Elam Last Night

[Simon]

43 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

Speaking of, has anybody noticed that defenders seem to never turn around and look for the ball anymore? It seems like most replays I just see a WR running with their head upfield towards the WR with their hands in the air. Looking for the ball used to be the prerequisite for DPI. But now it seems like as long as you don't grab or truck the receiver you can do whatever. 

I would be fine with a little more grabby/physical play if DB's were tracking the football. 

 

The second a corner turns his head to track a ball, he automatically slows down and the result is the WR instantly gains a step of separation on him.

Modern NFL offenses are so tightly co-ordinated and QBs are now so accurate, that this single step of separation is now a significant advantage. A corner turning his head back is far more likely to lead to a big completion than to a pass break-up.

Corners are now coached to keep their head forward so they can maintain top speed and track WRs, then when the ball comes in to get their hand(s) into a WRs arms to rip and tear and prevent catches that way.

 

[Utah John]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

 

This was always Elam’s issue IMO.
 

He can be in position and still allow the catch. Outside leverage. WR runs post. 

 

 

A

 

20 minutes ago, 4th&long said:

I know there are a lot of cornbread experts on here but I look at aj Browns stats. He had none. Sorry aj brown fantasy owners.  

Brown had one catch late in the game, for a crucial first down.  I don't know whether he was Elam's responsibility.  I also don't know if Elam was covering Brown all game long.  Brown is the Eagles' best WR so if the Cowboys were moving their CBs around they probably put their best CB on Brown.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I would love to know the cowboys’ defensive strategy. The corners were playing way off, yet their receivers were pretty non-existent. That doesn’t make a lot of sense. Hurts didn’t even try to throw it to the receivers, opting instead for 3-yard dump offs and easy scrambles.

[billsfan89]

I noticed he got burnt on one deep bomb, other than that I didn't notice him too much, probably would have to have some sort of detailed breakdown to see how he really did. Either way he needed a change of scenery...

[Royale with Cheese]

4 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I would love to know the cowboys’ defensive strategy. The corners were playing way off, yet their receivers were pretty non-existent. That doesn’t make a lot of sense. Hurts didn’t even try to throw it to the receivers, opting instead for 3-yard dump offs and easy scrambles.

 

You have to know what everyone else in the back 7 is doing.  You won't see it on broadcast view, you would see it in film.

[SoonerBillsFan]

Bottom line, bad 1st round pick by Beane.

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

 

This was always Elam’s issue IMO.
 

He can be in position and still allow the catch. Outside leverage. WR runs post. 

 

 

 

How far off the line he is playing is what the DC called.  Elam doesn't just elect to play that far off the line on his own, and all the DB's are playing off the line, you can see it in the still even before the snap.  

 

2nd, that deep shot was actually pretty good coverage, but it was an elite throw that was in a place only the WR can catch the ball without the DB interfering.  Overall on the night, Elam was pretty solid and drew praise multiple times from the crew announcing the game too.  

 

I am not here to defend Elam by any means, but this narrative by these tweets feels more agenda based than accurate discussion of his play.  He didn't make the pro-bowl last night, but he played well enough to see why he won the starting job.  And the Dallas defense actually played pretty good considering, especially in the passing game.  Cowboys should have won that game if not for "CeeDee'z Balls Hit The Ground" drops, which I counted 3 at least including 2 of the offenses final drive where they could have taken the lead and would have both been huge gains and put them in scoring position with less the 4 min to go in the game.  

 

Elam was not a fit here, so good trade for us if its not going to work out here, get some value back.  But, also no need to hold on to bias now that he is gone either.  

[tigerthelion]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillsGospel2014 said:

I thought he played well, other than that play I didn’t hear his name much which is good news for a CB. Are we saying Benford, White and other top corners don’t get beat? 

That seems to be Alex Brasky's assertion. 

[boyst]

1 hour ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I'm not sure he didn't have leverage.  It seems like he could have driven on the ball once he determined where it was heading.  But he just watched the receiver make the catch without any attempt to disrupt it.  Weird rep.

i am on the fence on it. from the two angles i saw i am not sure he could have made the move or if he was already at top speed. if he still had two steps in him he could have easily batted it.

 

but that's elam. he's always two steps away from the right spot. that's hamlin, too. two steps away (because he's slow and unathletic)

1 hour ago, SirAndrew said:

I’m not saying Elam is an elite corner, but it’s a position you can easily pick plays to make someone bad. There’s only a few elite corners who consistently look good. This game is geared toward giving the offense every advantage in the world. Guys are going to give up big plays on a regular basis. 

sauce gardner looks bad as much as good. tavon diggs has as many highlights as he does lowlights.

 

both are make or break. that's why i like benford and winfield jr. they're even keel.

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

After reading the posts here, I went back and watched the long pass play again.  He was not in terrible position. When the receiver extended his hands, Elam never looked back to locate the ball.  This is one of the two big issues he had in Buffalo.  He could never seem to locate the ball.  Physical traits were never his problem.  He just doesn't process and react fast enough.

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, boyst said:

Every defender was 10 yards off the line. I doubt elam went rogue and did it solely.

 

The 51 yard pass was a great catch and it's hard to defend a nicely placed ball and catch. Not an excuse because he still could have tried to bat it away or play on the ball he just didn't have leverage on it.

 

He didn't have a good game but he also didn't have a terrible game. His speed made up for his depth the defense played. 

 

Looks like the CBs were playing 8 yards off on 3rd and 6. Encourage the quick throw where you can close and tackle short of the marker. If not a quick throw, then they’re already back. Nothing wrong with that tactic. 

[Logic]

He played okay to pretty well.

Not as bad as his detractors are going to tell you. 

Yes, he got beat on the very visible deep post. Other than that, there wasn't anything noteworthy. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith had a combined 24 yards receiving.

I think he's probably more or less the same guy he was in Buffalo, but last night wasn't enough of a sample size to say definitively. 

 

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

2 hours ago, boyst said:

Every defender was 10 yards off the line. I doubt elam went rogue and did it solely.

 

The 51 yard pass was a great catch and it's hard to defend a nicely placed ball and catch. Not an excuse because he still could have tried to bat it away or play on the ball he just didn't have leverage on it.

 

He didn't have a good game but he also didn't have a terrible game. His speed made up for his depth the defense played. 

The ball was a nice throw down the middle of the field and the receiver had good position and did a basketball "box out" move shielding Elam off

 

Elam tried to reach for it but couldn't go through the receiver. 

 

No shame in getting beat on a throw like that 

Edited September 5 by JakeFrommStateFarm

[FireChans]

2 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

This was always Elam’s issue IMO.
 

He can be in position and still allow the catch. Outside leverage. WR runs post. 

 

 

Outside leverage with a post and no safety in the middle is not ideal for a DB.

 

DB's don't decide the cushion they give a player within reason.

 

Road sodas continues to be terrible.

Edited September 5 by FireChans

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Not sure if Elam was on AJ Brown all night, but sounds like there was help there, which one might expect against Brown.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/aj-brown-on-getting-only-1-target-against-cowboys-thats-not-something-i-can-control-131911838.html

 

And this:

 

“They did a good job of matching some of our routes,” Nick Sirianni said. “They did a good job of matching some things and taking away A.J. We had some different things to him that Jalen had to get through some progressions, and I think Jalen did a really nice job getting through his progressions tonight and then made some plays with his legs as well."
 

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/aj-brown-vs-cowboys-jalen-hurts-devonta-smith-jahan-dotson/682622/?amp=1

Edited September 5 by Miyagi-Do Karate

[Big Blitz]

Thought he was ok.  He absolutely cannot tackle.  There was one play on the sideline that needed cleaning up bc he didn’t wrap the guy or get him out of bounds.  
 

Hurts (who I’m convinced is peak Tyrod Taylor but with elite talent all around him) only threw 23 passes and 12 of them were to his TEs and Barkley.  
 

Elam wasn’t really challenged at all.  He never covered Brown.  Who’s probably hurt.  Actually the only target AJB had Elam was covering him.  
 

And I didn’t see him on Smith much either.  
 

But he definitely was covering Dotson.  3 targets 3 catches for 59 yards.  

[Success]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

 

How can someone blame a player for being 10 yards off in coverage when they don't know the defensive call and where he was supposed to be lining up?

 

I definitely doubt that he was lining up 10 yards off if that isn't exactly what the coaches wanted him to do.

 

As to the OP - I thought he had a decent game. He looked like a capable corner out there - not close to elite, but solid.

 

[gonzo1105]

2 hours ago, Mango said:

 

Weird rep indeed. It looks like he got beat inside, but he didn't have to. He just kep watching the WR and had no idea WTF was going on with the football. 

Speaking of, has anybody noticed that defenders seem to never turn around and look for the ball anymore? It seems like most replays I just see a WR running with their head upfield towards the WR with their hands in the air. Looking for the ball used to be the prerequisite for DPI. But now it seems like as long as you don't grab or truck the receiver you can do whatever. 

I would be fine with a little more grabby/physical play if DB's were tracking the football. 

I’ve said this many times , when DBs are covering a WR especially when trailing they are taught to not look back for the football because naturally a person running will be slower if they have their head turned around. They are taught to sprint full speed to make up the lost ground(make up speed) and watch the WRs eyes and arms. When the WRs arms shoot to catch the ball they are supposed to either stick their hand between the WRs arms or chop across the arms to dislodge the football. 
 

Many people thought I was crazy saying this last time but it is the truth I’ve been involved at all levels besides the NFL and it’s taught this way pretty universally now 

Edited September 5 by gonzo1105

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

How far off the line he is playing is what the DC called.  

 

DB’s actually have leeway here. And when DC’s dictate cushion it’s for a reason (because they know that player will get burned otherwise).

[GASabresIUFan]

Elam?