starrymessenger

Exactly right. I noticed the same thing pre-draft in his tape. It really stood out.

There are plenty of good reasons why JA was going to be drafted high in the first, whether by the Bills or by another team (Cards as matters developed). No doubt he will experience ups and downs and has a lot to learn but he has shown that he can beat you with his arm from the pocket, from a moving pocket and outside the pocket. He can attack every blade of grass on the field and is capable of making any throw. As if that didn't pressure a D enuf, he can beat you with his legs too. Add to that the ability, like Baker, to inspire his teammates on both sides of the ball. And then there is his basic intelligence which is also an asset. Dude can be very dangerous to the well being of defensive coordinators. Given his demonstrated ability and extremely rare physical skill set it was apparent to many observers that if he could grow and refine his game and execute with greater consistency Josh Allen held a deep in the money option on elite NFL QB status. Seems pretty obvious that the football world can only be impressed by what the have seen so far. It looks to me like Daboll will be very important, perhaps even crucial to JA's continued development. I was encouraged by his game plan and play calling during the first half yesterday. Well designed to disrupt an opposing D that was clearly expecting a much more conservative approach. Green Bay will not now fall into the same trap so it will be very interesting to see just how JA and the Bills make out next Sunday. Another strong performance will go a long way to confirming that Allen's sky high potential can eventually be realized.

So NFL football Ops are morons.

Sucks for him. 49rs and their fans. At least he's got 75 MM guaranteed.

Haven't seen much of either of these guys, a half dozen games or so over the last few years. I usually try to better educate myself about the prospects in the months before the draft, so that's my disclaimer. Having said that I might be inclined to go with Ed Oliver, but only if he can show this year that he is capable of getting sacks at the next level in the high single digits. I don't know whether he will be able to do that given that he plays nose and is used as a disruptive force in defending the run. He's undersized for an NFL defensive tackle (he's probably smaller than listed) and should line up as a 3 tech in McDermott's 4/3 under IMO. If he can get the sacks and still rack up lots of run stops and tackles for loss I think it would be hard to pass on him. No offence to the Buckeyes and their supporters. Obviously I'd be delighted with either one.

Again I don't know of any reputable commentator who doubted that JA was very raw and unpolished as a prospect. And it's hardly surprising given the path he had to follow to the NFL. And I'd be surprised frankly if the Bills didn't know this. And their decision to move forward without a veteran on the roster is obviously one that has attracted a lot of criticism. And if they thought he was ready to start why didn't they start him ahead of a clearly lesser talent. In spite of his technical issues Josh Allen was going to be drafted high in the first round. Had the Bills not taken him at 7, the Cards would have at 8. The reason for that is his extraordinary natural/physical aptitudes for playing the all important position. But had he been drafted by Arizona he would be sitting behind a vet and learning, like Rosen, who right now is much more proficient as a passer than JA is. Favre didn't start until he was into his second year and on a team that was good enuf to go 9-7 and place second in the NFC Central. But I think you're right about Favre being an interesting comparable (even if you don't believe in comparables) and one that I hadn't thought of. I don't know how serious BFs issues were but for sure his accuracy was questioned and he was not considered a finished product.

Analysts were divided in their opinions as to whether his problems could be coached out of him. Quite a few were of the view that some issues I.e. accuracy were not correctable. Others felt that with proper coaching and grooming they could improve. As far as I am aware all of the credible analysts were universally and unequivocally of the opinion that Josh was a very raw prospect, maybe a diamond in the rough to be sure, but very much in need of work on his basic fundamentals re throwing mechanics, footwork etc...in addition to the many things that all rookie QBs need to absorb before transitioning to the pro game. All of this was moreover plainly evident from his WYO tape. So I would ask you again, what rookie QB as unrefined as Josh Allen starting for a team as bad as the Bills has succeeded. Don't say Peyton. Don't say Aikman. Maybe there is one, but off the top I don't see it. Now, you say that every athlete is unique. But some stand out more than others that way. IMO Allen is pretty much in a class by himself. My personal opinion is that he looks to be a bona fide prodigy as far as his basic physical and mental skillset is concerned. He is a much better prospect than other strong armed and physically gifted QBs like Locker or Boller. That is why I continue to see him as a good prospect with a chance to succeed. But if he does get there all the credit will be his, not the Bills, who have done nothing to help him. And he will indeed prove that he was unique and probably without any obvious comparables.

Mbappe just has to go with his God given athleticism. He doesn't have to deal with the many demands and complexities of playing QB in the NFL. Soccer can be a physical game, and he'll have to deal with his share of tough tackles, but he doesn't have to worry about 300 pound men with murder on their minds. The French team is also stocked full of elite players. Taking nothing away from Mbappe. He will wind up spoken of in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo. Incredible talent. Can you think of a rookie QB with as many issues and as long a list of things to work on as Josh who started for a terrible team and succeeded. He's in a very tough spot IMO.

Ed Oliver does not project as a nose at the next level. He will be. a 3 tech.

Go Gryphons!

Shady is guilty, either of what's alleged or of having poor taste in women.

Ok. This makes a lot of sense. Personally I very much doubt that EJ would have benefitted by sitting behind a smart vet like Fitz for a few years but anything is possible. Neither Tyrod or EJ suit up as Bills anymore so for most purposes beyond casual interest they need not be discussed. But the EJ experience continues to be of significant relevance to the Bills today IMO and worthy of consideration because of Josh Allen, who we all hope and pray will not wind up like EJ. There are obvious similarities. Both players have all the physical tools that coaches and scouts value. Big, powerfully built, strong armed, mobile. Both have good intangibles and can credibly audition to be the face of a franchise. Both have issues relating to accuracy, footwork, mechanics, the ability to throw WRs open, to make pre and post snap reads, to recognize blitzes, to sense pressure. Allen (at WYO) like EJ, is so far pretty much a "see it and throw it" QB. Both players played in dumbed down Os in college. That doesn't really work in the NFL. And of course fortunately there are also important differences. EJ benefitted from excellent coaching at FSU. Allen not so much. EJ, as you correctly point out, has a fragile ego. He did not take well to coaching. He would internalize it as criticism. Alan is a much stronger leader on the field and is very coachable. EJ was physically tough. He played with a broken leg against Notre Dame. But he was not mentally tough. Allen is physically and mentally tough. Both EJ and Allen can run, but EJ was not very quick and agile. He needed to get going before his top gear kicked in. Allen has the quickness that should enable him to move in, around and out of the pocket (and earn crucial first downs) in ways that EJ was never able to do. Quick reactions at the QB position are much more important than straight line speed (not that Allen is slow, far from it). For whatever reason I felt EJ was reluctant to run at times. Allen not so much. IMO Allen, for all the challenges he will have to face and overcome, is a much better prospect than EJ was. When I see him hit a post route before the WR breaks open (something EJ was never able to do) that when I'll know we have our guy.

I stopped reading when you said "still could have drafted Manuel in the 1st".

I thought McCoach handled this very well in his written statement. Classy. Vontae not so much. From stud to dud. Sad.

I know it maybe wasn't the plan but I expect Baker to be installed as the starter this year, maybe as soon as the bye. I also think it would be the right move.

This is true. The eyes are the portal to the soul. Once the eyes glaze over you know the guy has lost confidence and is done. And there is no coming back. I remember seeing Trent warming up on the sidelines before a Browns game. His eyes were dead. I thought "this is not going to end well". I thought I saw the same thing in Peterman's demeanour in a presser before the Ravens game, which frankly I did not expect from him. Said he was focussed on getting better in a weak sort of way. Hardly what you want to hear from your leader before the season opener. Projected zero confidence as though he had come to the realization that he was not up to it. I was disappointed in him.

Really awful decision. Could have been a back breaking 100 yard pick six. C'mon man!

Well poor footwork on short throws is what many observers have identified as a main cause of what they call Allen's "inaccuracy". There is a fair amount of this in his college tape. Don't mean to be argumentative because you know your stuff but I disagree that the pass to Clay in the seam was a good throw. DB recovered well but it sure looked under thrown to me (Clay slowed down) and it was a rope when there should have been more air under it.

Always liked Mitch. Looks like a good one to me.

Yeah. Both his feet were off the ground when he released the ball. Crazy stuff. It's the kind of thing that drove some analysts to distraction.

Good measurables. Runs 4:34 - 4.40. Good ball skills. Injury settled with Colts in May. Hey maybe McCoach can do something with him.

A little bit is ok. A whole lot not so much.

I've not been to New Era. Is there a Wall of Shame?

Dude has those intangible thingees nailed down pretty tight.

We're not talking about the same play (probably I didn't describe it very well). I'm referring to the WR sweep left to right just behind the line where the QB just sort of drops the ball and the WR grabs it and looks to take it upfield usually outside the numbers. I saw Goff do it (don't recall who the WR was, maybe Woodsie, and the execution was better/more fluid). I though Foster did ok on that play.