Controversial opinion: Elam was pretty solid

[Aesop]

Not his best day. One of the PI was bad. The one in the 4th quarter was a good call, didnt really matter at that point. It forced NE to have to run another play. But I agree that Elam didnt play his best ball today.

Edited December 23, 2024 by Aesop

[Warcodered]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:39 AM, HappyDays said:

 

It was a great throw but let's not give too much credit to Elam either. He gave up leverage to his man and left space for the throw to be fit into. It is not a case of "nothing he can do." What he could have done is prevented a JAG receiver from bullying him along the sideline and making a pretty effortless catch by NFL standards. If Elam can't stop that play he is practically useless as a starter in the NFL because that's the kind of play his skill set is supposed to be good for.

Expand  

Was that the OPI TD at the start of the game where the WR was stiff arming the DB down the side line?

[GunnerBill]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:39 AM, HappyDays said:

 

It was a great throw but let's not give too much credit to Elam either. He gave up leverage to his man and left space for the throw to be fit into. It is not a case of "nothing he can do." What he could have done is prevented a JAG receiver from bullying him along the sideline and making a pretty effortless catch by NFL standards. If Elam can't stop that play he is practically useless as a starter in the NFL because that's the kind of play his skill set is supposed to be good for.

Expand  

 

I think that is harsh. It was a perfectly thrown ball, a good route and a great catch. Not sure Kaiir did a ton wrong. It is in the bucket of "the other guys get paid too" for me. 

 

However, I thought he made a ton of mistakes in the rest of the game myself. I was all for giving him a run and letting Douglas rest up but I've seen enough. If Douglas is healthy next week I'd put him straight back in. 

[HappyDays]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:40 AM, Warcodered said:

Was that the OPI TD at the start of the game where the WR was stiff arming the DB down the side line?

Expand  

 

Not even close to OPI. Just normal hand fighting on both sides.

 

 

[Maine-iac]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:39 AM, Warcodered said:

If only he had some sort of catchy nickname like worcestershire, Honey BBQ, or some other Sauce based thing he'd be a great CB.

Expand  

A catchy nick name gets you 2 to 3 jersey grabs before they call anything.

[Warcodered]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:41 AM, HappyDays said:

 

Not even close to OPI. Just normal hand fighting on both sides.

 

 

Expand  

Yeah it's weird how NE only showed it from the left side where you can't see anything.

[Real McClappy]

He plays his man extremely tight and QBs have to make basically perfect throws. He needs to play the ball overall though to hit that next level IMO. 

 

A couple BS penalties and people would be happy this week if not called.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

I completely agree with you. I thought both calls were very questionable.
I think he’s really good in coverage. 

[BananaB]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:41 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

I think that is harsh. It was a perfectly thrown ball, a good route and a great catch. Not sure Kaiir did a ton wrong. It is in the bucket of "the other guys get paid too" for me. 

 

However, I thought he made a ton of mistakes in the rest of the game myself. I was all for giving him a run and letting Douglas rest up but I've seen enough. If Douglas is healthy next week I'd put him straight back in. 

Expand  

Douglas has been bad this year. Really bad

[muppy]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:02 AM, Sojourner said:

I get the complaints but don’t get the hate. 
 

The coverage is solid but he needs to start getting his head around as best as he can. 
 

He’s an ok corner. Not great, not terrible. Will give up some plays, will make some others. 
 

Can’t have blue chip talent at all 22 guys fielded as starters. 

Expand  

it's the fact he is basically a bust based on where he was drafted. Our expectations were dashed.  we wanted more production

[Success]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:43 AM, The Firebaugh Kid said:

I completely agree with you. I thought both calls were very questionable.
I think he’s really good in coverage. 

Expand  

 

That's all I was saying on this thread.

 

I knew I'd get some ridicule, but man - too much.

 

[GunnerBill]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:43 AM, BananaB said:

Douglas has been bad this year. Really bad

Expand  

 

Agree, he has not been good. It's why I was in favour of a run for Elam but there are just too many mistakes I'm afraid. Patience are exhausted.

[JohnNord]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:00 AM, Success said:

I thought the PI's on him were fairly questionable.  One thing he didn't do - lose his guy.  

 

He was no deer in the headlights out there. Too handsy?  You can make the case on that - but I thought the refs called it more than tight.

 

Expand  

I don’t know… I get what you’re saying about coverage.  He didn’t get cooked which is good but he also wants playing against top completion.  
 

I don’t think can take the penalties out of the equation when evaluating him though.   It seems like Elam was playing his man without looking for the football.  
 

If he gets his head around it’s probably not a penalty.  If this is his rookie year, I’d be somewhat encouraged.  But it’s year 3 and he continues to make these mistakes.   I think this is why coaches have a hard time trusting him and thus why he doesn’t get much time.  

Douglas is going to be back very soon but all we can do is hope that Elam can build off these mistakes.  

 

[muppy]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:06 AM, oldmanfan said:

Not horrible but the second call was classic PI.

Expand  

the second PI call was blatant "face guarding" IMO

[HappyDays]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:41 AM, GunnerBill said:

I think that is harsh. It was a perfectly thrown ball, a good route and a great catch. Not sure Kaiir did a ton wrong. It is in the bucket of "the other guys get paid too" for me. 

Expand  

 

If we're lowering the standard to backup CB then I agree, I can't be mad about a backup getting beat on that play. A legit starting CB can't get beat by a 400 yard WR on that play, especially stacking it with all the other mistakes he made throughout the game.

 

But yeah I agree with the second part, Douglas is unquestionably still the CB2. I hate to say it but I trust him to get back to his previous standard of play more than I trust Elam to suddenly develop. Every time he's gotten a chance he's shown flashes but can never find any level of consistency.

[notpolian]

Can't even turn his head around most plays and continues to be grabby.  Pretty clear why he's been inactive many weeks.

[BuffaloRebound]

I wanna like Elam because we need a CB that can run with the elite WR’s but he’s just too handsy and will continue to get picked on.  

[JohnNord]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:36 AM, gonzo1105 said:

 

I agree that Douglas play has dropped off as well. I'm hoping it’s ugljust a blip but I would much rather see Douglas out there than watch Elam out there in playoff time. The teams starting CB is not on the current roster next year

Expand  

Douglas is a zone corner.  Since the pass rush has been ineffective, Babich has dialed up some blitzes and coverages which left Douglas to pay M2M over the past few weeks.  This never has been his specialty and a reason he struggled against LAR. 

 

He started the season much stronger when he could play zone. 

[GunnerBill]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:47 AM, HappyDays said:

 

If we're lowering the standard to backup CB then I agree, I can't be mad about a backup getting beat on that play. A legit starting CB can't get beat by a 400 yard WR on that play,

Expand  

 

Of course he can. It happens. That was just a real nice offensive play. Could he squeeze the sideline a bit better? Sure, but it's nitpicking. He just got done on a great play there. 

 

But he isn't a legit starting corner in any event. We have seen enough to say that conclusively at this point. He isn't just behind two really good players (though Benford is really good). He is behind them because he is a backup level player. And his two PIs were not "ticky tacky" they were clear fouls. That last one I was saying "flag" while the ball was still in the air. Piss poor technique.

[Simon]

  On 12/23/2024 at 1:46 AM, muppy said:

the second PI call was blatant "face guarding" IMO

Expand  

 

There is no such penalty in the NFL.

You can actually stick your hands in front of a guys eyes all you want to.