oldmanfan

Earlier I was asked to explain why I thought Allen showed progress today vs. the Packers, his worst game. So I've gone through passing plays from the game to see how I think he did. My focus was how accurate he was and whether I felt he was making quicker decisions pre-snapand where to go with the ball. Was he decisive, did he make his read and get the ball out. Things like that. With that said, here we go. And I would love to have some feedback and discussion vs. the "he sucks" kind of stuff. 1st quarter, Drive 1 1. Horrible throw to Clay. Not even close. Just awful. 2. Throw to McCoy. Hung in pocket for a good amount of time, good escape, risky pass back across but his arm strength is an asset there 3. 2nd pass to Clay. Decisive read and very accurate. 4. Swing to Clay. Again decisive, pass was a little low 5. Benjamin: long pass into double coverage. Threw it long. Better long than short into the double coverage- I think he wanted to put it up high for Benjamin to go get but was too long 6. Over the middle to Zay. I think if Zay didn't get tackled it's completed. Again made his read quickly and got the ball out. Second Drive 1. Went through progression to two guys, saw nothing, got yardage scrambling up the middle 2. Sacked. Looked at his first read and rush was getting to him. Thought he might have had more time to maybe get to a second read but I didn't see a safety valve. But did not try to spin out backwards or make an ill conceived desperation throw like against the Pack Third Drive 1. Quick out to Ray Ray. Decisive and on target. Gets criticized for not being accurate on short throws but was right on the money. 2. Bullet to Clay. Again decisive and right on target, fit between two defenders. 3. Rushed by Watt. Going backward threw to sideline for no gain. Showed his arm strength but not a great decision, should have just thrown it away. 4. Short pass to Clay. Went through progression to second read. Short no gain. Not much to say. 5. Sideline to James. Low and outside where only Zay could get it. Placement was the right idea but could have been a bit higher. May also been a timing thing with Zay not getting to the spot quicker. Fourth Drive. 1. Quick out to Benjamin. Again a decisive read and on target throw. 2. Runs for first down but holding negated play. Thought he locked into his first read too long. 3. Sack by Watt. Kept his head up looking for an open guy, eyes were not down looking for rushers as he's done sometimes. Needed to sense it more and throw the ball away. Fifth Drive: the swing to Shady to close the half. Nothing remarkable either way. So looking at this half, when I say I saw improvement, I saw him being more decisive with the ball, which to me means his pre-snap thought process was improved. He was generally more accurate, and while he should be with short throws that is one of the criticisms he gets. Need to do the third quarter but have to make the birthday dinner for the daughter. Would like to get others' thoughts.

I agree Allen needs to improve. I suspect if you asked Allen, he would say he needs to improve. But he has played less than half an NFL season. The last rookie QB I can remember that walked in and actually played great was Dan Marino.

I will rewatch tonight and post specifics.

I would be too. You know that some people here would focus on the pick. Give the kid time. I see evidence the game is starting to slow down for him.

Some names for you: Dan Darraugh Vince Ferregamo Just for starters. You can probably fill in a lot more if you give it some thought.

I am being realistic. Mahomes looks really good to be sure. Coming out he had a lot of doubters because of his footwork, playing in a single read spread offense and such but the kid is a stud so far. But the realism is truly this: if things were changed around and the Bills had lost the same way to the Patriots as the Chiefs did last night, Allen would be getting roasted for throwing that pick vs. all the good things. It is what Bills fans do. They all think the next guy is going to be Kelly, and if the guy they bring in does not immediately ring forth images of Jimbo, they guy is a bum who will never make it. Can you imagine what some Bills fans would have said if w e had gotten Darnold and he threw a pick 6 his first pass, like he did with the Jets? He would have been immediately declared a bust by some, and that would have been it.

Good idea. I will be intrigued to see what effect Anderson has. Sometimes the real star guys have a harder time teaching because it came so natural whereas the guys that had to work really hard to survive in the league wind up better at coaching.

I wanted Rosen myself, but of course now want Allen to succeed. Mayfield had a really tough day yesterday. Teams are figuring out that that if they keep him in the pocket he'll have a tougher time. He like every other young QB will need to continue to figure things out and develop. I'll tell you another thing. If the Bills had been the Chiefs last night, and Allen had been Mahomes last night, I can't begin to count how many folks here would be blaming Allen for throwing a dumb pick in the end zone at the end of the half and how that cost them the game, instead of focusing on what he did in the second half.

Same old nonsense. I did not say anywhere he would be a Hall of Famer. Nor did anyone else on this board. I did say guys like Aikman had similar growing pains the first few games of their rookie year. That does not mean Allen will be a HOFer.

Allen shoulders his share of the blame. He still needs work on pre-snap recognition, and needs to hang in the pocket longer. All things that can improve with time. I'm interested to see what Anderson does for his development. And puzzled to say the least as to why that wasn't done earlier, unless Anderson and guys like Moore just didn't want to sign earlier.

Would you stop with the hyperbolic nonsense? After the Pack game I said he stunk. And based on yesterday what have I said? That he still has a long way to go. and you sit here and say I am not open to any criticism of him? Give me a break. Again, I knew the outcome of the game before I watched it yesterday. So I was watching Allen specifically to see how he did. First pass, terrible to Clay. After that, I don't recall a pass that was way off the mark. I think the one to Benjamin when double covered deep was more of a throwaway. He went through progressions a bit faster. he was accurate with a number of throws when he was set in the pocket and delivered. Does he still need to develop? Hell yes. A lot? Hell yes. But, again. if you watch the Pack game and then watch yesterday's game it is clear to anyone who wants to actually take an objective view that he is doing better. Not great by any means. Not even good yet. But better. And hopefully with time he continues that trend. News flash: I wanted Watson last year. He did not look good at all yesterday either. Wanted Rosen this year. And he is having his ups and downs. Mayfield had a really tough day yesterday. Young QBs go through this. Why can people not get it through their heads?

Stop with the dumb overreactions. Everybody pulls this nonsense. i did not say yesterday was great. I have said he has a ways to go, as do all rookie QBs. What I did say is that if you watch the Packers game vs. yesterday he has shown improvement, and that if you watch them objectively there is no way to argue otherwise.

As I pointed out yesterday you are not the guru of QBs you think you are. We don't know what Allen will be yet. Watch the Pack game. Watch yesterday. Then tell me he's not learning. If you do then I will know you didn't actually watch the games.

Rosen yesterday: 21/31 for 240 (11.4 yards/completion). No TD's 1 pick. Mayfield yesterday: 22/46 for 238 yards (10.8 per completion). 1 TD and 2 picks. Allen: 10/17, 84 yards (8.4 per completion; 0 TDs and 0 picks Darnold: 24/30 for 288 (11.7 per completion) Average yardage per completion lower for Allen, Darnold played well and the other three struggled. This is what happens with rookie QBs.

All the rookie QBs are learning. Mayfield had a tough day yesterday. Darnold has ups and downs. Rosen the same. Allen may have a longer learning time given he came from a smaller program. But they all have a lot to learn.

Comparing their rookie years. Please try to actually read before your snark.

I have. I recall Aikman being that type.

Yes. They will figure it out. And Allen will continue to develop.

Your usual nonsense unfortunately. Every young QB has to get the game to slow down for him. I disagree after watching yesterday. He's threw 19 times in less than 3 full quarters, which is reasonable given the focus on the run game. As time goes on he'll process quicker and get the ball out quicker. I'm not saying he's great by any means. He has a lot to learn. What I'm saying is those who insist he's making no progress aren't really watching what's going on.

He is like most every young QB. The game has to slow down for him. It takes time. Some have it slow down faster, some slower, some never. Watch the game against the Pack, then watch yesterday. Watch them objectively. He's getting there. He's not blindly running out of the pocket. He's starting to be more decisive. Can I guarantee he'll get there? No. But progress is definitively evident if you just watch the games without preconceived bias.

Rewatch the Packers game. Then rewatch yesterday. Then try and tell me he hasn't improved. Does he process fast enough yet? No. Is he getting better? Yes. and if you say no you simply don't want to face reality.

Anyone with an objective view of this game saw progress from Allen. He may or may not be the guy long term, but if you watched today and claim he showed no progress you are simply biased against him.

The Bills regime can rightfully be criticized for not having a vet behind Allen from game 1. As for Mahomes 1TD and 4 picks the last few quarters. And no one is getting fired now or later for not picking him.

To a guy that was double covered. Perhaps he wanted to be sure it wasn't picked? Watching Brady right now. See a lot if short patterns. Do you know what Daboll called? We're longer patterns run? Were guys open on those? Should I go on?

And you are no more knowledgeable about playing QB in thie NFL than anyone else around here. Quit pretending that you are.