What Is It With Elam?

[DapperCam]

Douglas is going to walk after this season, and Elam will be our starting boundary corner next season. The youth movement on defense continues.

[North Buffalo]

what about Elam for Lattimore plus

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

And this is the crux of where I feel McDermott needs to improve.  Thinking something isn't broke during the regular season isn't the same as when we are up against the top teams in the playoffs.   Push the development of targeted rookies/backups that could have critical roles in improving what doesn't appear broken yet.  Especially if they may be playmakers, not just scheme executors.  DL, safety and CB.  It's going to take multiple games for rookies/backups to get comfortable on the field and there is no substitute for it.

 

I'm not saying the change of personnel has to happen, just that McD whittle out some opportunity when game conditions allow and see if these  guys show enough to warrant it.

 

In Elam's case, he seems able to handle game situations, but no one will truly know how well until he gets game minutes.  Why wait until next year if there's a possibility you can develop him to contribute in the playoffs this year?

 

Yeah, this guy gets it:   https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bills-defense-in-desperate-need-of-injection-of-rookie-talent/ar-AA1tybz8?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=658e77147ca04fdda4486a48d8c5bcf0&ei=17

 

That applies to Bishop more than Elam for me. I want them to have packages to get Bishop on the field on D even if its in relatively limited ways. Reason being is I think our corners are very good indeed. Our safeties are not. So get the high potential rookie involved somehow now the division is all but won.

[GaryPinC]

35 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That applies to Bishop more than Elam for me. I want them to have packages to get Bishop on the field on D even if its in relatively limited ways. Reason being is I think our corners are very good indeed. Our safeties are not. So get the high potential rookie involved somehow now the division is all but won.

Totally agree on Bishop, I know my take on Elam isn't very popular, just as it wasn't when I voiced my disagreement with them stashing Bernard his entire rookie season. 

 

I respect McDermott and his process, but we're not trying to build a contender anymore, thanks to Josh we ARE a contender.  In the bigger picture McD needs to add some wrinkles to his process to identify and maximize our unique talent contributions every year.  That's why I feel Elam deserves a quicker and better plan until he fails.  He's got great speed and potential intangibles.  If developed, even if still a backup, he could give us an extra dimensional matchup and playmaking ability in the playoffs.

 

We can't be content with simply winning the regular season and how things appear against the weaker teams in the regular season.  We know what to expect in the playoffs and must gear for that even if it means mistakes and taking some losses to develop our best talent now.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That applies to Bishop more than Elam for me. I want them to have packages to get Bishop on the field on D even if its in relatively limited ways. Reason being is I think our corners are very good indeed. Our safeties are not. So get the high potential rookie involved somehow now the division is all but won.

agreed. Would like to also see Edwards be active And get some snaps. I just have a feeling we will Need him eventually with injury risks.

 

edit: haha— just saw the thread about Edwards getting released today. So never mind! 

Edited November 5 by Miyagi-Do Karate

[BigAl2526]

12 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Yeah, this is the way it looks to me.

 

 

You could definitely be right here, but equally, Elam might be the reason they don't give Rasul another contract. I don't think it's as predictable as you say here. But we'll see.

I wonder what the cost differential would be between re-signing Douglas and picking up Elam's 5th year option, and potentially signing Elam to a new deal.  The fact that he's a first round pick tends to make him pretty expensive. 

[GunnerBill]

23 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

Totally agree on Bishop, I know my take on Elam isn't very popular, just as it wasn't when I voiced my disagreement with them stashing Bernard his entire rookie season. 

 

I respect McDermott and his process, but we're not trying to build a contender anymore, thanks to Josh we ARE a contender.  In the bigger picture McD needs to add some wrinkles to his process to identify and maximize our unique talent contributions every year.  That's why I feel Elam deserves a quicker and better plan until he fails.  He's got great speed and potential intangibles.  If developed, even if still a backup, he could give us an extra dimensional matchup and playmaking ability in the playoffs.

 

We can't be content with simply winning the regular season and how things appear against the weaker teams in the regular season.  We know what to expect in the playoffs and must gear for that even if it means mistakes and taking some losses to develop our best talent now.

 

See the difference is I think he has had those chances and failed. It is the end of year 3 now. He played better the other day, that is a positive. But there is a body of work to judge him on. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Not that I studied his game vs Miami but…

 

 

[AkwiredTste]

Do we go cb early rds again?

[machine gun kelly]

On 11/3/2024 at 4:27 PM, Malazan said:

 

It's not that weird. He's playing behind two really, really good players.

Im just getting caught up with this thread, and you’re right on.  Benford rates by PFF a top 10 cover CB in the entire league.  Douglas is a ball hawk.  It’s normal for Elam to be a backup.  He did his job when called up.  It’s a great thing to have depth.  Taron is probably the best Nickel corner in the league.

 

Just because Elam had a solid game, doesn’t mean he’s better than a healthy Benford/Taron/Douglas trio.  We have what we need.  I appreciate the question, but it’s more of thank god for our depth at certain spots.  He’s still on a rookie wage so why not keep him?

[Saxum]

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

Im just getting caught up with this thread, and you’re right on.  Benford rates by PFF a top 10 cover CB in the entire league.  Douglas is a ball hawk.  It’s normal for Elam to be a backup.  He did his job when called up.  It’s a great thing to have depth.  Taron is probably the best Nickel corner in the league.

 

Just because Elam had a solid game, doesn’t mean he’s better than a healthy Benford/Taron/Douglas trio.  We have what we need.  I appreciate the question, but it’s more of thank god for our depth at certain spots.  He’s still on a rookie wage so why not keep him?

Because it is too late for a Beane special trade where Bills get more than what they are trading?  

[Dopey]

On 11/3/2024 at 4:53 PM, HurlyBurly51 said:

the guy plans man, the Bills zone, what would possess you to try to squeeze a round peg into a square hole?  On your 1st round pick?!  I think history has proven that was a mistake. 

He is a talented player. We took a chance and it didn’t work out like Beane thought. Not the end of the world. You can let it go now. It’s ok. Just ask Lynch over at San Fran. He’s done worse than Beane at drafting, yet some people here wanna bow at his feet. The ONLY reason SF has been good lately is them paying a starting qb around $1 million per season. So many here wanted Mcaffery here. That was a terrible move that’s biting them in the ass. All this to reiterate some draft picks don’t work out like we thought it would. ***** happens, to every gm out there. Get over it. 

Edited November 6 by Dopey

[Charles Romes]

Let the man play. Having a top tier athlete who will take a risk once in awhile to make a huge play is exactly what we have been missing in the playoffs. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

On 11/5/2024 at 10:58 AM, DapperCam said:

Douglas is going to walk after this season, and Elam will be our starting boundary corner next season. The youth movement on defense continues.

is Douglas only signed through this year?! Yikes.

[The Jokeman]

2 hours ago, AkwiredTste said:

Do we go cb early rds again?

It depends if we have Rasul and Benford back or add an UFA? Heck we might grab a RB if lose Cook. Not a slight on Ray but thinking we're finally seeing what advantage of two good RBs is for this offense.

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, Saxum said:

Because it is too late for a Beane special trade where Bills get more than what they are trading?  

Who’s suggesting a trade after the trade deadline?  My point was simply we have depth.  There’s no need for any trade before yesterday.  Sunday proved we needed a solid depth boundary CB.

[dickleyjones]

i think elam will prove out to be pretty good. he has weaknesses to be sure, real game experience may help with that. one thing for sure though, he is a playmaker and that is something every defense needs.

[GaryPinC]

On 11/5/2024 at 12:29 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

See the difference is I think he has had those chances and failed. It is the end of year 3 now. He played better the other day, that is a positive. But there is a body of work to judge him on. 

 

Sure, but if a late developer, you take his rookie season with a grain of salt.  Last year he was trying to play with torn ankle ligaments until the team IR'd him.

 

Sunday he probably sustained a dislocated shoulder on that long pass play to Hill.

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2024/11/03/kaiir-elam-injury-update-buffalo-bills-cornerback-hurt-giving-up-catch-tyreek-hill/76033886007/

 

I can't find his quote but saw it post game to the effect that once they popped his shoulder back in he returned to the game because he wasn't leaving for anything.

 

Make the effort to get the kid some reps where you can.  His body of work isn't very extensive.

[Sierra Foothills]

On 11/4/2024 at 11:36 AM, nemhoff said:

If the refs actually call the abundance of holding/PI penalties that Sauce has on nearly every play then he becomes rather pedestrian.  The guy holds on every defensive play

 

Also he's a terrible run defender whereas Benford is an excellent run defender.

 

On 11/4/2024 at 12:58 PM, Shortchaz said:

I think some coaches shape the scheme to fit the talent (or have some flexibility) where McDermott has a scheme and is rigid. Our best 11 are probably not on the field together as often as they would be on other teams. it’s a team mentality concept that (chicken/egg) might hinder the top end talent we have/get/find 

 

I'm pro-McDermott but I agree with this. I don't think he's a s creative or as aggressive as he could be. I've seen schemes whereby a press man corner will "travel" with a receiver while the rest of the defense plays in zone. I don't understand why we couldn't do that from time to time with Elam. You can see he improves every time out and I agree with the others who say that they have to find more snaps for him.

 

On 11/4/2024 at 1:31 PM, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

I thought he played fine in this game all things considered - healthy tua, and 2 healthy prolific WRs.  It's not like he got Huntley or something. 

 

Hill got behind him on one.  Without seeing a full view I'm not sure if he bit on a double move in cover 3, or if this was a disguised cover 2 and you try to bait the hole shot.  

 

He also dove on a fumble and made a huge play.  He tried to rip another one out, and made a solid edge tackle on another run.  He's not starting because Benford and Douglas are ahead of him on the depth chart, and have not done anything to lose their position on the depth chart.  

 

I thought Elam played well.

 

It looks to me like Elam has bulked up. He looks visibly thicker to me... maybe my imagination. Anyone else?

 

[FireChans]

3 hours ago, Dopey said:

The ONLY reason SF has been good lately is them paying a starting qb around $1 million per season

This is probably my least favorite take of all takes.

5 hours ago, AkwiredTste said:

Do we go cb early rds again?

100% yes. 
 

Imo there is no way we don’t go CB high. 
 

@GunnerBill is correct. Unless something catastrophic happens, Douglas will walk, they will bring in a solid FA and draft a guy high. Elam will up odd man out, his option will be declined and will be cut or moved after TC.