Video: Keon Coleman explains what he was mentally going through post injury

[JoeF]

He's a kid.  He's been built up all his life on the court and on the field.  It takes time to adjust to not being the best athlete out there and to having to work on the parts of the game that are weak.  This interview showed me he has learned some lessons.  Applying them is the key. 

 

Beane is dead on with his comments about Keon.  The place to show Beane and McDermott he has learned is training this offseason, spending a lot of time in Buffalo at the facility, working hard in OTAs and camp and then hitting those individual and team goals next season. 

 

The jury is still out for me.  I sense an arrogance in him that needs to be channeled toward team goals.

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I feel like his verbiage doesn’t match up with the feedback McBean gave. 
 

He’s saying the offensive rhythm changed and that was tough to adjust to post injury. 
 

McBean seemed to almost be critical of his effort or preparation. 

Agreed. 

I trust Beane and McD enough to know that they wouldn't perpetuate a false narrative.

[BillMafia716ix]

Watching Steve Smith break down his film. He has a long way to go as a route runner. 

 

[Southern Bills Fan]

I'm a little older so I really didn't understand much of what any of them were saying. It didn't sound like english. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

1 hour ago, BarleyNY said:

I laughed when he listed his goals for his rookie season.

 

He started with 1k yards and 10 TDs which isn't insane. Then he upgrades to 12 TD's, pro bowl, OROY, and Superbowl. 

 

Keon, buddy, you wouldn't have been in the top 10 for OROY even without the injury and downslide. Maybe he could've made the pro-bowl as the 25th alternate if enough guys dropped out. 

 

He's a likeable guy with a lot of charisma, but I feel like there's a disconnect between what he's saying and what he showed us on the field. McD and Beane both felt justified in calling him out on it too.

 

Hopefully he can take that criticism to heart and improve. I just don't know if he takes football seriously enough to do so. 

[Mango]

2 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I feel like his verbiage doesn’t match up with the feedback McBean gave. 
 

He’s saying the offensive rhythm changed and that was tough to adjust to post injury. 
 

McBean seemed to almost be critical of his effort or preparation. 

 

He says that he needs to take accountability and discipline to the next level almost right off the rip. Maybe it was lip service or a footnote, but I though that the conversation/interview just sort of took a turn about other parts of his season. 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, boyst said:

I didn't watch it and won't. I know that recovering from an injury can be difficult for most people. Upon the highest level athletes those injuries aren't the same. The best ride over an injury and play through being hurt. 

 

He needs to learn that and learn his body. 

 

This is particularly funny because he says he wanted to play in the Rams game but he was held out. Which would be a thing you would know if you listened to the interview. 

[Shaw66]

I found this very interesting on a lot of fronts.  Essay follows.

 

I didn't hear the McDermott or Beane post-season press conferences, but I understand from threads here that one or both commented that Keon didn't come back from his injury with the attitude that he needed to be an impact player. 

 

I heard Keon saying sort of the same thing, except that the way he presented it sounded like he learned the lesson quickly.  I gather McBeane said he didn't learn the lesson until the season ended and they told him he needed to get his back on straight. I don't hold it against Keon for putting a more positive spin on the situation while talking to a public audience. 

 

It highlights one of the problems from going from college to the pros.  If you're Keon Coleman and you get injured in college, regardless of how the team may have adjusted while you're out, you're so good that when you come back, the team immediately adjusts back to making you the key player.  Why?  Because you're so good compared to the competition that going back to what you do is almost always better than however the team adjusted. 

 

In the pros, it doesn't work that way unless you're LaMarr Chase or Justin Jefferson or one or two others.  Most of the rest of the receivers in the pros were stars in college, but in the pros injured guys have to earn their way into the lineup, every week.  Why?  Because the adjusted lineup is usually just as good as the lineup when they were in it, and there's no reason to switch back just because they're available again. Especially when, as Keon said, you're on a good team.

 

Keon didn't understand that when he was coming back.  He had this inflated of view of himself that was reinforced because he had had a couple of good games.  He thought he'd earned an automatic reentry into the lineup because he was headed toward a 1000 yard-season.  When he didn't get back into the rotation, apparently instead of doubling down to do whatever he could to force his way into the lineup, he stalled.  

 

We hope he learned that lesson.

 

There are a lot of interesting things about this situation. One is that he said his goals are yards, receptions, TDs and the Super Bowl.  He won't be all that he can be for the Bills until he forgets the yards, receptions, TD part. All that matters is winning, and that means that individual stats don't matter. Period.  I'd guess that if you asked Shakir how he'd feel about starting, having season stats of zero catches for zero yards and zero TDs and winning a Super Bowl ring, he would say without hesitation, "sign me up."  He'd say that because he understands that if he's good enough to start, then whatever he's doing is contributing to the team's success. Keon needs to get there. 

 

Another interesting thing is how this demonstrates the in-season effectiveness of McDermott's philosophy. When you play the game without stars, when you learn to win without stars, then you can survive injuries much more easily.  Keon Coleman gets injured, and within a week the offense has adjusted with other non-stars and keeps producing without him.  Not so good in the post-season, because teams are good at managing the injuries of their top players and making it likely that their stars will be in the lineup in the playoffs.  That means the Bills are playing against a talent differential in the playoffs, something we've seen. 

 

It also demonstrates that players have to keep improving.  Keon needed, while he was recovering from his injury and when he came back, to be focused on doing whatever was necessary to get back into the lineup, not to be focused on whatever he was doing six weeks earlier or what he wanted to accomplish six weeks from now.  All the time, continuous improvement, as McDermott would say.  That's what I would guess McDermott thinks Keon lost when he got injured.  That's what Keon meant when he said, "be where your feet are."  His feet are here, now, and all that matters is what he is doing here and now to be the player the team needs. 

 

I heard JJ Reddick say that a vet told him after his rookie season in the NBA that he needed to spend the off-season learning to do something to improve his game that he can't do now, and that he needed to do that every off-season if he wanted to stay in the league.  Keon can be a JJ Reddick type player - excellent role-playing starter, but to be that player he needs to keep getting better. He seems to have lost sight of that after he got injured.  

 

This situation also makes it clear what McBeane are thinking when they say they want competitors, serious, fierce competitors. Competitors play, in practice and in games, like each play is the most important play in the world. And that's what I found most disappointing about Keon, all season long.  He may be able to outjump defenders to make the catch, but I didn't see him outfight many defenders. If he had been outfighting defenders for the ball when he came back from his injury, he would have seen more playing time. 

 

Keon is a thoughtful guy. I hope he will take a big step forward as the result of this experience. 

 

 

[Green Lightning]

He just needs gentle coaching:

• Instead of "shut up and play," say "Keon, what are some ways you can think of to have Mr. Allen throw you the ball more often."
• Instead of "man up," say "Keon, how do some of the other players perform after they suffer injuries? Is there a lesson in there we can think about?
• Instead of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," say "Keon, what are some ways to ensure our boots stay on our feet better?"
• Instead of shouting, raise your words, not your voice. After all, it's the rain that grows flowers and not the thunder.

And so on. I think it's the coaching technique of the future. 

[julian]

1 minute ago, Green Lightning said:

He just needs gentle coaching:

• Instead of "shut up and play," say "Keon, what are some ways you can think of to have Mr. Allen throw you the ball more often."
• Instead of "man up," say "Keon, how do some of the other players perform after they suffer injuries? Is there a lesson in there we can think about?
• Instead of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," say "Keon, what are some ways to ensure our boots stay on our feet better?"
• Instead of shouting, raise your words, not your voice. After all, it's the rain that grows flowers and not the thunder.

And so on. I think it's the coaching technique of the future. 

Sad and depressing, but I think there’s some truth to what you’re saying. I’ll just say that it’s not a one size fits all approach anymore, for every kid who doesn’t respond to tough coaching there’s a kid who needs and responds to that same tough coaching.

 

 It seems to be a more difficult landscape to navigate in today’s NFL, but the newer(younger) coaches who eventually replace the old guard will be more equipped to work with the modern athletes imho.

[bouds]

1 hour ago, BillMafia716ix said:

Watching Steve Smith break down his film. He has a long way to go as a route runner. 

 

He just has a tough time releasing at the line, that's one of his biggest issues.  In some ways, he may be better in the slot, that way you can move him around, help him get cleaner releases, two way goes, use him like Colston.

[Starr Almighty]

3 hours ago, chris heff said:

I don’t have any idea who those people are, other than Keon, or what that was, some podcast? That being said, I like Keon’s attitude. The Bills offense adjusted to being without him and was clicking. When he came back he didn’t whine about a diminished role, because he just wants to win. Am I missing something?

There's no way you don't know Carmelo Anthony.

[xsoldier54]

 

 

 

 

 

The most important thing I heard him say is "I play for a winning organization."   He gets it.  He's committed to winning.

[appoo]

3 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I feel like his verbiage doesn’t match up with the feedback McBean gave. 
 

He’s saying the offensive rhythm changed and that was tough to adjust to post injury. 
 

McBean seemed to almost be critical of his effort or preparation. 

Personally, I didn't think that's what they were aluding to. I thought they were saying he hit a mental wall and wasn't able to properly overcome it

10 minutes ago, bouds said:

He just has a tough time releasing at the line, that's one of his biggest issues.  In some ways, he may be better in the slot, that way you can move him around, help him get cleaner releases, two way goes, use him like Colston.

It was always going to be one of the things he had to learn at this level, and it's one of the biggest transitions that college WRs have to make to the Pros

[Robert Paulson]

It looked like he was dogging his routes- consciously or subconsciously.

 

He was giving up on plays if it wasn't his number called. You always have to be ready when Josh is slinging.

 

Hopefully he learns to be more professional next time. 

[boyst]

1 hour ago, Mango said:

 

This is particularly funny because he says he wanted to play in the Rams game but he was held out. Which would be a thing you would know if you listened to the interview. 

Well, considering how inefficient and ineffective he was in the other games I'm sure he would have made no impact. He needs to get these monkeys off his back and clear this injury but mindset. 

[billieve420]

1 hour ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

He started with 1k yards and 10 TDs which isn't insane. Then he upgrades to 12 TD's, pro bowl, OROY, and Superbowl. 

 

Keon, buddy, you wouldn't have been in the top 10 for OROY even without the injury and downslide. Maybe he could've made the pro-bowl as the 25th alternate if enough guys dropped out. 

 

He's a likeable guy with a lot of charisma, but I feel like there's a disconnect between what he's saying and what he showed us on the field. McD and Beane both felt justified in calling him out on it too.

 

Hopefully he can take that criticism to heart and improve. I just don't know if he takes football seriously enough to do so. 

 

Don't fault him for wanting to be great. Needs to take lessons learned from rookie season and work on his game in the offseason. He is no longer in college and can't win solely on athleticism. Going to come down to route running and footwork. Need more guys to have that championship mentality and having goals to shoot for even if they don't always reach them.

[appoo]

47 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I found this very interesting on a lot of fronts.  Essay follows.

 

I didn't hear the McDermott or Beane post-season press conferences, but I understand from threads here that one or both commented that Keon didn't come back from his injury with the attitude that he needed to be an impact player. 

 

I heard Keon saying sort of the same thing, except that the way he presented it sounded like he learned the lesson quickly.  I gather McBeane said he didn't learn the lesson until the season ended and they told him he needed to get his back on straight. I don't hold it against Keon for putting a more positive spin on the situation while talking to a public audience. 

 

It highlights one of the problems from going from college to the pros.  If you're Keon Coleman and you get injured in college, regardless of how the team may have adjusted while you're out, you're so good that when you come back, the team immediately adjusts back to making you the key player.  Why?  Because you're so good compared to the competition that going back to what you do is almost always better than however the team adjusted. 

 

In the pros, it doesn't work that way unless you're LaMarr Chase or Justin Jefferson or one or two others.  Most of the rest of the receivers in the pros were stars in college, but in the pros injured guys have to earn their way into the lineup, every week.  Why?  Because the adjusted lineup is usually just as good as the lineup when they were in it, and there's no reason to switch back just because they're available again. Especially when, as Keon said, you're on a good team.

 

Keon didn't understand that when he was coming back.  He had this inflated of view of himself that was reinforced because he had had a couple of good games.  He thought he'd earned an automatic reentry into the lineup because he was headed toward a 1000 yard-season.  When he didn't get back into the rotation, apparently instead of doubling down to do whatever he could to force his way into the lineup, he stalled.  

 

We hope he learned that lesson.

 

There are a lot of interesting things about this situation. One is that he said his goals are yards, receptions, TDs and the Super Bowl.  He won't be all that he can be for the Bills until he forgets the yards, receptions, TD part. All that matters is winning, and that means that individual stats don't matter. Period.  I'd guess that if you asked Shakir how he'd feel about starting, having season stats of zero catches for zero yards and zero TDs and winning a Super Bowl ring, he would say without hesitation, "sign me up."  He'd say that because he understands that if he's good enough to start, then whatever he's doing is contributing to the team's success. Keon needs to get there. 

 

Another interesting thing is how this demonstrates the in-season effectiveness of McDermott's philosophy. When you play the game without stars, when you learn to win without stars, then you can survive injuries much more easily.  Keon Coleman gets injured, and within a week the offense has adjusted with other non-stars and keeps producing without him.  Not so good in the post-season, because teams are good at managing the injuries of their top players and making it likely that their stars will be in the lineup in the playoffs.  That means the Bills are playing against a talent differential in the playoffs, something we've seen. 

 

It also demonstrates that players have to keep improving.  Keon needed, while he was recovering from his injury and when he came back, to be focused on doing whatever was necessary to get back into the lineup, not to be focused on whatever he was doing six weeks earlier or what he wanted to accomplish six weeks from now.  All the time, continuous improvement, as McDermott would say.  That's what I would guess McDermott thinks Keon lost when he got injured.  That's what Keon meant when he said, "be where your feet are."  His feet are here, now, and all that matters is what he is doing here and now to be the player the team needs. 

 

I heard JJ Reddick say that a vet told him after his rookie season in the NBA that he needed to spend the off-season learning to do something to improve his game that he can't do now, and that he needed to do that every off-season if he wanted to stay in the league.  Keon can be a JJ Reddick type player - excellent role-playing starter, but to be that player he needs to keep getting better. He seems to have lost sight of that after he got injured.  

 

This situation also makes it clear what McBeane are thinking when they say they want competitors, serious, fierce competitors. Competitors play, in practice and in games, like each play is the most important play in the world. And that's what I found most disappointing about Keon, all season long.  He may be able to outjump defenders to make the catch, but I didn't see him outfight many defenders. If he had been outfighting defenders for the ball when he came back from his injury, he would have seen more playing time. 

 

Keon is a thoughtful guy. I hope he will take a big step forward as the result of this experience. 

 

 

Well said. 

 

I'm listening to Keon right now, and I actually really appreciate his accountability. He owns not adjusting to an offense that wasn't being vertical, but also accepting that he's not gonna get his chances because he wasn't able to change it. 

 

He's 21. He's showing maturity well beyond his age.  

 

And for the shut up and ball folks? I urge you to have some empathy for him as a human being. He's showing vulberability, and I want to see more of that out of all humans, and especially here in our country. It's a wonderful thing. 

 

None of this means he's gonna be better next season, but he's got right the mentality IMO.

 

I ESPECIALLY love "Be where you're feet are". That's a great motto for everyone

[Shaw66]

28 minutes ago, Starr Almighty said:

There's no way you don't know Carmelo Anthony.

I didn't know it was Carmello.  He was pretty good.  Who were the other two?

[dancing_joker]

Keon noticed the offense changed after he returned. Instead of asking what he can do to get to back to making plays, he kept quiet and let things unfold. The interviewers confirmed this. Not the way a professional at any job should handle that, which is why McBeane had choice comments for him. 

 

This is like finishing your assigned tasks at work, and then keeping quiet until your manager says to you “here’s more work”. You want to make a name for yourself?? Tell them you’re done and ask for more!!

I’m going to chalk this up to youthful ignorance at this point and hope it’s a learning experience. But I doubt the coaches will tolerate this level of complacency for the length of his contract…