Bills vs. Dolphins, Week 9 All-22 Analysis: CB Kaiir Elam

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NFL: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
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Analyzing Elam’s first start of the 2024 season

The Buffalo Bills took on the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, and this AFC East rivalry ended with a bang. Tyler Bass nailed a 61-yard field goal in the dying seconds of the game to give the Bills their 13th victory in the last 14 meetings versus the Dolphins.

Among the top story lines going into the game was how Buffalo’s secondary would fare versus the Dolphins' talented WR group with starting cornerback Christian Benford being out with a wrist injury. Former first-round pick Kaiir Elam stepped up to the challenge logging his first start of the season and helping the Bills get the W. Let’s review his performance.

By the Numbers

To start this article on a positive note, Kaiir Elam recorded his first career fumble recovery! (kudos to Taron Johnson on the awesome punch out)

Elam recorded five total tackles, had one fumble recovery, and allowed three receptions on as many targets for 46 yards. When targeted Elam allowed a 118.8 passer rating and a +47.5% catch rate over expected according to Next Gen Stats. The passer rating allowed is not a great number, but Elam only saw three targets (12%) which means he was doing a good enough job in coverage that Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa didn’t look his way a ton. Overall, Elam performed nicely, recording a +2.7 coverage EPA and forcing a tight window 33.3% of the time.

Let’s break down some film!

Play 1

Elam opens his hips a little early on this play, expecting Hill to release outside, but he is able to swing them back and keep up with Hill on the crossing route. Elam does possess some speed (4.39 40-yard dash) and he puts it on display here.

Play 2

This a fantastic rep by Elam against Waddle on this play. Elam stays stride for stride with Waddle down the field and stays in sync with Waddle when he drops his hips to break off his route. Sticky coverage.

Play 3

This ball ends up being caught even though Elam was right there at the catch point. Elam just has to make a play to knock the ball down, but the Dolphins player makes a better play. I would have liked Elam to commit to this in-breaking route a little sooner, because he knows the only route coming back to the outside was being covered by Taron Johnson, freeing up Elam to maybe even step in front of this ball for an interception.

Play 4

This rep by Elam will probably be the one everyone remembers most because he got burned. Granted, it was a bad play from Elam but it could have been prevented pretty easily. Elam's hips get turned way too early for my liking, and this has been a problem for him since he has been a Bill. He turns his hips so hard that he loses sight of Hill and has no idea what kind of route he is running, so when Tua pump fakes the out route, Elam bites. If Elam had a clear sight line through the WR to the QB he could have transitioned better into covering the out and up route. I’m guessing Elam may be taught to open his hips when he is in zone coverage like this, which is fine, but if he plays this technique he has to get more width to the sideline to maintain leverage and his sight line.

Play 5

Elam Plays this zone coverage more aggressively, getting a jam on the outside WR, which I think helps him. The jam forces him to get width outside and keep the WR inside, and he maintains good leverage between the high and low WRs, forcing the QB to take the short route. Elam is able to drive on the flat route, make a tackle, and almost force a fumble. Check out the slow-motion video below.

Play 6

Great communication between Johnson and Elam on this play to sort out who has the WR in motion. I love how Elam stays patient on this play, waiting for Waddle to declare which way he wants to go. Solid coverage.

Play 7

Once again Elam proves adept in zone coverage. You can see he starts the play with his hips turned, but this time he gets to the proper width to maintain outside leverage and his sigh line through the WR to the QB. This allows him to stay on top of the WR and force the QB to tuck the ball and run.

Play 8

Make no mistake Waddle is fast, and Elam doesn’t miss a beat in this press coverage rep, staying in phase the entire time. Nicely done.

Play 9

Elam shows instincts on this run play. He sees the jet motion across the line of scrimmage and quickly realizes it is a run play. He jumps outside and fights off his blocker to maintain outside leverage and make the tackle.

In Summary

Christian Benford will remain Buffalo’s starting corner when he recovers from his injury. He has earned the starting spot and has been one of the CBs in the NFL this season. However, Elam has progressed as a player during his time in Buffalo and Bills fans should rest easy knowing Elam is a capable backup to be deployed when needed.

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