billsfan1959

I like Duke Williams and I like what he brings to the passing game. I think he could play an important role on this team, particularly if the Bills find a big, #1 receiver in the draft to put opposite Brown.

I remember the play he got injured on at the end of the Giants game and thinking that he was going to be out much longer than he actually was. For me, it was the limited amount of touches early in the year (before the injury and after his return) (8 or less rushes and less than 10 total rushing attempts / receiving targets in 5 of the first 6 games he played) and the inconsistent way they used him, at times, over the remainder of the year. However, your point is taken and valid. Over 7 of the last 8 games he averaged 20 total rushing attempts / receiving targets per game - and had 19 total attempts/targets in the Houston game.

Agree, it is unfortunate. It doesn't matter what your stance is. If you can support it with with real factual analyses and be open to the same, the discussions are better, more interesting, and more productive. Those that take an extreme stance in either direction are really more interested in imposing their views then engaging in honest dialogue.

For me, the most disturbing play of the game was the QB sweep in overtime where Allen had three lead blockers and Knox and Morse fail to even try to block Cunningham. Had either one of them just put a shoulder on Cunningham, that game would have been over. Like I said in other posts, their is so much blame to go around in this game. However, I love where this team is headed.

I did. Here they are again. They were costly as well. I actually wasn't singling Duke out, or Brown, or other players in videos I posted since the game. The receiver videos actually began as a defense of all the talk about Allen and I wanted to show he made some great throws in that game that he didn't get credit for. But, even more so, I posted them only so that everyone contributing to the discussions could be looking at the same evidence, rather than discussing from memory. For the record, I am a fan of both Duke and Brown. And there were a lot of plays that cost us in that game. Plenty of blame to go around.

I know. This is probably the play that bothers me the most (and there were a number) in that game. If Knox gets a shoulder on Cunningham, the next obstacle for Allen is the DB Ford is destroying at the 29 yard line. The only other defender is a DB coming across the field. I have no doubt Allen is inside the 25 Yard line on that play - if not scoring. At the very least, they are in winning FG range

I’ve watched them all. I like Duke Williams and I hope he remains on the team, as I believe he could play an important role. However, IMO, that is a catch an NFL WR, particularly one whose strength is that exact type of catch, should make. We can agree to disagree and that is alright.

I’m one of those two kinds of people....?

Don’t look at screenshots. The video is in this thread. Watch it. That was a beautiful throw Williams failed to adjust properly on in his initial attempt to catch it. The DB did get his hand in there to prevent him from pulling the ball in as they were going down. However, Williams should have made that catch.

I believe, by this time next year, most of the questions regarding Allen will be answered - one way or the other.

I have no problem with whatever Beane does. I trust him to do what he feels is best for the team. I feel Yannick will command more than they are willing to spend on him. Hopefully, not. We will just have to wait and see.

I agree Beane knows what the team needs and will do everything possible to meet those needs. And I wouldn’t rule out a top free agent signing. However, It would have to be a player (1) they believe is a critical piece and (2) is not an unreasonable financial investment. If it presents itself and they believe it is in the best interests of the team, both short term and long term, it wouldn’t surprise me at all. I just don’t see them targeting much in, as Beane put it, the deep end of the pool. See above. I’d love Yannick, particularly at his age; however, I’m just not sure they will pay what he will demand.

I don’t think teams are afraid of Brady anymore. The Patriots************** will go as far as their defense takes them.

How about Duke Willams catches a perfectly thrown TD pass? You can criticize Allen for a lot of things; however, when it comes to moving the ball at the end of a half, in the 4th quarter, and at the end of a game, he has been pretty successful this year.

So, you are confident that the Jets and Dolphins will improve; however, the Bills and Allen won't?

No need to be sarcastic. It is just an opinion based on Beane's philosophy. It doesn't mean he won't sign a top dollar free agent if he feels that is what the team needs. I just think he would prefer to not go after the top dollar free agents.

Division champions and a legitimate contender for the conference championship.

No. However, they were trying to get to a competitive status while starting to build through the draft. At this point, and Beane as much as said so in his presser, they don't need to add as much through free agency - certainly not in the high dollar range. Their focus will always primarily be drafting and signing their own. With that said, I absolutley see them targeting certain positions in free agency. I just don't see them targeting top dollar free agents.

Good post above, oldmanfan. I wanted to show these two plays. On the fumble you referred to, you are right, he absolutely was in the process of deciding to run or pass. From different angles, you can see Beasley separating from his defender and moving toward the middle of the field. In the video below, IMO, Allen was starting to raise his arm to make that throw when Mercilus got his fingertips on the ball. What bothers me the most about the play above is that people want to be quick to blame Allen for being reckless. Other than Hapless, in another thread, I haven't heard anyone mention the fact that Allen was still behind the line of scrimmage, moving up in the pocket, and, somehow, Knox, Singletary, and Dawkins all failed to block Mercilus as he was moving toward the pocket. As for the QB sweep, right again. Unbelieveable how Knox fails to get his shoulder on Cunningham or Morse after he sees Knox whiff. This play should have been the end of the game. In addition to the pass plays I showed above, which should have been caught by anyone's standard - and would have completely changed the complexion of the game. There were three other passes I talked about in other threads that also should have been caught: The throw to Williams (11 Yds) that got called back on a penalty in the 3rd Qtr The throw to Brown on the sideline (17 Yds) in the 4th Qtr The throw to Williams on the sideline in the 4th qtr (20 yds) All of them were perfect thows from Allen. All of them could, and should, have been caught (two actually were caught by Brown but idiotic sideline awareness negated them, and one Williams was caught but called back on a penalty). That's probably two touchdowns instead of two field goals and the complexion of the game is completely changed. People want to talk about how Allen "threw up all over himself" or had a complete meltown in the second half (although, during this "meltdown," he still managed to take his team to a game tying FG, and put his team in position for a game winning FG attempt in OT (had Ford not taken that penalty). The truth is: Allen made some poor decisions in the second half; however, he did a lot more good then bad. If the five catches I described in this and other posts are caught as they should have been, that's 5 more completions and 90 more passing yards for Allen to go with his 264 passing yards, 92 yards rushing, and 16 receiving yards. That's 462 yards of total offense for Allen and a completion percentage of 62%. Yeah, he "threw up all over himself."

We do have differing opinions, and that is okay. I am not afraid to point out the flaws in Allen either, as there is a lot of room for improvement. However, it seems, with Allen, people always want to begin with his flaws and, somehow, the view of those flaws start to color every other aspect of his game - and even play to play during a game. If he misses a receiver, people begin with the assumption it was because he is inaccurate before considering any other option (i.e., the receiver ran the wrong route, or was slowed off his pace by a defender). If he takes a sack, it is because he has no pocket or game awareness before it is because an O--lineman, TE, or RB completely whiffed on a block. If he fumbles the ball while scrambling around it is because he is completely reckless with the ball before it is because a D-lineman or LB made a great play and got his hand on the ball. My point is not that Allen is never inaccurate or misses open receivers, or that he never has moments where he could show more pocket/situational awareness, or that he is never reckless with the ball, or that he doesn't sometimes show poor judgment, or that he doesn't have flaws period. My point is: That always seems to be the starting point. In YAC, you point out play design and timing of the throw - and specifically mention slants and screens. You are correct in those things being factors, and there are certainly times when Allen could be better at leading a receiver. However, why is it that we start there? Rather than considering those factors, while also considering such things as Allen is 6th in intended air yards per attempt, which means he throws deeper routes, on average than most QBs, he doesn't actually throw a lot of screens or short slants, and his receiver are 10th worst in the NFL at having separation from the defender at the time of the catch, or that play designs seem to feature a lot of sideline throws, etc. I can point out, off the top of my head, at least a dozen plays this year where, after the game, posters were on this board going on and on, ad nauseum, in their blame of Allen for being inaccurate, or exhibiting poor judgement, or for being reckless, or for some other flaw on his part. Only to find out, through a review of the game film, or the All 22, or comments by coaches and players, that Allen wasn't to blame at all. Allen came into this league with a narrative attached to him. I think his evaluation as a QB and the level of critical analyses of each and every play, on the part of many fans and the national media is done through that lens.

My feelings are not hurt over anything. Nor am I blind to faults of Allen. My point was that people like you will always see what you want to see because you clearly have no ability to ever be open to the idea that you are wrong. And you are. Your response here was to someone talking about the throws to Williams in the endzone and Brown at the 2 yard line. Watch the videos below - the throws were on the money. I rest my case on what I said above and will go a bit further. Your assessment of Allen goes beyond just a refusal to acknowledge you are wrong, it shows you have absolutely no ability at all to objectively and accurately analyze football. Which, pretty much means you have absolutely no credibility on a football message board.

What he said below...

I hope so....

We don't care if you lie to us; however, stop lying to yourself. It's unhealthy.