Josh Allen's 2021 Rushing Numbers

[jwhit34]

Some highlights:

• 117 attempts for 700 yards, 6.0/carry is impressive enough, but take away the 10 kneel downs for -10 yards and it's 107/710/6.6
• Runs for first downs: Allen has 51, Singletary has 40. On the receiving side only Diggs' 60 is higher, #2 receiving is Beasley with 33
• Plays of 20 yards or more: Allen has 8 of the 16 runs for 20 or more, only Singletary has more than 1 (he has 5), receiving wise Digg and Davis have 12, Sanders 10, they are the only ones higher
• TDs running or receiving only Diggs and Knox are higher at 9, Allen, Davis and Singletary tied with 6
• 700 rushing yards is 16th all time for QBs, though this year he is behind both Hurts and Jackson

 

While many worry about the injury risk, it sure seems the Bills give themselves a way better chance of going deep into the playoffs if Allen runs a lot. Listening to some national broadcasts it seems that the main concern is that the Bills have figured out the more they put the ball in his hands either passing or running the more dangerous the Bills are. 

 

 

[quinnearlysghost88]

We are playing a really risky game exposing Josh to hits to win games. Brady and Rodgers spent their careers staying in the pocket and throwing away to live another day. Yes, it’s exciting and effective, but one rolled up ankle and our SB run is over. We need to learn to be productive with our RBs. 

[Logic]

2 minutes ago, quinnearlysghost88 said:

We are playing a really risky game exposing Josh to hits to win games. Brady and Rodgers spent their careers staying in the pocket and throwing away to live another day. Yes, it’s exciting and effective, but one rolled up ankle and our SB run is over. We need to learn to be productive with our RBs. 

I think it's been pretty well established at this point that more QBs are injured in the pocket than while rushing. There is just no data to suggest that quarterbacks that run the ball a lot get injured more frequently than quarterbacks who stay in the pocket.

Really the ONLY legitimate arrow in the bow for the "we run him too much!" crowd is the downfall of Cam Newton. And in fairness, that's a legitimate worry, in my opinion. Long term physical breakdown due to taking too many hits is a real concern. 
 

[quinnearlysghost88]

1 minute ago, Logic said:

I think it's been pretty well established at this point that more QBs are injured in the pocket than while rushing. There is just no data to suggest that quarterbacks that run the ball a lot get injured more frequently than quarterbacks who stay in the pocket.

Really the ONLY legitimate arrow in the bow for the "we run him too much!" crowd is the downfall of Cam Newton. And in fairness, that's a legitimate worry, in my opinion. Long term physical breakdown due to taking too many hits is a real concern. 
 

It’s more established because fewer QBs run and more plays are from the pocket. If every QB ran with the frequency of Josh that wouldn’t be the case. 

[JGMcD2]

7 minutes ago, Logic said:

I think it's been pretty well established at this point that more QBs are injured in the pocket than while rushing. There is just no data to suggest that quarterbacks that run the ball a lot get injured more frequently than quarterbacks who stay in the pocket.

Really the ONLY legitimate arrow in the bow for the "we run him too much!" crowd is the downfall of Cam Newton. And in fairness, that's a legitimate worry, in my opinion. Long term physical breakdown due to taking too many hits is a real concern. 
 

Cam Newton was also never close to the passer Josh is. God forbid Josh gets to the point where he can’t run like he does now, he’s still an unbelievable pocket passer and would adjust as needed. 
 

I’m not advocating that we continue to run Josh into the ground. I want a beefed up offensive line and legit run game as much as anyone on here. 
 

I just feel like the Cam Newton/Josh Allen comparisons are worn out. Josh is WAY more well rounded than Cam ever was. 

[quinnearlysghost88]

8 minutes ago, Logic said:

I think it's been pretty well established at this point that more QBs are injured in the pocket than while rushing. There is just no data to suggest that quarterbacks that run the ball a lot get injured more frequently than quarterbacks who stay in the pocket.

Really the ONLY legitimate arrow in the bow for the "we run him too much!" crowd is the downfall of Cam Newton. And in fairness, that's a legitimate worry, in my opinion. Long term physical breakdown due to taking too many hits is a real concern. 
 

It’s more established because fewer QBs run and more plays are from the pocket. If every QB ran with the frequency of Josh that wouldn’t be the case. 
 

Also, Josh has been hurt three times (elbow, concussion, foot) all running. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

14 minutes ago, quinnearlysghost88 said:

It’s more established because fewer QBs run and more plays are from the pocket. If every QB ran with the frequency of Josh that wouldn’t be the case. 
 

Also, Josh has been hurt three times (elbow, concussion, foot) all running. 

Quinn, without looking it up I thought Josh hurt his elbow in the pocket against Houston in his rookie year 2018 after completing a deep pass IIRC…

 

[Edit: yes that was in the pocket 

https://amp.democratandchronicle.com/amp/1642420002 ]

Edited January 3, 2022 by NoHuddleKelly12

[Blainorama5]

3 minutes ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Quinn, without looking it up I thought Josh hurt his elbow in the pocket against Houston in his rookie year 2018 after completing a deep pass IIRC…

I believe you are correct - the elbow injury against the Houston was when he was moving around behind the line of scrimmage - don't think that falls under the running category, at least not in my mind.  Josh is a big boy and that really helps - it's not like he's a scrawny dude.

[Shaw66]

28 minutes ago, Logic said:

I think it's been pretty well established at this point that more QBs are injured in the pocket than while rushing. There is just no data to suggest that quarterbacks that run the ball a lot get injured more frequently than quarterbacks who stay in the pocket.

Really the ONLY legitimate arrow in the bow for the "we run him too much!" crowd is the downfall of Cam Newton. And in fairness, that's a legitimate worry, in my opinion. Long term physical breakdown due to taking too many hits is a real concern. 
 

Allen also is so big that he takes hits pretty well.  Still, it's inevitable that he will slow down over the next few years, and that his potential for injury will increase.  He will run less in the future, both to avoid injury and because he won't be as effective running.  

 

Elway, the guy I think Allen is most like, never had 600-700 yard seasons, but he stayed pretty constantly above 200 throughout his career.   I expect Allen will settle down into 200-300 yard seasons after a few more years. 

 

In the meantime, however, he is a devastating weapon on the field, and the Bills would be foolish not to take advantage of his talents. 

[BADOLBILZ]

 

It's been fun watching him run these first 4 years but that has to change soon.

 

They need to fix the OL and get some more explosiveness........and maybe size.........in the receiving corps.

 

Diggs and Beasley's yards per target are down a whopping 40% this year.........the Bills 20+ yard pass plays have fallen off a ton from 66 in 2020 to 49 in 2021........and the Bills average yards per pass attempt(6.9) is tied for 21st  in the NFL same as the Colts and Titans.

 

Need to make the offensive side of the football their focus this offseason..........and I don't mean draftin' a RB in round 1..........they need blocking and big play receiving targets to get away from Allen needing to run the ball to extend drives because of their significantly less punchy passing attack.

[MAJBobby]

I have seen him take Bigger hits in the Pocket more than I have him outside the pocket.  That included the cheap concussion shot from the pats a year or two ago.

[Logic]

21 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Allen also is so big that he takes hits pretty well.  Still, it's inevitable that he will slow down over the next few years, and that his potential for injury will increase.  He will run less in the future, both to avoid injury and because he won't be as effective running.  

 

Elway, the guy I think Allen is most like, never had 600-700 yard seasons, but he stayed pretty constantly above 200 throughout his career.   I expect Allen will settle down into 200-300 yard seasons after a few more years. 

 

In the meantime, however, he is a devastating weapon on the field, and the Bills would be foolish not to take advantage of his talents. 

Agreed on the likely trajectory of Allen's career as it relates to rushing.

Already, Allen scrambling has become much more of a Plan B for this offensive coaching staff. I think they've done everything they can the first few years of his career to make sure he develops well as a pocket passer -- which he has -- and that he can win games with that as his primary mode of attack. 

However, when things get stagnant on offense, or they need a spark, or the weather is rotten, or things aren't humming in the passing game, it's "all systems go" for Allen, who sometimes looks like a starting running back out there (did you see his stiff-arm yesterday? Yikes).

I don't get the impression from the coaching staff or from Allen that they want him running the ball 10 times a game if they can help it. It's a little bit more of a "crunch time" weapon or "break glass in case of emergency" tool.

[quinnearlysghost88]

38 minutes ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Quinn, without looking it up I thought Josh hurt his elbow in the pocket against Houston in his rookie year 2018 after completing a deep pass IIRC…

 

[Edit: yes that was in the pocket 

https://amp.democratandchronicle.com/amp/1642420002 ]

I just watched the replay. I honestly don’t even remember that. I thought he was slammed down. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by quinnearlysghost88

[billsfan1959]

It looks to me like Allen is much better this year in when he runs and how he runs. I think he is very cognizant of not giving himself up to a big hit and, honestly, I don't remember too many runs this year where I thought he should have been smarter about it.

 

With that said, I would rather it be much more infrequent and that this team had a running game that was productive and consistent.

[ToGoGo]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I think it's been pretty well established at this point that more QBs are injured in the pocket than while rushing. There is just no data to suggest that quarterbacks that run the ball a lot get injured more frequently than quarterbacks who stay in the pocket.

Really the ONLY legitimate arrow in the bow for the "we run him too much!" crowd is the downfall of Cam Newton. And in fairness, that's a legitimate worry, in my opinion. Long term physical breakdown due to taking too many hits is a real concern. 
 

 

It's just common sense.

 

No data does not equal not true.

[Success]

I love watching him run.  I hate watching him run.

 

If I knew he could stay healthy and that it wouldn't shorten his career to keep giving him as much of the offensive load as he's been getting, I'd be all for it.  I can't imagine that there is a guy who gives DC's more vivid and lasting nightmares.

 

But I sincerely hope that the runs become more rare - or at least less physical.  He's really taking some hits out there.

 

[Logic]

Just now, Success said:

I love watching him run.  I hate watching him run.

 

Honestly, if the dude would just SLIDE the way Russell Wilson does, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The will and determination and X factor -- the very things that make Josh who he is and the reasons he's special -- are also the factors that won't seem to allow him to slide, instead always barreling into defenders for an extra two yards.

I have lost count of the amount of times I've yelled "Slide...SLIDE!!" at my screen over the past several weeks.

[FilthyBeast]

1 hour ago, quinnearlysghost88 said:

We are playing a really risky game exposing Josh to hits to win games. Brady and Rodgers spent their careers staying in the pocket and throwing away to live another day. Yes, it’s exciting and effective, but one rolled up ankle and our SB run is over. We need to learn to be productive with our RBs. 

 

This team is indeed playing russian roulette every time he takes off and there were a few hits yesterday that could have caused a turnover and/or got him really hurt.

 

If anybody has payed attention to Cam Newton career trajectory, Allen is only going to have another 3 years or so left before he begins a steep decline unless a shift is forced in terms of him being a true passer like 2020.

[MJS]

1 hour ago, quinnearlysghost88 said:

We are playing a really risky game exposing Josh to hits to win games. Brady and Rodgers spent their careers staying in the pocket and throwing away to live another day. Yes, it’s exciting and effective, but one rolled up ankle and our SB run is over. We need to learn to be productive with our RBs. 

You pull out all the stops in the playoffs, and these last couple of weeks are like playoff games because we needed them to make the playoffs and win the division.

 

Josh is a running QB. It's what he does. And he is amazing at it. You and everyone else need to get used to it. He is not Brady. He is not Rodgers.

 

Let Allen play his game.

[SCBills]

I'm fine with Allen running in certain moments, certain games and the Playoffs.  

 

However, this should be the last year where our running game revolves around him.