Mango

My issues with JA are similar. Percentage is up. He’s been much more efficient. He’s always been able to make throws that make your jaw drop at times. I think he has to process the field quicker, and figure out how to control velocity. Those go hand in hand sometimes. I think he throws so many fast balls that are difficult to catch, because his anticipation isn’t great, and is late on his read. So he unleashes a bullet that is difficult to catch, after the DB has reacted. I’m concerned that this is fixable, because it’s nuanced. I’m also pleased with this seasons improvement. I think he’s correcting his need/want to play hero ball, but when he goes underneath he seems late to release and poorly placed. Both excited and concerned. Which is where I think most criticisms come from with his play.

That’s been one of my big knocks on Allen, is throwing “with touch” not necessarily “touch passes”. Look at Mahommes, they have nearly the same velocity at the combine, but he isn’t throwing nearly as many fast balls as Allen. He’s like Rick Vaughn our there sometimes. I think part of the problem is he is a little late with his reads, so has to chuck it in there to get it their on time. (Not just referring to deep passes)

I do? if you could enlighten me, that would be great! I understand that JA is a work in progress. I also understand that we need him to be the answer or there is a good chance we hit the reset button on the franchise, even though I like what we are doing over all. That said, I don’t think the current version of JA is good enough for sustained success against good teams. We’ve played 2 games against teams with top half defenses (via DVOA). We are 1-1. The one win required 4 missed field goals and 2 TD’s called back. I have been critical of Josh because I don’t think he’s been good enough yet. Not because I want him to fail.

I can get behind all of this. Good post. Defense was bad by our standards this year. But not as bad as some are making it out to be.

Via DVOA (just because there are so many def metrics) NYJ- 16- Average NYG- 23- Below average to bad. CIN- 31- Terrible NE-1- Great TEN- 10- Pretty Good but not great BUF- 3- Great

Do you think the offensive staff really put together a game plan to not maximize the amount of points the offense scores? Both McD and BB have been on record that the offense needs to be able to put up more points if they want to be a successful franchise. I like McD, and have questioned BB on a few roster moves. But one thing I respect and trust is if something is not working, BB will be quick to pull the trigger in finding a new solution. Low scoring is not by design.

That’s fair. Probably closer to 9 or 10 win team.

The kid throws a fastball 95% of the time. Only throwing 3 touch passes is the problem. Cole Beasley has talked to Allen about taking some heat off the ball. He’s like Rick Vaughn. Haha.

I would give him a D (below average) for the first half. He played much better in the 2nd half. All in all I probably give me a C. He played just well enough over 4 quarters for Buffalo to come away with a W. JA definitely has the ability to make plays. He’s super exciting to watch. His inability to put any kind of touch on his passes is wearing thin on me. Everything doesn’t need to be a rocket. Never seems like anything lands softly in the bread basket for JA.

He was something like 4/10, for less than 100 yards. Took a terrible sack on second down at the 2:00 mark that stalled the drive. Scored zero TD’s against the worst defense in football. That’s just off the top of my head.

Agreed. My take at the start of the season is that this team is an 8-10 win team. They haven’t done a whole lot to change my mind on that. Philly, Dallas, Baltimore, Cleveland all worry me. And if I had to bet my mortgage on NE in NE, and put it on BB. I need to see more of the Jets with Darnold to figure out who they are. Agreed, the offense needs to be able to dominate 4 quarters every once in a while.

I don’t think any team is ever designed to play up and down to its competition. That’s a terrible idea.

+2 turn overs 1 ST TD 21 points allowed. Losing with that stat line, will always be the offenses fault. Last year the line for W/L was right around 24 points. Over you should win. Under you should lose.

Anytime a defense holds a team under 20 points and gives your offense 2 additional possessions, you should win the game. BUF is 0-6 or 1-5 with an average defense like HOU or SEA. This is stupid. Bills won, I don’t think our QB played well enough today and sort of agree with some guy on Twitter. Now suddenly you’re arguing whether the defense is good enough.... I am bowing out of this

There is some hyperbole in my post. He was terrible in the first half. While completion percentage was good. I’m less than impressed with a QB who throws for about 100 yards in the second half, playing from behind. Let’s not forget, this Dolphins team is trending towards being one of the worst team in football history. Like I said, I think Josh has both poor ball placement and touch and that was on display today. JA was barely good enough today. Tre and Hyde bailed us out today on what very easily could have been a close loss to a very bad football team.

Don’t get the hate on this. Josh is hitting more receivers but still has difficulty with placement, and his touch is pretty bad. Josh had an overall terrible day today. That tweet had a little too much snark, but it didn’t sound too far off base from what I have seen out of him.

I was in Stowe this weekend. So Lotsa IPA’s. Watched the game at Sunset Bar and Taproom. Terrible first half. Switched to Blue Lights at half time. Not all heroes wear capes.

Via DVOA the Bills played the 16,23, and 31st defenses in the games listed. Pats played 32 and 9. Defenses played really aren’t great. You also don’t give a metric for better delivered balls that could have resulted in YAC. I get what you’re saying. But we are almost halfway through the season. The difference between Brady and Allen is far more than supporting cast and scheming. Brady has made an entire career out of finding the open guy and allowing him to make a play. And he’s done it consistently regardless of supporting cast. it’s why I didn’t pick MIA or CIN for reference. Just to middling average defenses. I get what you’re saying. But I think the defense has really bailed him out too often. Sort of like the bears in 2006/7 (I think that was the year)

Eat the W was a reference to a weird Jamie’s Winston pre game speech a few years ago. I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think individual play always correlated to wins. With the HOU or SEA defense, this team is probable 1-4. I’m calling NYG a win because it is the only one we beat somebody by 7+

Totally disagree with you in terms of YAC. Over the course of an entire season, it isn’t mostly based on scheme, receiver, and opponent. Leaders in no particular order: Mahommes- MVP candidate Brady- First Ballot HoF Rivers- In the HoF conversation. Hampered by bad teams. Brees- First Ballot HoF Big Ben/Rudolph- First Ballot HoF/ Played sting off the bench Goff- Played in Super Bowl Dalton- Franchise QB Ryan- Hall of very good- Played in Super Bowl. Hampered by bad teams.

Here is everything he ranks in the mid-20’s for, plus yards after catch which I mentioned. I think we are quibbling over the difference between 26 and 31. I don’t think there is a huge gap between those two ranking worth fighting over. If 26th is that much better than 31st to you, go ahead and eat the W for that one. Your last few paragraph’s are fair. Apologies I didn’t mean to lump you in with that crowd.

I don't get the vibe here at all that Allen is fair game to criticize. We have 8 pages here shooting down a site that ranks Allen in the mid-20's. Saying anything less than JA is the definitive heir apparent to NFL QB greatness seems to get you shouted down around here. Here we are having a conversation about how stupid ANOTHER ranking is that has JA listed in the mid-20's... I am less worried about Allen's actual interceptions, and learning to take the underneath stuff, as I am about his ability to see the field. I don't think he is just choosing to play with balls and force throws down field. I don't think he sees the field/defense well. I also think he has pretty bad touch on the ball. A good tracker is YAC by QB where if a QB not only throws a catchable ball, but finds the open man, and delivers it in a place to make a play. The Bills are currently at 29th (about 10% of that total is the shovel pass against TEN). NFL.com also has Allen listed at 26th on their QBI. http://scores.nbcsports.com/fb/tmleaders.asp?range=NFL&type=Receiving&rank=23 So....like...most ranking have Allen floating around the 20's?

I am just here to stop the fake news. That isn't their QB ranking for the QB's. No only was Sam Darnold not their #12 QB....he was their #2 prospect in the entire draft, regardless of position. https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-big-board-top-250-players-for-the-2018-nfl-draft I know it blasphemy on this board. But while Allen has improved, I am still not impressed or convinced he is the answer at QB yet. He could be, but he still looks a ways off to my eye. Allen hasn't played well enough for us to be 2-3 if we had say, the SEA or HOU defense. That doesn't mean I hate the guy, or root for him to fail. Just an honest interpretation thus far. That said, he might be the most exciting player in the league at the position....that doesn't make him good at it.

I’m super pumped for ski season. I just moved to Saratoga a few months ago. I’ve done whiteface more times than I can count. Plus Killington, Jay, and Gore a bunch. Being right in the center of it this year is going to be awesome! thanks brother!

Awesome. Heading up to run a "Great American Brewery Race" at Alchemist. I am sure I will have all the Heady Topper I can handle before kick off.... Thanks for the help guys!