starrymessenger

Fans are uncompromising in their criticism of QBs and similarly unrestrained in their appreciation. If NP had made the correct post snap read on Joseph's pick six and made the appropriate decision to look elsewhere there were options available for a productive play, one or two that he is capable of making. Bills could credibly have gotten in field goal range and won the game. And then today some would be rehabilitating NP and cooking up a QB controversy. Hes just another raw QB who has not yet learned (and perhaps is incapable of learning) how to read a defence post snap (amongst other things) and therefore susceptible of being snookered by a quality NFL D the likes of which he never saw in college. If he can learn to do the things he needs to do there is probably a place for him in the NFL. I think he will hang around (in Blo or elsewhere) until he shows he can get it or proves that he really can't do it. Josh Allen needs to learn the exact same lessons, although if he gets there his ceiling is obviously much higher.

Right now it is more Allen (with maybe some Daboll mixed in) than the WRs and the rest of the offence. I have no doubt that our passing game would be much more productive if we had a good, starting calibre NFL QB. But right now we don't have that. And I say that fully realizing that the WR corps is hardly a strength of this team. Its really not fair however to expect more from Allen right now. Based on the crooked path on which he began his football journey it's hardly surprising that he is a sandlot variety thrower/runner rather than a polished passer. If he had the benefit of playing three years in a big school program with excellent and intensive coaching the way the other 1st rounders did we would today have a much better idea of what his prospects for development might be. And that's one reason he should not be compared to EJ who had some of the best QB coaching available to college players and still had issues. And the decision to go with Allen was not all just blind speck. He frequently enough makes plays that someone like EJ never did or could. That's why he was a first round talent and EJ, not Josh, should have been drafted in the third or fourth round.

More arm strength would be a nice to have but I don't think that was the main problem. Given the poor execution by both NP and KB I doubt that Josh would have completed that pass. In JA's WYO tape I have seen him make the same mistake and get picked (against Iowa I think). The real problem is that this was from the get go in effect single read execution from the looks of it. I don't know if this is Daboll or NP or maybe a toxic combo of both. NP hard wired his intention to make that throw from the snap, immediately turning his head to the side KB was lined up on and never looking anywhere else. The second he did that the safety broke to back up Joseph. The Texans therefore clearly schemed for this. NP did not make the appropriate post snap read. Drew Bree's would have likely turned this into a big gainer for the Bills, not because of arm strength, but because he would have picked up right away on the post snap coverage and made the Texans pay big time by hitting a receiver in the seam or an outside guy downfield the near sideline. So as with most young QBs (be it Josh or NP) the real question is whether they can learn to see the whole field, make the right pre and post snap reads, go through their progressions all the while processing the info quickly, and make the correct decisions.

Allen has elite physical traits for playing the all important position. He is also very intelligent so in principle and with the benefit of experience he has the cognitive ability to eventually make the right reads pre and post snap and to make good decisions as a result. He is extremely raw and has not landed in the best situation to be sure. JMO but I think he will be good, even very good, if the game slows down for him. If that happens he should become more comfortable, should display greater poise in the pocket and show more consistency in his throwing mechanics and therefore improved accuracy. There is a reasonable chance of all of that happening if the action slows down for him. Whether the game slows down for him has everything to do with whether he has and can nurture that very special and inate ability that franchise guys have to process quickly in real time. It's not something that can be measured in a combine drill. You can only see it in the results. You can be very intelligent, like he is, and not possess that ability. You can otherwise be a dumbass and still be able to do it. It's really a unique attribute. If Allen has it things will work out eventually. If he doesn't, or if he is inherently and incorrigibly skittish because he can't process quickly the things that present themselves to perception on a football field, he will fall short of expectations and perhaps even bust. It is far too early to know whether he can get there or not. By the end of next year we should have a much better idea whether that faculty lives in the recesses of Josh Allen's brain or is a dead zone (as it is for most mortals).

Next year's second and a fifth in 2020. JMO. I know we have other needs but if a guy like that is on the block you at least have to make a call.

There are plenty of excellent WRs in the NFL (and some elite ones) who do plenty to help their teams win and at the same time go about their business as consummate professionals. They just don't happen to suit up for the Bills right now. It's up to us to properly scout and draft WRs or sign them in FA when they come available, same as any other team. We will hopefully see some of that next off season. Maybe it makes sense to break the bank on a guy like OBJ in certain circumstances, where for example you have a level headed veteran lockerroom with productive players in their own right who can help keep the diva in line or at least render his misbehaviours less damaging to team chemistry and where it is strongly felt that the divas talent is necessary to get you over the top and to where you want to go. Above all you should never be in the position of having paid a guy like OBJ in part for intangibles that you expect him to bring to the table, things like maturity and leadership, in other words things that have never been part of his makeup. You can pay a pro like LeSean McCoy for that even if off the field there are occasional issues (bottom line McCoy has never been suspended and his lockerroom/on field presence is irreproachable and up to his talent). OBJ pretended to be that guy during three weeks of preseason play in order to get paid, but as soon as the ink was dry on his contract he quickly reverted to form and to what he has always been known to be. Did the G-Men seriously expect anything different? And OBJs dumbass behaviour is actually not limited to off the field stuff. He frequently cannot control himself on the field and winds up hurting his team. The Giants have a young group of receivers that OBJ should be helping to become pros. Instead they are mirroring his childish tantrums. Was all that really worth 80 million bucks? IMO you crack the big check only when both the talent and the intangibles are plainly there to see - Khalil Mack and others of that ilk. In the situation that the vast majority of teams are in giving OBJ (or Marcel Dareus) a contract like that is not smart. It's not the the only dumb move the Giants have made recently. Pat Shurmur convinced management that Eli was still really good. He's not. Barkely is a great RB but he's not likely to win them many games all by himself. They needed to draft a QB.

Maybe the Eagles problems have less to do with them not having Shady and more to do with their O line badly underperforming.

Agree. He is so raw I think we may have to wait until the end of the 2019 season before knowing what we have in Josh. Of course it is also possible that things break one way or the other before then but I tend to doubt it.

I wonder why we didn't approach Kendall Wright. In fact I've been wondering that for quite some time now.

Yes. Rosen is Johnson's BFF. They can't stack the box when the QB can beat you with his arm. Rosen can certainly do that.

Ive wondered about this. I believed and expected the Bills to go after Bridgewater. Like you say it should have been attractive for the player because he would have started and been able to audition for his next contract. After I saw where he went and for how much I was even more puzzled. The only thing I could come up with is sometimes teams are reluctant to take chances on players with history of a significant injury. Otherwise it made no sense to me. I would have taken Teddy ahead of McC all day. Oh well.

Somebody else mentioned that he thought most of the fanbase wanted Rosen and I think that's probably true. For sure a good many fans and some analysts were wary of Allen (though to me he also was a first round talent). I find it puzzling when there is a major difference of opinion between the fanbase and OBD (not saying management was wrong, seems like the Cards wanted JA too). Its frustrating because I'd like to know how exactly they arrived at their decision (and I mean the "fly on the wall real reasons", not some press conference pablum). Did the Bills shun him because of his personality or his politics (the way some fans do?). Obviously there were things about him that made him a less desirable prospect than JA. And I have to believe they had a lot of confidence since it's an important decision, one that can affect their jobs and reputations. I wouldn't have a problem with a decision based purely on football ability, scheme, etc... even if I didn't necessarily agree with it. But if it was personality/politics I would beg to differ. I might go so far as to call it flat out stupid. I realize the importance of intangibles but I've never heard about teammates bad mouthing Rosen I guess I'll never know.

No doubt. Actually when I look at him, his size, strength and athleticism its me who is reminded of Jenkins, a two time all pro, four time pro bowler. Just wishful thinking of course.

Figured out why McCoach wanted this guy. He probably reminds him of Kris Jenkins who was drafted by Carolina also in the second round, so at least a facsimile of a Panther if not quite the real deal . If he can morph into KJ (and stay healthy) that would be great and a big poke in the eye of the fish.

JP was thought by many to be a first round talent and it is pretty obvious why. Thing is his motor has always been suspect. He has himself said it runs hot and cold. It was his rep in college too where people thought he underachieved relative to his talent. He's like Josh Allen not just because he can high hurdle opposing players but mainly because they both have very high ceilings. If Allen fails tho it won't be for lack of trying. If Coach can light a fire under this guy and get his head right the Bills will have found a very good player.

The guy seems so quick and agile maybe he could be the world's biggest 3 tech. What a freak.

Kid is an arrogant prick, but I like it. It ain't bragging if you can back it up.

Looks like Aaron tried to trip him as TJ was walking away after the play. The great one showing a little pique. Can't blame him, that blitz was beautifully disguised.

Do you think Andy told him who he wanted?

I liked him but was not upset that we didn't draft him. OTOH I remember some posters loved him and for the right reasons if memory serves. Those guys deserve some credit for that.

I feel your pain regarding the lack of weapons on offence, but my sense of it is that Edmonds may well wind up a steal where he was taken and well worth the trade up.

When I heard he was in for a visit I had a strong feeling we might sign him. He's a very reliable tackler but has had issues in coverage. if McCoach likes him I'm pretty confident that he will know how best to use him.

Coach, to me, is extremely impressive as an evaluator of talent on the defensive side of the ball. And he's a top shelf DC. If he can grow into his role as a HC and show the same abilities with the O we will be in good shape.

That of course is true. However when they display rocket arm's and accuracy teams seem willing to take a chance - Carr, Mahomes. Clearly Reid saw something he really liked in PM. He probably sat him to give him time to learn/adjust to a pro offence but he knew the kid had the goods he wanted. Maybe the Bills downgraded him based on the conventional wisdom you reference. Sometimes I think the Bills don't show the same acumen as some other teams. I think McCoach has that on the defensive side of the ball. Not sure about the O. Time will tell.

Criticizing Star for not making tackles is indeed misunderstanding his role. His job is to occupy a guard and a tackle and that's it. If he's not doing that it's a problem. Space eaters take a lot of heat from fans. Leonard Williams was regarded by many as the best player in his draft class. The Jets were so lucky he fell to them etc...In the Jets D his job is pretty much the same as Star's with the Bills. Many there now hate him because he's not making tackles/ getting sacks. There's a lot of doubt about whether the team will even exercise his fifth year option. At least the Bills have a good pash rushing DE to benefit from Star's work. The Jets don't have that. if Williams hits the FA market it will be interesting to see whether he lands a generous contract, and/ or whether his new team changes his role and assignments.