Josh Allen: Franchise Quarterback

[Logic]

I write for Buffalofambase.com, which is run by our old BBMB friend WYO. this is my latest, which I will paste in full here. Let me know if this violates any rules.

 

http://buffalofambase.com/2020/10/02/josh-allen-franchise-quarterback/

 

Maybe you’re not ready to declare it just yet.

 

Maybe you’d like to see a few more games. A bit more consistency.

Maybe after being burned too many times by the JP Losmans and EJ Manuels of the world, you’d like to wait for more of a surefire sign.

 

I understand the hesitation. I understand the inclination to lean into the defense mechanisms of lowered expectations and cautious optimism. Really, I do.

 

But I’m hear to tell you that the wait is over. As far as I’m concerned, the verdict is in.

 

After a quarter-century in the football wilderness, the clouds have parted in Orchard Park, New York, and the blinding light enveloping the Buffalo Bills owes its glorious luminosity to a now undeniable conclusion: Josh Allen is a franchise quarterback.

 

You may think I’m jumping the gun. You may be encouraged, but reticent. You may be saying “he’s looked good, but ‘Franchise Quarterback’ is a loaded phrase”. That’s fair.
 

Before you conclude that I’ve simply consumed a bit too much of the blue-and-red Kool-Aid, though, allow me to make my case.

 

A franchise quarterback needs to be able to make all the throws, sure. 

After dozens of physics-defying Josh Allen lasers have cut through the winds of autumn the past two-and-a-quarter seasons, captivating viewers and flummoxing defenders, there should be no doubt that the Bills quarterback checks this box .

 

Think of Allen rolling to his right and delivering an on-target dart to a crossing Cole Beasley for the Bills’ first touchdown of the afternoon in last year’s Thanksgiving day game against the Cowboys.
 

Picture Allen tossing up a jump ball to John Brown against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football while the echoes of “Renegade” could still be heard reverberating through the bleachers at Heinz Field.

 

Think then of his ensuing game-winning touchdown pass to Tyler Kroft in the corner of the end zone, stamping the Bills’ ticket to the playoffs in front of a national audience.

 

Ponder the difficulty and improbability of converting a 3rd-and-22 against a professional NFL defense in crunch time of a tight contest, then see in your mind’s eye the fleet-footed Allen retreating from All-World tackle Aaron Donald and firing a rocket to Cole Beasley in the midst of four Rams defenders to convert the yardage and gain a 1st down.

 

Yes, Josh Allen checks the “make every throw” box — and with room to spare.

 

What marks the difference between a physically gifted quarterback and a true Franchise Quarterback, though, cannot be illustrated by statistics. It cannot be quantified, measured, or explained by mere illustrations of athletic talent.

 

Indeed, “Franchise Quarterback” is a designation given only to the rarest breeds of passers. Those whose leadership, heart, unflappability, and command of the offense and the moment are sufficient to again and again pick their team up, put it on their backs, and carry it to victory.

 

Picture number 17 picking up a botched snap on 4th-and-1, powering it across the line of scrimmage, colliding with a defender, carrying him ahead for four yards, and then bouncing up and powerfully signaling “1st down” — firing up an entire roster and giving it the confidence to charge ahead to victory.

 

Envision throwing first a go-ahead score against a red hot Fitzmagic-led Dolphins team in the fourth quarter, then following it up by launching a fearless, magnificent bomb to a streaking John Brown for an insurance touchdown.

 

Recall the sickening and all-too-familiar feeling from this past Sunday of what once seemed a sure victory slowly but steadily slipping away against the Rams.

 

Now recall what came 11 players and 75 yards later: The 3rd-and-22 conversion. The 17-yard pass to Stefon Diggs that gave the offense at least a prayer for victory with under 30 seconds remaining. The game-winning touchdown pass to Tyler Kroft. The replacement of that old, sickening feeling with one of jubilation and awe.

 

Time after time, with his team on the mat, all but defeated, all but hopeless — with the battered Bills Mafia muttering “here we go again” and the football watching world counting him out –Josh Allen has picked his team up and carried them to victory.

 

That — not any QB rating or Pro Football Focus score or Player of the Week award or highlight on ESPN — but the heart, the gall, the tenacity, the sheer will and stubborn-ness necessary to repeatedly ***** victory from the jaws of defeat and to carry a team, against all odds, to victory — THAT is what makes a Franchise Quarterback.

 

The pundits repeatedly told us that this couldn’t happen. 

 

They told us Josh Allen was too inaccurate, too wild, too sloppy. They told us he was a “parody of a quarterback prospect”. They snickered. They mocked. They posted videos of errant passes and wayward laterals. They told us he could NEVER be a Franchise Quarterback.

 

They were wrong.

 

After piloting his team to a 3-0 start, becoming the first Bills player to score 12 touchdowns through three weeks, winning Player of the Week and Player of the Month honors, and displaying much improved accuracy, touch, and decision making, the pundits had no choice but to concede, one by one, that they were wrong. 

 

After rallying his team to victory when all hope seemed lost the past two weeks and tying Russell Wilson for most 4th quarter comebacks in the league since 2019, the doubters were silenced. The snickering stopped. 

 

One dizzyingly masterful pass, one improbable comeback, one incredible display of fortitude and leadership at a time — Josh Allen has forced the pundits to confront an undeniable fact: They were all wrong about him because they all lacked the capacity to understand what made him special: There is no tool or statistic or analytical grading system that can measure the heart of a man.

 

So, Bills fans — remain hesitant if you want. Cling to your caution. Wait for more signs.

 

Me? I’ve seen enough. 

 

I’m sticking to my guns. I’m shouting it from the rooftops. I’m buying the jersey in every color. I’m pouring a giant glass of blue-and-red Kool-Aid and raising a glass to the bucking bronco of Firebaugh and Laramie and now, thankfully, of Orchard Park.

Here’s to Josh Allen, Franchise Quarterback. 

Long may he reign.

[ALLEN1QB]

You are kind of long-winded I really don't have time to read all of it but I agree lol

Edited October 2, 2020 by ALLEN-2-DIGGS-TD!!

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Sold. 

[Kwai San]

All Hail the King.

 

Gimme a few more weeks tho.  I get it you are all in....I'm agreeing but would like to see where he is at in say week 15 or 16.....then I will render my hailings......

[LabattBlue]

TLDR 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

[Bangarang]

Pretty long winded article just to say you think Allen is a franchise QB.

 

Also, shame on anyone who was burned by thinking EJ Manuel was a franchise QB. 

Edited October 2, 2020 by Bangarang

[No_Matter_What]

Just a quick note - I think Donald wasn't on the field when Allen converted that 3&22 to Cole. I remember Rams fans being angry about it.

[clayboy54]

4 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

Just a quick note - I think Donald wasn't on the field when Allen converted that 3&22 to Cole. I remember Rams fans being angry about it.

So what? Now, it doesn't count as any good?

[NewEra]

I enjoyed the article, as I enjoy most of your posts.

 

thanks for posting 

[dollars 2 donuts]

Just now, clayboy54 said:

So what? Now, it doesn't count as any good?

 

“No, it doesn’t.”, said PFF.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

If Josh continues to play well 

 

 

I see no reason why he can’t be. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

15 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

If Josh continues to play well 

 

 

I see no reason why he can’t be.  isn't.

In the spirit of the OP, FIFY. 

[Logic]

18 minutes ago, Back the Blue said:

TLDR 

Yet took the time to reply.

 

Cool.

18 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

Pretty long winded article just to say you think Allen is a franchise QB.

 

Also, shame on anyone who was burned by thinking EJ Manuel was a franchise QB. 

Thanks for reading.

 

It’s not longer than most Bills articles by Fairburn, Parrino, Graham, etc.

 

It’s an article. A piece of journalism — albeit amateur. It’s not meant to be a quick blurb on a message board. Nevertheless, thanks for the critique.

[JimKellyTryouts]

I'm definitely buying one jersey. If we have sustained success and multiple playoff runs, I'll get a second color. If he's responsible for us raising a Lombardi, damn right I'm getting a third! 

 

Plays like the hurdle, having the balls to stiff arm Aaron Donald (seriously - would any other QB draw a penalty like this today?), and the sneak vs Dallas show why it's so easy for us to gush over him. I'm so thrilled we have one of the most exciting players in the league to watch on a weekly basis. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

42 minutes ago, Logic said:

One dizzyingly masterful pass, one improbable comeback, one incredible display of fortitude and leadership at a time — Josh Allen has forced the pundits to confront an undeniable fact: They were all wrong about him because they all lacked the capacity to understand what made him special: There is no tool or statistic or analytical grading system that can measure the heart of a man.

My fav. Well done/said, OP. 

[No_Matter_What]

22 minutes ago, clayboy54 said:

So what? Now, it doesn't count as any good?

No I just pointed out factual mistake, nothing more.

[JustWinPlease]

The next 4-6 games will determine how good this QB and this team really are.

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

25 minutes ago, clayboy54 said:

So what? Now, it doesn't count as any good?

 

2 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

No I just pointed out factual mistake, nothing more.

 

He was on the field. 

[technobot]

Thanks, Logic. I'm pumped and I Bill-ieve!

 

The signs have been there as you've pointed out, even in Year One. The leadership and intangibles have been there all along.

 

Keep stacking wins, Bills. Eventually, even Schatz will have to come around.