I'm pretty happy with Cook, Elam, Shakir and Benford, but frustrated with their use.
Cook was on a pace twice for a 100 yard game and they stopped giving him the ball both times. On the other hand, there were games he couldn't get started and they kept giving him the ball. When a guy heats up, you stick with the hot hand and let him roll. He was drafted as a playmaker, they did nothing to get him the ball in space, no screens, few passes. The guy has speed, he's a mismatch waiting to happen every play. Then they get Hines, who is the same, and don't use him that way either. You can even throw them out wide to mess up a defense. But no.
Elam is huge, because he can play man and press along with zone. That gives them options. Did they often attempt to use that option ? No, they did not. They faced a weaker bunch of qbs where they could have gained him some exp, but again, no.
Benford is bang for the buck, and it would be great if safety is an option, he's got good size.
Shakir, again, there was no benefit to not playing him more with the way everyone was dropping balls. They brought back Beasley and Brown, like why were they not throwing to Shakir ?
Read somewhere earlier in the year, someone had said players can't get better through experience if they aren't playing. I think this also goes back to McDermott who is reluctant to trust young players and prefers him some old guys instead. He can't stay away from them.
Anyway, 4 promising players. Play them.
Historian (02-01-2023),Mad Bomber (01-29-2023),ParanoidAndroid (01-29-2023),TacklingDummy (01-29-2023),The last buffalo fan (01-30-2023)
Of course Tre' wasn't going to be the same player this season coming off the injury, anybody that didn't know that should have. Has nothing to do with 'health' per se, even 100% healthy and able to play isn't going to translate to 100% of the level of performance we are used to seeing because the mental aspect of the game takes more time to catch up. And it's certainly a possibility that Tre' never returns to his prior form, that's a pretty devastating injury for a corner.
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Historian (02-01-2023),ParanoidAndroid (01-29-2023)
Elam doesn't fit our defensive scheme.
Cook is an average NFL RB
Shakir is a bottom of the roster NFL WR
Benford is a guy who was a healthy scratch at times
It's not a good draft looking at it right now but with how bad the drafts prior to it were, it definitely looks better.
Elam can play zone or man, or press. You lost me that he doesn't fit the scheme. They actually played man 9 times last game because they could, and Burrow was 2-9 for 14 yards.
The last buffalo fan (01-30-2023)
Woodman (02-08-2023)
sahlensguy (01-30-2023),The last buffalo fan (01-30-2023)
Woodman (02-08-2023)
sahlensguy (01-30-2023)
Hated by the stupid..
Loved by their moms.
The Bills took two bigger CB’s that are better in man coverage than zone. Benford moving to FS makes some sense, but I don’t yet see what the plan is with Elam. He’s not a great fit for our scheme and seemed to lose his spot after his injury before other injuries gave it back to him.
I think Cook could be a good part of a RB combo long-term and Shakir as a 3 or 4 WR provides decent depth and strong route running.
Overall not bad, but it doesn’t appear to be a generational class.
COMING SOON...
Originally Posted by Dr.Lecter
The last buffalo fan (01-30-2023)