Elam's issues

[All I Need is Hope]

Does anyone have any actual intel (not opinions) for why Elam is pushed down the depth chart and now behind 6th and 7th round CB's?  Is it mental, adjusting to new techniques, schemes, ???.

 

McDermott and crew have typically been really good at getting the best out of DB's.  

 

This one's a head scratcher.

Edited October 3, 2023 by All I Need is Hope

[Warriorspikes51]

I’m still puzzled. He had very important plays at KC and vs MIA in the wildcard

 

it would sure be nice if he flipped a switch and became Pat Surtain

Edited October 3, 2023 by Warriorspikes51

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Is it really that difficult to see Dane Jackson and Christian Benford are good players?

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 minute ago, All I Need is Hope said:

Does anyone have any actual intel (not opinions) for why Elam is pushed down the depth chart and now behind 6th and 7th round CB's?  Is it mental, adjusting to new techniques, schemes, ???.

 

McDermott and crew have typically been really good at getting the best out of DB's.  

 

This one's a head scratcher.

Point may be proven as McDermott seems to have gotten the best out of Benford and Jackson...to the point where we have 4 solid CB options.

 

Let's see what Elam does with the opportunity 

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Is it really that difficult to see Dane Jackson and Christian Benford are good players?

props to Dane. He had a big hit immediately after coming in

[All I Need is Hope]

1 minute ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Point may be proven as McDermott seems to have gotten the best out of Benford and Jackson...to the point where we have 4 solid CB options.

 

Let's see what Elam does with the opportunity 

Makes it even more puzzling to understand why they can't get top end production out of someone with Elam's elite athletic traits

 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Let me add the only issues we heard about were in practice. He was grabbing a little too much. But other than that the kid can play. 
 

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

5 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Is it really that difficult to see Dane Jackson and Christian Benford are good players?

I think it also has to do with Elam though. Lot of negative innuendo in the comments by McDermott about Elam. Even today, he basically was like, “we’ll see” about Elam. 

[NewEra]

The reason he’s been pushed down the depth chart:  Dane is currently a better zone CB for McDs system.  

[SCBills]

Benford’s coverage metrics have been elite.   
 

Tre was solid. 
 

We know the staff loves Dane Jackson, and if he could ever develop any semblance of ball skills, he’d be a coveted corner given his run defense and sticky coverage. 
 

It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Elam has simply been beat out by 3 good players.  
 

The bright side is that Elam has the highest ceiling, traits-wise, of anyone in this secondary, even before Tre went down. 

The downside is that, even with his above average performances in big moments last year, the staff doesn’t trust him yet. 
 

He’s one of the more talented players on this defense, but on a unit that requires you to be a cog, he’s used to going man up and it seems the staff is struggling to coach that out of him. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I think it also has to do with Elam though. Lot of negative innuendo in the comments by McDermott about Elam. Even today, he basically was like, “we’ll see” about Elam. 

I don’t know. Thats trying to read into things. On the field he’s been more than fine. 

[Mr. WEO]

This is begging for a 3rd thread…

[HurlyBurly51]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

The reason he’s been pushed down the depth chart:  Dane is currently a better zone CB for McDs system.  

Maybe McD could’ve whispered to BBB in the war room he wasn’t a fit.

[wppete]

Really hope he takes advantage of this massive opportunity. I think he will. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

8 minutes ago, All I Need is Hope said:

Makes it even more puzzling to understand why they can't get top end production out of someone with Elam's elite athletic traits

 

Not really. In this defense physical traits at the CB position isn't a big deal. This defense is about being in the right spot at the right time and doing your 1/11th. Making the right reads. 

 

Elam had further to come than Benford and Jackson. More ground to cover. He'll have his opportunity to show how far he's come. At the very least we should see if his opportunity grows and we should have a much better idea of how he fits in the coming weeks.

[SCBills]

4 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I don’t know. Thats trying to read into things. On the field he’s been more than fine. 

McDermott is definitely weird about Elam.   His answers whenever asked about Kaiir come across like he’s beyond annoyed to have to talk about him. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

McDermott is definitely weird about Elam.   His answers whenever asked about Kaiir come across like he’s beyond annoyed to have to talk about him. 

I feel that also. I’ve mentioned it seems like he wanted to draft someone else. We’ll never know. Just a wild guess.

 

At worst he’s been even with Benford. Typically the tie goes to the 1st rounder. Elam seems to have a great attitude about it though. Never hear him complaining.

[artmalibu]

Im glad we have Elam, and dont care why he was sitting out!  

[NickelCity]

10 minutes ago, SCBills said:

McDermott is definitely weird about Elam.   His answers whenever asked about Kaiir come across like he’s beyond annoyed to have to talk about him. 

 

I'm hoping the annoyance is just due to "what do you want me to say he's not practicing as well as the other guys..."

 

But idk

[Mango]

30 minutes ago, All I Need is Hope said:

Does anyone have any actual intel (not opinions) for why Elam is pushed down the depth chart and now behind 6th and 7th round CB's?  Is it mental, adjusting to new techniques, schemes, ???.

 

McDermott and crew have typically been really good at getting the best out of DB's.  

 

This one's a head scratcher.

I think Elam is likely “fine”. I don’t think he’s a bust. Probably “meh”.
 

Jackson struggled as the year went on and everybody on defense went down, but when Tre went down Dane played really well. And by the time we hit the playoffs was better than Levi. Through the first 5 or so games of last season DJ was something like top 5 in passer rating when targeted. He’s struggled but he can ball too.

 

All that said Benford beat him out in a close battle. And apparently Elam wasn’t too far behind. 
 

I think it’s a factor of having an all-pro on one side and and 2 pretty goods on the other. Pair that with minimal game experience, being strongest at the defenses least used skill set, and a lack of versatility compared to the guys in front of him, he finds himself the odd man out.