Video: Kaiir Elam - All-22 Film Breakdown

[youngjerryjones]

Broke down Kaiir Elam our newest FA addition as per the trade with Buffalo.

- Nephew of former 1st round pick Matt Elam and father played S for Notre Dame
- Ran track in highschool - runs a 4.39 (40)
- The problem is sometimes he doesn't play like this, you can see during the film I pointed out a reception he was targeted on across the middle where it looks like he got lazy in his technique
- Listed as a BOOM or BUST prospect in 2022, behind Sauce/Stingley and McDuffie
- Replaced by 35 YO Josh Norman - but remember someone like Jourdan Lewis was in the dog house with Kris Richard, and look what a new coaching staff did with him.

Would love some thoughts, comments and discussion regarding the player. Thanks for watching. I tried my best to start faster this time after last video's feedback so I appreciate the constructive criticism.

 

[charron]

Decent athlete in shorts that doesn't translate to the field.

 

[Creeper]

He looks like Kelvin Joseph, who also ran a 4.3 40.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Tough to gauge just from the receptions, but it really looks like the guy needs to move to Free Safety and use his athletic ability as a center fielder type. He looks to have zero feel for man coverage and gets turned around too often. That pass to Tyreek Hill at 2:40 is simply horrible.

The play against Worthy at 7:24 you asked if this is a coaching move or a concern with him playing 10 yards off and the answer is both. If you go back and watch that play you can tell by the corner top of the screen that they are being asked to play off the ball, but presnap Elam is a good 2 yards further back than the other CB. You can also compare the reaction times by pausing it at (7:27) and looking at both corners. Each WR has broken back into their comeback and number 31 up top read it well and is already closing in on his WR. Elam down at the bottom is still on his backfoot with a full 5 yards of separation between him and Worthy while Mahomes is throwing the football.

Overall I'm not a fan, but wont ever argue with a buy low athlete like this. The physical tools to me show up on tape but I'm seeing a player that is going to get beat frequently by strong route runners, and he also seems like a guy that is overly conservative against quicker WRs which is odd for someone like Elam who should have the recovery speed to make up for mistakes, even against some of the faster players in the league. He seems to have much better instincts when hes deep, has everything in front of him and can use his speed to move up on plays. In theory that could work well for a Eberflus defense that runs a lot of cover 3, but thats also very similar to the system he came from in Buffalo that didnt work out so well.

 

[conner01]

Decent athlete in shorts that doesn't translate to the field.

Hopefully he can turn it around and at least be avg

 

[youngjerryjones]

Decent athlete in shorts that doesn't translate to the field.

It sucks because he comes in as a trackstar, but on tape it looks like he has lazy technique.

I will say this - a comment I got from a Bills forum suggested he got into it with the DB coach and was in the dog house after injury. Lack of reps led to him being there, and he was thrown into the KC playoff game due to injury and had zero reps that week to practise. Targeted a bunch and made mistakes... take that for a grain of salt.

Bills had to put boxing gloves on him at practise to stop him from holding and grabbing...I think with more playing time here as CB3 he will get better.

 

[youngjerryjones]

Tough to gauge just from the receptions, but it really looks like the guy needs to move to Free Safety and use his athletic ability as a center fielder type. He looks to have zero feel for man coverage and gets turned around too often. That pass to Tyreek Hill at 2:40 is simply horrible.

The play against Worthy at 7:24 you asked if this is a coaching move or a concern with him playing 10 yards off and the answer is both. If you go back and watch that play you can tell by the corner top of the screen that they are being asked to play off the ball, but presnap Elam is a good 2 yards further back than the other CB. You can also compare the reaction times by pausing it at (7:27) and looking at both corners. Each WR has broken back into their comeback and number 31 up top read it well and is already closing in on his WR. Elam down at the bottom is still on his backfoot with a full 5 yards of separation between him and Worthy while Mahomes is throwing the football.

Overall I'm not a fan, but wont ever argue with a buy low athlete like this. The physical tools to me show up on tape but I'm seeing a player that is going to get beat frequently by strong route runners, and he also seems like a guy that is overly conservative against quicker WRs which is odd for someone like Elam who should have the recovery speed to make up for mistakes, even against some of the faster players in the league. He seems to have much better instincts when hes deep, has everything in front of him and can use his speed to move up on plays. In theory that could work well for a Eberflus defense that runs a lot of cover 3, but thats also very similar to the system he came from in Buffalo that didnt work out so well.

He has a ton of issues in zone. Would say he came from a man heavy scheme in college so depending on what Flus wants he might be better fit here.

I like the comment about the play against Worthy because I noticed too the technique was bad, and the play call. It looks like Elam does not know his technique and where he is supposed to get help/step off his foot to get to his zone.

I agree - there isn't much to be a fan of outside of his athleticism and draft profile. With everything in front of him, maybe he excels in this defense and can compete at CB3 and FS2. Funny enough him and Booth are from the same draft top of round 1 considered busts. The issue is he is a garbage zone corner - who also doesn't do well in Man. Hard to know because Flus typically runs zone heavy schemes, so we could run into the same problems here. Good rookie year, but could never build off of it due to injuries.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Saw an article that quoted the Bills' GM that drafted him and he had nothing but praise for Elam. Said he worked really hard but things just didn't work out, and he owned up to the mistake for drafting him when he didn't fit what Buffalo was asking Elam to do.

Also said he had a conversation with Elam before the trade and they both agreed a fresh start would be for the best. I really think the Cowboys are getting a free look at a first round talent. If this kid doesn't work out, at least they didn't invest what Buffalo did.

 

[BlindFaith]

When you see guys that dont play as fast as their measurables it usually means a combination of lack of football insincts and lack of playbook knowledge.

Insticts cant really be corrected. Hence the boom or bust tag.

Classroom work can be corrected, provided he wants to and is capable. Some dudes just arent bright.

Coaches will know in short time if he can be trusted.

 

[charron]

It sucks because he comes in as a trackstar, but on tape it looks like he has lazy technique.

I will say this - a comment I got from a Bills forum suggested he got into it with the DB coach and was in the dog house after injury. Lack of reps led to him being there, and he was thrown into the KC playoff game due to injury and had zero reps that week to practise. Targeted a bunch and made mistakes... take that for a grain of salt.

Bills had to put boxing gloves on him at practise to stop him from holding and grabbing...I think with more playing time here as CB3 he will get better.

Further examples that his issues are in his head. Sounds like his biggest issue is in the classroom. Coaches don't have much time for dumb players.

 

[Rayman70]

Nobody knows til preseason starts. But he's young, has played games, no off field issues, good in the lockerroom. That's over half the battle these days if ya want to rebuild, rehabilitate the culture. Again, no issue bringing him in. You never know.