billsfan1959

Is this a joke?

No, he's not.

He had a TD percentage of 9% (8.98) this year. It's only happened two other times since 1970 (with QBs who played at least 14 games in a season). A really good year is between 6%-7%. No QB in the modern era has a career TD percent over 6%. Last year his TD percent was 3.4%. I think he is a good QB; however, he is not throwing for 36 TDs again in Greg Roman's offense.

I think Jackson is a good QB. However, I doubt he repeats the TD production he had this year.

It would have been a 4th and 4 at the Houston 37 yard line.

See above post

My point is that you rarely see this called in close games, particularly in overtime of the playoffs. You can make this call 10-15 times a game. I literally found 5 just perusing through the plays. The following is during Houston's go ahead TD drive in the 4th Qtr. Take a look around the 15 second mark of this clip when Houston's fullback lights up Milano on the exact same kind of play (and, just for good measure, watch the Houston WR (87) at the bottom of the screen after the hit on Milano - and the OL (66) holding at the top of the screen during the run - but I digress). As I said, I can easily pull 5 of these clips right now. Again, my point is they are rarely called in these kinds of games.

By the rules it is. My issues are that (1) it is a penalty you would rarely see called in overtime of a playoff game (particularly when the defensive player initiated the contact as much as the offensive player) and (2) it is certainly not worthy of a fine.

28K for this?

You do understand that it is possible for the recognition that Allen has flaws, the need for his improvement; the need for improvement / upgrades in personnel around him; the need for better calling / play designs at times; or any number of other issues that could also affect his play, can all exist at the same time, right? That these things are not mutually exclusive?

Why so angry and aggressive? The OP did not say that and nobody in this thread has said that. Yet you chose to respond with that to the OP. You clearly feel you have an axe to grind; however, it is not relevant to this thread.

I doubt, when it comes to Allen, any rational, objective, discourse would work on you....

That is such a tired criticism. The OP didn't say that and I can't remember any other posters saying that. There are plenty of posters defending him against this idea that he had a complete meltdown, that he was the primary reason they lost the game, and other assertions. However, none of us are exonerating him from his own bad plays or decisions during this game.

That was the national story based on a couple of bad decisions by Allen in that second half. There were a lot of plays in that 4th quarter and overtime that, on the surface, contributed to this idea that Allen had a complete meltdown. However, it was really more about execution and situational factors than it was about Allen falling apart, and much of it was more nuanced than obvious. For example, in OT, the Bills are faced with a 2nd and 9 at their 43. The Texans have a 6 on 5 advantage on the line of scrimmage and bring all 6. Ford is matched up against LB McKinney on his inside and DE Watt on his outside. Both McKinney and Watt rush. Ford has to take McKinney on the inside, leaving Watt with a free path to Allen. Beasley is the hot read on a slant. If you watch the play as it unfolds in the game, you see the pressure, Beasley underneath, and it looks like Allen just doesn't make the read, makes a bad pass, or just throws it away for another incompletion. However, in the All 22, below, you can see Allen reads all of it and is prepared to go to Beasley. You can actually see Allen start to bring his arm up and back to throw to Beasley. Beasley then sits on the route and Allen cannot make the throw because Watt is directly in the way. However, Allen, stays calm in the face of Watt's pressure, waits as long as he can, readjusts, and makes the throw to Beasley. However, Beasley, at the same time, starts to move across the middle, and the pass goes to the spot Beasley just vacated. IMO, I see Allen doing a lot of good things here. It didn't work, but, not because he panicked, fell apart, or was having a meltdown

I think it was a bit too much to ask of Allen this year to be quick enough to reach those 2nd and 3rd options on longer developing plays when he was under pressure. It is no coincidence that Allen was blitzed the 2nd most of any QB in the league (particularly by good defenses down the stretch). This is a kid who could never trust his offensive line at Wyoming and last year with the Bills. Far too often, he wouldn't have the opportunity to set up and go through progressions. That lack of trust carried over into plays where he actually did have the time. You could see, at Wyoming and last year, Allen failing to stay in the pocket, to step up in the pocket, to maintain proper mechanics at the slightest perception of pressure. This year has been better. He learned to trust his Oline more and he was doing a better job staying in the pocket and getting through his reads. When his Oline was playing well, his movement in the pocket was more confident, his mechanics were better, and his play was more instinctual. However, the Oline was not very consistent in handling blitzes and pressure in that first NE game and since the Dallas game. There were a number of young players (i.e; Ford, Knox, Singletary) that were playing, well, like young players and making mistakes in pass blocking. In every one of those games, you saw plays in which Allen literally was getting hammered by defenders before he could even get through his first read. In those games, you could see and feel Allen losing his trust in his Oline and reverting to what was natural for him at Wyoming and last year: bailing out of the pocket too quickly, holding onto the ball too long while trying to keep the play alive with his feet, failing to make the decision quickly enough to run, pass, or throw the ball away. This is when Allen does what he always felt he needed to do, prior to this year: put the team on his back. This is also when he is most prone to, what people love to refer to as, "hero ball," and when he is most susceptible to mistakes. I am not a Daboll hater. I think he is an exceptionally bright man and can be very creative in play design. However, I think there were games in which he completely failed to adjust his play calling to give his young QB a chance to settle down and reestablish that trust through quicker developing plays. I am hoping they pick up a solid RT in the off-season and move Ford to G - or, Ford improves if they leave him at RT. I also hope Allen takes that next progression in terms of reading defenses better and making quicker decisions. But, most of all, I hope Allen finally allows himself to still trust his line even when they give up bad plays here and there.

Anyone that watches that game, in an objective way, should come away optimistic about next year. Allen certainly had his share of bad decisions/plays; however, there was far more to like about him in that game than to dislike. I can also say that about a number of other players, and the overall team. I am looking forward to the off-season. I have no doubt Beane will do all that he can to add those additional pieces this team needs to move to the next level.

Correct on both counts. @Alphadawg7 was right in his assessment. In three years (36 games) in Buffalo, Jones caught 90 passes on 194 targets (46%) for 1037 yards, 9 TDs, and 11.5 Y/R. This year, before he left, he caught 39% of the passes in which he was targeted. By contrast, Brown and Beasley both caught 63% of the passes in which they were targeted. There was enough to see he wasn't working out in Buffalo. I like Jones and I hope he does well in his career. In 10 games with the Raiders, he caught 20 passes on 27 Targets (74%) for 147 yards, 0 TDs, and 7.4 Y/R. His catch % was better; however, he played in a much more pass efficient (re completion %) offense and, on average, ran much shorter routes. Williams only played in four games during the regular season this year. He caught 12 passes on 19 targets (63%) for 166 yards, 1 TD, and 13.8 Y/R. He's physical, with good hands, and (the endzone pass we all debated this past week not withstanding) can make difficult/contested catches. I hope he is on this team next year. I believe there were glimpses this year of what he can do. I think he could play an important role, particularly if the Bills can somehow find a big, #1 receiver to play opposite Brown. I actually think Williams could be really productive out of the slot and in 4WR sets in that situation. I don't know which one will have a better career. I wish Jones well; however, I only care about what kind of career Williams has, as long as he is a Buffalo Bill.

They absolutely have the cap space. I just don't see Beane paying what Yannick is going to command. I would love to have him; however, I don't see it happening,.

Yep - and I should have been clear on that point.

Wentz was good down the stretch. 2017 was a really good year only because he had a TD% of 7.5 and threw for 33 TDs. (His other years, his TD% has been 2.6, 4.4, and 5.2). In every other way, last year and this year were better. He was actually having his best year last year, until he got hurt. I think Wentz is a good QB and is at his best in the short game (particularly when their screen game is working). He was incredibly inconsistent this year and, of course, this is the 3rd straight year he didn't finish the season, although he did make it to the playoff game before going down.

He didn't have any credibility to begin with. He apparently believes delivering opinions based on superficial analyses (if any at all) with arrogance and aggression somehow gives them more credence.

Careful, you are going to rile the "they didn't need to tear it down...can't believe they got rid of Dareus, Watkins, (fill in the blank)" crowd...

I am like you. I haven't read anything he has written, or listened to anything he has said, in at least 4-5 years. It wasn't even so much whether I agreed with him or not (because he certainly made his share of valid points), it was the fatalistic, depressing tone in which he always seemed to present his views. I just listened to the clip. It was a good assessment. But, even more than that, it was the first time I recall feeling real, genuine optimism from him. Hell has frozen over...

I love Josh Allen with all his flaws. He has a ways to go; however, there is nothing I see in him or his play that leads me to doubt, in any way, that he will get there. In fact, just the opposite. It is unfortunate that so many will walk away from the Houston game thinking Allen had a meltdown and was the reason the Bills lost that game. He certainly made his share of mistakes; however, there was also so much to like about so much of what he did in that game. In the end, the loss was like every game the Bills play: A team effort, from coaches to players. IMHO, the future looks pretty good with this kid leading the team.