Josh Allen - SEASON TWO report card

[rayray808]

WEEK 1: B-

WEEK 2: B

WEEK 3: C+

WEEK 4: F

WEEK 5: B+

WEEK 7: B

WEEK 8: D+

WEEK 9: B+

WEEK 10: B-

WEEK 11: A

WEEK 12: B

WEEK 13: A

WEEK 14: C

WEEK 15: A

WEEK 16: B

WEEK 17:  **early out pass

 

GPA: 2.8

OVERALL GRADE: B- (rounded up because of making the playoffs)

 

RECORD: 10-6

COMP %: 58.8

YARDS: 3,089

TDʻS PASSING: 20

INTʻS: 9

RUSHING: 510 YARDS

RUSHING TDʻS: 9

 

FUN FACTS:

 

5th (tied) total touchdowns 5th highest 1st down % on 3rd+long 5th most 4th quarter TD passes 4th highest 4th quarter passer rtg 1st (tied) 4th quarter comebacks 1st (tied) game winning drives

 

Josh Allen has improved his passer rating by +17.1 this season, marking the largest increase from last season by any NFL starter. Allen is also one of three NFL QBs with 3,000+ passing yards and 500+ rushing yards this season.

 

 

 

 

Overall this season has been an absolute pleasure to watch this young QB develop. Was it as fast as a progression as a Mahomes or Lamar Jackson? Absolutely not. However, it was still progression, rather than regression (Baker cough.. cough..)

 

I tried to remain as unbiased as possible this year regarding grades, and I used a "sophomore rubric" where some people thought I was inflating grades, and yet others felt I was being too harsh at times as the season progressed.

 

Truth be told, I have been sold on Allen for awhile now, but also know that the path towards him becoming a franchise, elite and most importantly a SUSTAINABLE winning QB in this league will take some time.

 

All in all, I think for him to improve in the ways he did this season, and lead us to a playoff wild card spot - earns him a B- for this season.

 

 

 

 

PLAYOFF GOALS: Donʻt be the reason we lose games, and let our defense be the reason we win games.

OFF SEASON GOALS: Clean up your footwork. Yes you have a strong arm, and yes your legs look amazing in shorts. However, you sometimes lose focus of the simple mechanics of football and it prevents you from making throws that extend drives, and win games. This is a make or break fundamental switch that must happen.

MANAGEMENT GOALS: Get a big WR and another RB for this offense. Only then can we start playing "fearless" as there are actual weapons on the field to help us get past the dreaded 17 points a game.

PERSONAL GOALS: Get a sponsorship for Josh. Nike, Adidas, maybe even Jordan brand? Josh Allen is prime time football and we should get 5 national games next season.

 

GO BILLS!

[Lurker]

Seems like a fair grade so far.   But it's time for final exams now. 

 

How Josh performs this weekend will go a long way toward determining his 2019 GPA and course load in 2020...

[GunnerBill]

Thanks for doing these threads in season. I think they were useful in containing the debate and for the most part people engaged in good faith.

 

The two weeks I most disagreed with you were Philly (I graded Josh higher that game was not really on him IMO) and Cleveland (I graded Josh lower I think that game was much more on him). 

 

Other than that we never seemed to be more than a single point (ie. B rather than B- etc) out all year. 

[Seasons1992]

I'd prefer his endorsements coming from John Deere, frankly. Do the unlikely thing. 

[BillsfaninSB]

I think everyone has to be happy with the upswing of his performance this season.  Especially post NE game #1.

 

We have every reason to be optimistic for next season.

[teef]

i just wanted to see visible and measurable improvements from josh this year, and that's what happened, along with another trip to the playoffs.  he's not nearly where he has to be, but as far as this year goes, it was a success to me.

[njbuff]

The game yesterday really shouldn’t count as a loss to Allen’s record, but it is what it is.

[78thealltimegreat]

I’d go with a B you just can’t teach the things he has...natural leader...size..arm...tough as nails just ask the Cowboys and Patriots trying to stop him on 4th down..a large leap on his underneath throws needs work on the touch of his deep ball...his throw to John Brown against the Pats was one of the best throws by a qb all year...how he handles playoff football will be his next step 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I give him a C. Plenty of room to go up or down.

[Rc2catch]

Not a single 300 yard game. He’s boring. Bust. Cut. Start over 

[VADC Bills]

Your grading reports have been fun to read and spur conversation.

With that being said I see Josh as a solid C.

Would like to see him reading the defenses better (cover 0 gives him problems).

Would like to see a solid and consistent deep ball. ( too many over throws...google Joe Flacco)

Quicker decision making on runs that are not called in the huddle.

I would like to see more screens, quick slants and plays where he moved the pocket ( I don't put this on Josh, I don't think Daboll sets him up to succeed very well.)

Teach him how run and effective 2 minute offense...When down by 4 and 2minutes left, I don't feel confident that he can get the job done.

You got to be able to score more than 17 points per game and throw for 300 yards.

These changes will allow his point production to increase and allow the Bills to beat good teams.

Edited December 30, 2019 by VADC Bills

[Dablitzkrieg]

Josh is a gamer.  I expect to see this guy lay it all on the line in the playoffs.  Clutch genes are hard to come by and this guy has it!

[LABILLBACKER]

I give him a solid B. All the statistical improvements came without a bonafied #1 WR, #1 TE or #1 RB. Not to mention a very mediocre OC putting him in difficult play call situations. As the OP says Josh still has a ton of work to do.  Improve footwork and base. Put more trajectory on his longer throws (30+). Read the blitz and have a hot read. I think year 3 we see Josh's rating avg over 90 for 2020. I see them drafting another RB and an early round WR. If we can land the right two FA DE's (Ngakoue/Armstead) this team will win 11+ even with the tougher schedule. 

Edited December 30, 2019 by LABILLBACKER

[Buffalo_Stampede]

6 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I give him a solid B. All the statistical improvements came without a bonafided #1 WR, #1 TE or #1 RB. Not to mention a very mediocre OC putting him in difficult play call situations. As the OP says Josh still has a ton of work to do.  Improve footwork and base. Put more trajectory on his longer throws (30+). Read the blitz and have a hot read. I think year 3 we see Josh's rating avg over 90 for 2020. I see them drafting another RB and an early round WR. If we can land the right two FA DE's (Ngakoue/Armstead) this team will win 11+ even with the tougher schedule. 

Geez. The OC is the problem after you just said the QB had no weapons. 

 

The entire offense has room to grow. I would like someone that studies our offense to explain their issues with the OC? I just don't see it. Obviously he isn't perfect, no play caller calls perfect games. But I don't think he was holding back the QB at all.

Edited December 30, 2019 by Buffalo_Stampede

[KD in CA]

1 hour ago, rayray808 said:

GPA: 2.8

OVERALL GRADE: B- (rounded up because of making the playoffs)

 

Isn't that a B- without rounding?   I'll round to a solid B.

 

I can't understand how anyone could complain.  He took a big step forward from last year and the Bills won 10 games and made the playoffs.

[LABILLBACKER]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Geez. The OC is the problem after you just said the QB had no weapons. 

Yea because his play calling was inconsistent all year with offensive players like Yeldon and Williams who could've contributed rather than sit the bench. If Daboll doesn't have the stones to approach McD and demand more help offensively then that's on both of them. His play calling this Saturday scares the living $#!£ out of me. And if we lose this game it won't be on the defense. 

[JMF2006]

Funny how most young QB`s get killed by zone defences and inability to read them.

 

I think Josh`s problem with man D is that the WR`s the Bills have don`t get separation consistently and are not big enough to battle for contested balls. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

11 minutes ago, KD in CA said:

 

Isn't that a B- without rounding?   I'll round to a solid B.

 

I can't understand how anyone could complain.  He took a big step forward from last year and the Bills won 10 games and made the playoffs.

Post of the day. All day.  

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

Yea because his play calling was inconsistent all year with offensive players like Yeldon and Williams who could've contributed rather than sit the bench. If Daboll doesn't have the stones to approach McD and demand more help offensively then that's on both of them. His play calling this Saturday scares the living $#!£ out of me. And if we lose this game it won't be on the defense. 

Only issue I've had was with Singletary's usage early on. 

[HOUSE]

We don't give early out passes here...

 

Josh Allen appeared confused on the sidelines, was late to exit before halftime. I also saw him drawing pictures during the 4th quarter.

 

C+