Is Josh Allen bailing out of more clean pockets than he has the last few years?

[Simon]

I have been getting the sense that Allen is leaving clean pockets more than he has been over the last few years. Is anybody else feeling that also or is this just my imagination?

If he has been, it could be a factor in the offense's recent struggles. Unnecessary scramble drills foisted on a group of guys who are just learning to play together is a complication they really don't need.

[machine gun kelly]

Simon, my impression is he is trying to create even more time as none of the WR’s are getting separation as they stink minus Shakir.  Coleman gets a pass as he’s a developing rookie.

Edited October 9 by machine gun kelly

[Lost]

Yep, he seems very jumpy in the pocket last two games and not always getting his feet set properly on a lot of throws.   Could be why his accuracy is off too.

[BillMafia716ix]

He has no chemistry with the new WR’s. Without Shakir he didn’t know who to go to. I believe it will get better as the season goes on. 

[BringBackFergy]

I was told he is bailing on the pocket because his left hand hurts. That’s also the cause of his slower running speed and calling bad audibles at the LOS. It all relates to a left hand injury. Who am I to argue with TBD Orthopedic Kinesiologists. 

[MPL]

I feel like Josh bails early when he doesn't trust what he is seeing from the defense. I've kind of started to think it doesn't really have anything to do with pressure. When he doesn't recognize what the defense is doing, he bails, because it's easier for him to improvise from outside of the pocket. And sometimes — as in the Ravens and Texans games — this creates pressure when there may not have been if he had hung in the pocket. I don't think it's better or worse this year. I think he's always been like this. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

I went with about the same, but that's just averaging out for the entire season. He's been bailing a LOT the last 2 weeks (sometimes justifiably so).

 

Throughout his career Josh tends to be skittish in games where the O-line gets beat early, and that's happened the last 2 games. 

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, BillMafia716ix said:

He has no chemistry with the new WR’s. Without Shakir he didn’t know who to go to. I believe it will get better as the season goes on. 

Yup, we need Shakir back asap. We need his chemistry with Keon to accelerate. And maybe Beane can trade for Cooper?  Right now I have no faith in the other wrs.

[Mango]

7 hours ago, MPL said:

I feel like Josh bails early when he doesn't trust what he is seeing from the defense. I've kind of started to think it doesn't really have anything to do with pressure. When he doesn't recognize what the defense is doing, he bails, because it's easier for him to improvise from outside of the pocket. And sometimes — as in the Ravens and Texans games — this creates pressure when there may not have been if he had hung in the pocket. I don't think it's better or worse this year. I think he's always been like this. 

I don’t disagree entirely.
 

As Josh pushes 30 he’ll have to remedy this/be more consistent in more traditional parts of his game or he won’t be a viable QB into his mid 30’s. You can’t stiff arm DT’s and hurdle LB’s forever. And you if you can’t do that you still have to make the offense hum. 

Edited October 9 by Mango

[Royale with Cheese]

Yes.  But I don’t just put it on him as the reason why.

[Marcus Aurelius]

There are Advanced Analytics  ...

Platforms like Pro Football Focus (PFF) provide detailed charting that can further analyze a QB's pocket presence and identify situations where they may be leaving the pocket prematurely. 

[Jauronimo]

I think its about the same but instead of making magic happen hes throwing the ball away and taking big shots in the process.  The last two weeks there is a defender waiting for him every time he escapes to the right. 

[Sierra Foothills]

I don't think so Simon but that's only my impression.

 

What I'm definitely seeing is that he has a longstanding habit of escaping the pocket to his right to create and the Ravens started a copy cat deal with the spy plus blitzes and dogs from the defensive left to take that comfort escape route from him.

 

It's like "The Jordan Rules"... something teams start doing to contain a superstar.

 

It looks to me like Josh and Brady have not adjusted to this. I'd ordinarily say he has to climb the pocket more but with a spy, that's not always a good idea.

 

I believe that the counter has to be to escape left more often and change up the plaster rules accordingly. I realize escaping left for a right-handed QB is not ideal but neither is running right into the defenses trap.

 

[Fan in Chicago]

2 hours ago, Simon said:

I have been getting the sense that Allen is leaving clean pockets more than he has been over the last few years. Is anybody else feeling that also or is this just my imagination?

If he has been, it could be a factor in the offense's recent struggles. Unnecessary scramble drills foisted on a group of guys who are just learning to play together is a complication they really don't need.

The last two games are skewing the perception. In the first 3 games, he was very calm and was dissecting defenses (well maybe not the first half of the Cardinals game). In the last two games he has been skittish and bailing but I dont think it is much less or more than he has in the past under intense pressure. 

The reasons have been hashed multiple times in other threads but when a pass play is called, he cannot see an open receiver due to our catchers not getting quick separation and also because there is an extra defender seemingly in his face within 2 seconds. It is easy to criticize Allen for not climbing the pocket but there needs to be one in the first place and deep enough to step into. 

So, in general, he has looked off platform a lot in the last two games. 

This of course comes with the caveat that my thoughts are based on TV feed only. And you and I could look at the exact same video and you would see a lot more. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

I think it has more to do with the style of game and we just happened to have two in a row this way (possibly more coming lol we shall see). Games that go down this way he definitely has always gotten happy feet.

 

i do think the roll out right to buy time is somewhat of a practiced situation though where guys know what to do once josh does it but he might rely on it a little too much in these style of games though 

[US Egg]

Allen has had these types of displays throughout his career.

[Mikie2times]

3 hours ago, MPL said:

I feel like Josh bails early when he doesn't trust what he is seeing from the defense. I've kind of started to think it doesn't really have anything to do with pressure. When he doesn't recognize what the defense is doing, he bails, because it's easier for him to improvise from outside of the pocket. And sometimes — as in the Ravens and Texans games — this creates pressure when there may not have been if he had hung in the pocket. I don't think it's better or worse this year. I think he's always been like this. 

Been saying this for years as well. Good post. 

[HappyDays]

He's always going to hover around 50ish% of his throws coming from outside the pocket, just like the other stylistically similar QBs. IMO you don't ask those QBs to change. You build the offense around their skill set and make sure every single pass catcher knows how to respond when they break the pocket. Sometimes it will be an unnecessary escape. So be it.

[GunnerBill]

About the same. He has always done it. 

[Dr.Sack]

I think pressure and quality of defense plays a factor. Against a Miami, no. Against Baltimore or Houston, yes. 
 

Allen bails to buy time and give his WRs a chance to get open.
 

Similarly Mahomes constantly runs circles, zigs and zags while climbing the pocket, often times buying time to create plays. 
 

One can argue the efficacy of these techniques, but Allen and Mahomes are more mobile than Rodgers, Flacco, Tua, and thus avoid sacks.