What's the deal with Elam?

[MJS]

4 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

True that he doesn't see the field as a Boundary CB unless there's an injury to Benford or Douglas as they're better players. But I don't think it's as "simple as that".

 

When Douglas went down today - Ja'Marcus Ingram got the call. And Ingram has consistently taken more snaps than Elam coming off the bench.

 

They don't think much of him as a player. They made an investment in him, has little to no trade value, and on average your Outside CB4 isn't going to be all that great to begin with. So for those reasons they've kept him around. But him not seeing the field is more than just he's not as good as Benford and Douglas.

 

 

I'm not convinced that Elam is going to Start. He'll be active. But I think Ingram has surpassed him on the Depth Chart. And not just bc he plays Special Teams. He gets more off the bench Defensive snaps as well when they're both active.

When Ingram played before he was coming in as a third safety. He wasn't playing boundary corner. Ingram never got the nod over Elam as a boundary corner. Yesterday, injury pushed him into that role.

[djp14150]

Elam is more of a man corner, not a zone corner

[BearNorth]

Douglas was excellent last year, but I'm not sure he's playing at the same level this season.  Father time may be catching up.  T. Johnson has had some injury issues and he's not playing at the same high level as in the past.  Benford has been playing well, but a veteran QB and a pair of top tier receivers exposed him a bit yesterday.  Last season Bills fielded 3 CB's that were among the best in the league, this season, as a group, not playing at the same level in 2024, yesterday exposed that as we were playing from behind from the opening drive.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

Elam will take the starting job away from Rasul. Watch. 

Once again proving what a (*^*&%^$^#McD can be. 

[colin]

1 minute ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Elam will take the starting job away from Rasul. Watch. 

Once again proving what a (*^*&%^$^#McD can be. 

I hope you are right, douglas has really been struggling lately.

 

I think McD is like most coaches where he simply has no time for mental mistakes, and Elam (along w Williams) tend to make those kinds of mistakes rather than just being slow or unathletic.  part of that is his complicated scheme in the back end.  every time we see elam play we see him make some kind of mistake, either being grabby, or gambling and losing.  we've also seen him make just crazy clutch athletic plays getting breakups and interceptions.

 

our d had a total lack of juice all game yesterday.  let's hope elam gives us some vs detroit.

[T master]

6 hours ago, Billyhouseman said:

Dude was a #1 pick.... Can't even get on the active roster.. . Is he bad? Does McDermott like his undrafted UB bulls better? Elam has massive ints in his limited game action, yes he is a little handsy, but we need a physical corner, especially one that's long like him.    I just don't understand what's going on with him

 

I think Elam would have been a better choice on Nucua ! They had Elam on Hill when ever they played the Fins a year or so ago & they shut him down and no one shut Nucua down yesterday, the D looked pedestrian at best .

[strive_for_five_guy]

3 hours ago, DJB said:

Unless it’s a reasonable one year deal I don’t want to see Douglas back. I don’t want us to overpay for him to return 

Yeah, I’d spend the money trying to sign the likes of Benford, Bernard, Shakir, etc. to longer term deals before trying to re-sign Douglas at his age and potential price.  Use one or two of our draft picks on getting younger and cheaper at the CB position, have that person compete with Elam next year (if Elam is even considered salvageable by this coaching staff, at this point).

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

49 minutes ago, Johnnycage46 said:

 

The special teams thing is crazy to me. That is most likely correct to say that because he doesn't play special teams he doesn't get activated...but our special teams SUCK. This staff puts way too much emphasis on special teams to have it be a poor unit. They should just get the best/most talented D and O players on the field regardless of special teams.

So true. 

[bigK14094]

6 hours ago, Ray Stonada said:

McDermott has a history of playing "system" guys who understand his complex defense over "take some risks, make some big plays" guys.

 

Elam is the latter. 

 

Unfortunately, top offenses shred the system (because they are good enough to see and exploit the holes), and then you don't have the type of guys who make game changing plays.

 

A perfect example was signing A.J. Klein last year instead of playing Dorian Williams. If Willams had played he might have gotten burned a few times, but he may have made some big plays or stops, which Klein could not do. 

Yes, Elam is a cover/man CB and has all the physical skills to do that.  But, McD doesn't  value that, he wants guys in position, even if they are a step slow.  (Beneford)  Elam is the second coming of Ronald Darby, who was also a cover CB. (still in the league btw)  Elam will go elsewhere and play well imho.  Beneford is McD's find...but the LA receivers undressed him.  He had his zone  covered, but, didn't make a play on the ball much.  And, the scoop a  couple of weeks ago, Beneford showed he is relatively slow for a CB, and not up to running with the speed receivers.  So, the McD scheme gets good results most of the time, except when the opposition sees what is going on and does something else.  A D set up to stop the big play in the air can't stop the run much as we have seen now.  And our D line isn't good enough to get pressure sufficient to let the zone back end get things done all the time.  (zero sacks against the Rams)

[4th&long]

I’m sure he can’t wait to get out of Buffalo. Frankly this organization has botched handling him! I look forward to him not taking up a roster spot and freeing up cap money. I will be watching him closely wherever he goes and rooting for him.

[Beck Water]

7 hours ago, billieve420 said:

Doesn’t play special teams and is behind Benford and Douglas simple as that. Imagine he will get shot at starting next year. Have to believe they will let Douglas walk in FA.

 

Elam does play special teams.  

 

58 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

So true. 

 

It's actually not true, because Elam does play special teams.

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, djp14150 said:

Elam is more of a man corner, not a zone corner

 

Which is exactly what we needed yesterday.

[BarleyNY]

7 hours ago, billieve420 said:

Doesn’t play special teams and is behind Benford and Douglas simple as that. Imagine he will get shot at starting next year. Have to believe they will let Douglas walk in FA.

The Bills have to pay him (unless they trade him) so Elam will get a chance to compete for a roster spot next offseason. Expectations should be zero for him though. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

12 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Elam does play special teams.  

 

 

It's actually not true, because Elam does play special teams.

I meant “True,” in the sense that if this team is placing high value on ST players in making roster and game day decisions, one would hope the ST play would be a lot better. It’s been terrible. Every phase is pretty terrible, except maybe Coddrington as a return guy. 

[Beck Water]

18 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I meant “True,” in the sense that if this team is placing high value on ST players in making roster and game day decisions, one would hope the ST play would be a lot better. It’s been terrible. Every phase is pretty terrible, except maybe Coddrington as a return guy. 

 

The thing is, this is a year where the Bills have (as far as I can tell) put the least priority ST in roster decisions.

Aside from Reggie Gilliam, who has been a ST captain (prior to this year's "captain lite"), and Quinton Morris (who sees the field on offense regularly), a lot of the ST-only players are gone.   Tyler Matakevich, Jaquan Johnson, Siran Neal, Tyrell Dodson - all gone
 

I thought Hollins was gonna be the new "Mr Teams", but in fact, he hasn't played teams that much and he's contributing more on offense.

I don't disagree that ST has been unusually bad for the Bills, but I kind of attributed it to the combo of new rules plus the fact that the Bills don't seem to be keeping around all these "ST ace" vets. 

 

Coddrington has been a bright note, I agree

 

 

Edited December 9 by Beck Water

[SCBills]

Elam better be active moving forward, regardless of Rasul's health.

 

We need that man cover bullet in the chamber, if needed.   

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Just now, Beck Water said:

 

The thing is, this is a year where the Bills have (as far as I can tell) put the least priority ST in roster decisions.

Aside from Reggie Gilliam, who has been a ST captain (prior to this year's "captain lite"), a lot of the ST-only players are gone.  

Tyler Matakevich, Jaquan Johnson, Siran Neal, Tyrell Dodson - all gone
 

I thought Hollins was gonna be the new "Mr Teams", but in fact, he hasn't played teams that much and he's contributing more on offense.

 

 

my two cents on ST (going back several Bills regimes) is that 90% of it is coaching, and having these core ST players matters less. It’s the one phase where coaching matters so much. You can see it with the elite ST coaches— several of which who then went on to be star head coaches (John Harbaugh, bill cowher). 
 

Coverage is about staying disciplined and fundamentally sound. Kicking and punting is about mechanics and process. Blocking on kicks is about assignments and fundamentals. Even the splash plays (blocked kicks or long returns) often are about exploiting certain vulnerabilities, and having sound technique.

 

That, to me, suggests that having that great ST coach can really make that unit a strength, and also can free up the GM And head coach to make roster decisions without regard to ST. 

 

 

[Jerome007]

7 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

8 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

What’s up with Dorian too? It seems he was doing well? What did he do wrong?

 

He's not Matt Milano.  Milano had no business on the field today.

Milano has been far from his past self. But, he is worth the  risk. Williams played well, Milano played GREAT. Always around the ball, fumbles, tackles for losses, INTs. The guy is (was) a baller. And if he doesn't get back up to speed, Williams is there and experienced now. Worth the "risk" since the Bills have a playoff spot and what matters most is winning it all come postseason. 

[DCofNC]

2 hours ago, Johnnycage46 said:

 

The special teams thing is crazy to me. That is most likely correct to say that because he doesn't play special teams he doesn't get activated...but our special teams SUCK. This staff puts way too much emphasis on special teams to have it be a poor unit. They should just get the best/most talented D and O players on the field regardless of special teams.

For the results we consistently see from ST, there’s no excuse to keep justifying guys being on the roster for their contributions to the ST.  How many games has ST lost single handedly?  I don’t have an exact count, but yesterday, if they just did their friggin job, the score would have been different.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

8 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

What’s up with Dorian too? It seems he was doing well? What did he do wrong?

Milano needs a ton of reps in a hurry….if it ends up being something more than rust I think Dorian will get a bulk of the snaps again