Elam now CB4 and playing kickoff coverage in the preseason

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

That is possible.  There also is a chance that he isn’t catching on to the zone heavy scheme like was hoped.  He might be better suited for a defense with more press man coverage.  No idea.

Its a damn shame really

[3rdand12]

55 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Wrong. You should always draft for need. Torrence was a need. Kincaid was a need. Allen Edmunds Oliver Rousseau all need picks. 

Just becuase a need pick doesn't work out doesn't mean it is the wrong strategy.  A BPA philosophy is silly and is never actually followed by anyone. What if a DT or S was BPA this first/second round and they passed on a pass catcher and a guard for another DT or S?

A tiny MLB from Baylor was not a need. A backup RB was not a need. Last year the need was to get an OT or another OL. They failed and had to spend dollars on McGovern.

 

Kincaid was far and away BPA

Torrence was a need  , and one. Hoops reference there <
 

Its a mixed bag

just cuz they have struggled to develop players does not define any draft "methods "

and this is the issue

Bills are not able to develop players to be their best. Quickly, or at all even

Josh is an example

The Kid can do it all and more.
But last season had me questioning what he was being Coached to do.
 

 This year Bills made an effort to address players on Offense for Josh. Thank you very much
Now

Can they Coach them up to be e swiss watch

1st preseason game says No

12 penalties in the 1st half

 

its not just one thing that is not syncing at OBD

Edited August 27, 2023 by 3rdand12

[Orlando Buffalo]

57 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Wrong. You should always draft for need. Torrence was a need. Kincaid was a need. Allen Edmunds Oliver Rousseau all need picks. 

Just becuase a need pick doesn't work out doesn't mean it is the wrong strategy.  A BPA philosophy is silly and is never actually followed by anyone. What if a DT or S was BPA this first/second round and they passed on a pass catcher and a guard for another DT or S?

A tiny MLB from Baylor was not a need. A backup RB was not a need. Last year the need was to get an OT or another OL. They failed and had to spend dollars on McGovern.

 

Good coaches and GMs make mistakes, I judge by wins and losses. Also after round 2 I draft BPA all the time because a 3rd rounder is much less than a 50/50 proposition of being an impact player.

[hondo in seattle]

Contrary to what others may insinuate, Beane is not a moron.  He's made a lot of good moves and built us a pretty good team in a very competitive league.  

 

But it's not a SB team yet and misses like Elam are part of the reason why.   Obviously, he knew Elam was a press corner and drafted him anyway.  Maybe to give our defense more versatility.  Maybe something convinced him that McD and his staff could coach Elam to be a good zone defender.  Whatever the reason, it looks like Beane was wrong.  It happens.  

 

Some GM, maybe Ron Wolfe, said that you want to get one or two Pro Bowlers in every draft.  The NFL is filled with jags who have starting jobs; you need some Pro Bowlers to set your team apart.  It doesn't matter if they come in the 1st or 7th round.  If the 1st round pick is a bust and the 5th rounder is a perennial All Pro, it's all good.  The problem for us is we didn't get any elite players out of that draft in any round...  At least, that's how it looks now.  

[Johnny Hammersticks]

1 minute ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Contrary to what others may insinuate, Beane is not a moron.  He's made a lot of good moves and built us a pretty good team in a very competitive league.  

 

But it's not a SB team yet and misses like Elam are part of the reason why.   Obviously, he knew Elam was a press corner and drafted him anyway.  Maybe to give our defense more versatility.  Maybe something convinced him that McD and his staff could coach Elam to be a good zone defender.  Whatever the reason, it looks like Beane was wrong.  It happens.  

 

Some GM, maybe Ron Wolfe, said that you want to get one or two Pro Bowlers in every draft.  The NFL is filled with jags who have starting jobs; you need some Pro Bowlers to set your team apart.  It doesn't matter if they come in the 1st or 7th round.  If the 1st round pick is a bust and the 5th rounder is a perennial All Pro, it's all good.  The problem for us is we didn't get any elite players out of that draft...  Well, it's not looking good so far.  

Tell me a GM that has consistently drafted 1-2 pro bowlers in their drafts.

[3rdand12]

19 minutes ago, Dopey said:

I agree. I think he would be a better fit for them. I will say, our staff does a really good job of coaching up dbs, especially late round picks. They can do the same with Elam. To trade a player after 1 season is just plain dumb. A lot of emotional GMs here. We have a very deep and talented cb group and that includes Elam. 

They coach them up to be serviceable.
None of them have become elite 
 so no
we have depth. and that is good but nothing that stands out. And Tre is yet show back to form. Fingers crossed for him though : )

[section122]

Always lost in this conversation is that benford has played very well.  His contain and tackle on fields was a very sound and good play.  

 

I think elam found himself in the doghouse after the penalty last week.  Hope it works as motivation.

[ALLinALLEN]

He’s a great depth piece imo. People calling to trade him just expect ALL round 1 guys to be elite by year 2. He’s had big woof games and plays but getting rid of him is a mistake. Great depth to have and still hopefully can turn out decent. 

[Augie]

7 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

They coach them up to be serviceable.
None of them have become elite 
 so no
we have depth. and that is good but nothing that stands out. And Tre is yet show back to form. Fingers crossed for him though : )

 

Tre getting back to being Tre is right behind MLB on my list of defensive concerns. I really haven’t heard anything about his recovery this season. Maybe I missed it, but that seems kind of odd. 

[Billl]

2 hours ago, DCofNC said:

Not sure how many times Beane needs to see, YOU DON’T DRAFT FOR NEED and succeed. 

That’s not really true, though.  This team has been right on the cusp for 3 seasons.  When you’re that close to winning your first championship, everything you do is for need.  Once you’ve got one, you get to start planning for the long term.  McBeane doesn’t have the luxury of that.  They are all in right now.  I think you’re going to see an aggressive rebuild next offseason.  If they’d have won it in 2021 or 2022, they’d have done it this offseason.

[pigpen65]

Benford is better but Elam still has time.

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

Before we all go off the cliff, do we know that this game could be nothing more than a planned rotation of opportunity to play with the one's on defense.  Until we either have some sort of pronouncement or see who starts in the season opener, none of us knows for sure how this is going to sort out.

[Cheektowaga Chad]

I don't know if him playing special teams is as much as about him being on the ropes for roster spots or that he will likely be the 4th or 5th corner and they need to know how to play special teams to be active on game days

 

He still has a lot of value to the bills in my opinion, the bills love to disguise coverages and before white got hurt actually played near 50-50 man and zone and Elam really is the only corner that has the ability or potential to play man consistently on this roster 

[maddenboy]

5 hours ago, Virgil said:

Something is happening in practice to where he’s behind Tre, Benford, and Jackson.  
 

Whatever it is, he’s not worth his contract to this team 

Why would you leave out the part of the quote where I indicated the same.  Hence why I said, this isn’t Madden

lemme see what i can do

[BillsShredder83]

5 hours ago, Virgil said:

I was going to wait until the game was over to make this exact post. 
 

I really think the Bills should take trade offers for him.  It’s not that he isn’t good. He just doesn’t fit our system.  
 

A team like the Ravens would love to have him and I’m sure there are other DB needy teams. 
 

Ideally, there’s a team out there with good OT or MLB depth that needs a DB, but this isn’t Madden. 
 

For me, if you can get a 2nd rounder, go for it 

I can't get here. Only way I trade him is a p4p swap and a zone cb, but that sounds unlikely. We knew what he was, nothings changed in 1 year. DEVELOP DEVELOP DEVELOP!!!!

 

For now, find ways to get him on the field in situational hybrid zone/press.  I'd be furious at a trade because we aren't getting chit, and we have no clue what we have. Major indictment on this staff if you throw up your hands and admit you can't develop the guy, or use him situational.

 

Fireable offense to me just based on poor communication and draf capital usage. McD was aware of his strengths enough to have him on their first rd board. Beane isn't pulling the trigger without acknowledgement the staff can coach him up. Has the physical tools and is a cerebral player, MAKE IT WORK, OR HELL TRYYYYYY. Unbelievable

[John from Riverside]

I wonder if press man teams have already been calling the bills about a trade
 

I’m telling you right now you take Elam and you put him on a press man team and he would shine. I just don’t know if he’s going to be able to shine here

[eme123]

5 hours ago, Virgil said:

Something is happening in practice to where he’s behind Tre, Benford, and Jackson.  
 

Maybe those 3 are just better football players than Elam. Is it out of the question that Elam is playing well and Benford/ Jackson are beating him out? People act like draft position is gospel and its far from it. Once the lights go on who cares. 

[BillsShredder83]

4 hours ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

I've always found it bizarre how fans are more dedicated to keeping "our guys" than the GMs who actually invested draft capital into them.  He's either not a good player or not a good fit, just get the best return you can at this point.

You don't unload a 1st rd pick after 1 season unless they're smoking crack on Chippewa. This is something the Browns and Texans do, not a champ team that has the depth to develop the guy.

 

Was everyone here drinking for a preseason game??????

[BillsShredder83]

4 hours ago, FireChans said:

We all know how this story ends. “He’s young, let him develop” yada yada yada then he’s 4th year AJE who can’t set an edge on a third string tackle.

AJE was a 2nd rder coming out of a weird draft where players didn't get regular training camps.

 

Elam has elite measurables, played in the SEC, and was drafted knowing he was a bit of a project to fit our scheme. 

 

Depth alone he's valuable to this team this year (a SB expectation season) and that's ignoring the chance to develop a guy completely switching schemes. 

 

He's struggling to adapt, at our deepest position on the team. This would be inconceivably dumb!!! Don't hold your breath on a trade, Beane ain't that dumb either

[BillsShredder83]

3 hours ago, BILLieve85 said:

That cap room is a decent RT in the offseason. Elam is a solid CB but this team doesn’t use man enough. This team has plenty of DB depth. Oh well

How do we know McD won't run more man? They've indicated they plan to be more aggressive, assuming that includes blitzing.

 

Outside of that, along our playoff run we'll need a man guy for Chase/Tyreek/Kelce.

 

You'd rather have a 4th rder than a guy that can help cover the biggest thorns in our side? 

 

So unbelievably short sighted