poster takes it from the specific to the abstract (i.e. not "he is screwing up not playing player X" to "I don't trust him to play the right guys") then you have to look at McDermott's overall record in this league as a DC and a HC and say the evidence would suggest he overwhelmingly does play the right guys.

I can say I don't trust him if 13 seconds is left in a huge playoff game. 

 

I can say I don't trust him come playoff time. 

 

You look at McD overall record in the playoffs and the evidence would suggest he overwhelming doesn't get it done come playoff time. 

 

When do fans start to question whether McD is the coach to get the Bills to advance further? 

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

I can say I don't trust him if 13 seconds is left in a huge playoff game. 

 

I can say I don't trust him come playoff time. 

 

You look at McD overall record in the playoffs and the evidence would suggest he overwhelming doesn't get it done come playoff time. 

 

When do fans start to question whether McD is the coach to get the Bills to advance further? 

 

We disagree on how much the evidence does really suggest that when you dig deeper into it but that's not to be rehashed here. 

 

I don't think anyone said McDermott can't be questioned. The point was much more specific than that. Unless you believe the playoff losses are because he "didn't play the right guys" in which case I'd be interested to know which guys you think he should have plaued but didn't. 

 

[Nelius]

The McShyamalanBeane twist is going to be that it was Dane Jackson being "showcased" all along. Hooo, gasp

 

Will turn out that all the Elam doesn't get it chatter was the curveball. Elam and Benford subsequently both level up. Cam Lewis makes the team and and provides backend support along with Neal. Taron Johnson continues being the maniac that he is. Nobody really thinks Dane is the #2 on this team, cmon.

[davefan66]

Dane reached his ceiling and is a good 3rd or 4th.  He’s proven he can play, but does have too many breakdowns to be a starter.

 

Elam isn’t starter material, yet.  He’s buried on the depth chart which could be motivational versus ability.  He has the ability to be good, just needs the mental piece.

 

Benford starts.  And will be good.

[bmur66]

Very good possibility he was being show cased.

[loveorhatembillsfan4life]

I personally feel that Beane would have to be mental to to trade any of our cb’s.

 

First, last year showed how fast injuries can happen and test your depth.

 

We play in the Afc loaded with top Qbs everywhere you turn. 
 

I actually hope Benford starts or it it won’t be long when Jackson gets toasted out there.

I think we should try to win a Super Bowl first before trading anyone promising. If anything Beane will trade Dline. 
 

But to your point.. Beane has a way of looking to showcase certain players for trade.. 

[newcam2012]

4 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

We disagree on how much the evidence does really suggest that when you dig deeper into it but that's not to be rehashed here. 

 

I don't think anyone said McDermott can't be questioned. The point was much more specific than that. Unless you believe the playoff losses are because he "didn't play the right guys" in which case I'd be interested to know which guys you think he should have plaued but didn't. 

 

I think that's splitting hairs sort of speak. 

 

As a fan, coach McD hasn't get it done. He has vastly underperformed in the playoffs. In fact, there's plenty of games the Bills just lost winnable games. There's ample examples of him and his coaching staff getting out coached by a large margin. That's just not acceptable. 

 

I think it more than fair and reasonable for Bills fans to question this coaching staff. Not implying you don't. Certainly, last years disappointing exit doesn't instill confidence. Last year wasn't an anomaly. 

 

In short, as a fan, the bottom line is McD has fallen short and that's what really matters. Just look at Stephen Diggs reactions the last few years after disappointing losses. 

 

This team needs a change. McD is a good team builder, good coach, and a nice guy. That muddies the water when it comes to change. The team can do worse but I truly believe they can do better. I get staying the course. I realize I'm in the minority here. However, I believe this knowledge fan base has lost a lot of objectivity when it comes to McD. 

[GunnerBill]

14 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

I think that's splitting hairs sort of speak. 

 

Or it is literally the subject being discussed.....

[Chaos]

27 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

I think that's splitting hairs sort of speak. 

 

As a fan, coach McD hasn't get it done. He has vastly underperformed in the playoffs. In fact, there's plenty of games the Bills just lost winnable games. There's ample examples of him and his coaching staff getting out coached by a large margin. That's just not acceptable. 

 

I think it more than fair and reasonable for Bills fans to question this coaching staff. Not implying you don't. Certainly, last years disappointing exit doesn't instill confidence. Last year wasn't an anomaly. 

 

In short, as a fan, the bottom line is McD has fallen short and that's what really matters. Just look at Stephen Diggs reactions the last few years after disappointing losses. 

 

This team needs a change. McD is a good team builder, good coach, and a nice guy. That muddies the water when it comes to change. The team can do worse but I truly believe they can do better. I get staying the course. I realize I'm in the minority here. However, I believe this knowledge fan base has lost a lot of objectivity when it comes to McD. 

The main factor driving coaching hire/retain decisions is who Terry Pegula likes working with. Full stop.  If I spent billions on a team, I would want to work with who I want to work with too.  Based on the recent extension it is pretty clear he like working with McDermott and is not going to bring in a new person for the foreseeable future.  Mr. Pegula is not reviewing the situation through your lens or my lens.  

[Solomon Grundy]

I'd rather trade Dane personally

[newcam2012]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Or it is literally the subject being discussed.....

I hear you. Yes it was. However, I expanded the topic. The topic was coach McD and his playing in incorrect players. 

 

That's just too micro of a discussion with regards to McD. I think it's prudent to discuss many other factors. Right or wrong that's what I did. 

[OldTimer1960]

18 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

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 liked the Elam pick at the time - not hiding from that, but Elam is clearly not performing remotely close to what they expected.  I think they might have been better off keeping Alex Austin.  Elam is clearly not in favor of this staff.  Indeed, in preseason he was basically holding on almost every play involving him - and he is not a good tackler, either.

 

I think Elam is trying, but I believe his confidence is shot.  He is grabbing because he doesn't trust his coverage skills.

13 hours ago, davefan66 said:

Dane reached his ceiling and is a good 3rd or 4th.  He’s proven he can play, but does have too many breakdowns to be a starter.

 

Elam isn’t starter material, yet.  He’s buried on the depth chart which could be motivational versus ability.  He has the ability to be good, just needs the mental piece.

 

Benford starts.  And will be good.

By all reports I've seen, Elam is a dedicated worker and student of the game.  I don't think any message needs to be sent to motivate him.  He needs to stop holding/grabbing which, in part, is a confidence issue.  It could also be that Elam doesn't have the quickness necessary to go with his speed and size.