Allen Fighting Off Narratives With Strong Start to Preseason - The Draft Network

[26CornerBlitz]

Allen Fighting Off Narratives With Strong Start to Preseason - The Draft Network

 

The Buffalo Bills decision to trade into the top-10 to select quarterback Josh Allen was met with doubt from many, including myself. Given his erratic ball placement in college, combined with sloppy footwork and highly questionable decision making, there was ample cause for concern. Yet, the Bills’ brass was comfortable with his shortcomings and banked on his exceptional physical traits to serve as a strong foundation to grow into an NFL franchise quarterback.

 

So far, so good for the perceived “raw” Allen. Yes, it’s only been two preseason games, but there is a lot to like about what Allen has put on tape to this point, especially considering the concerns surrounding Allen entering the league.

 

After a solid debut last week against Carolina working with the third-string offense, Allen was given the chance to play with the two’s on Friday night against Cleveland. Completing 9-of-14 passes for 60 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, Allen earned a passer rating of 104.6. He added 18 yards rushing on three carries.

 

There was a lot to like about Allen’s performance against the Browns.

 

Allen is making head coach Sean McDermott’s decision on who to name the Bills’ starter a difficult one, and Allen’s opportunity to be the guy may come sooner than we all expected a few months ago.

[aceman_16]

Thank you for the link.  I read the entire article and it was very informative.  I am coming around on Allen. I still want to see him with 1s vs 1s before I put on my fan goggles.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Would be kind of ironic if Allan is the first of this draft class to be named the starter  as he was the one supposedly least ready to start.

 

Addmittedly I still have some concerns as in per-season all he's been seeing are the rubber bullets.  How will he actually hold up when the real ones start to fly?

[Chandler#81]

Here’s another:

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-today-bleacher-report-impressed-by-this-bills-qb

[thurst44]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

After a solid debut last week against Carolina working with the third-string offense, Allen was given the chance to play with the two’s on Friday night against Cleveland. Completing 9-of-14 passes for 60 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, Allen earned a passer rating of 104.6. He added 18 yards rushing on three carries.

 

It's a small point, but a big distinction. Everybody's been talking about him playing with the "two"s and that WAS how it was framed beforehand. However, for his first half drives, wasn't it still the first-string offensive line and wide receivers (or is my memory faulty)?

[jimmy10]

3 minutes ago, thurst44 said:

It's a small point, but a big distinction. Everybody's been talking about him playing with the "two"s and that WAS how it was framed beforehand. However, for his first half drives, wasn't it still the first-string offensive line and wide receivers (or is my memory faulty)?

 

Yes, but I believe it was against Cleveland’s second stringers. But I don’t say that to take anything away from Allen. I’m very happy with how he’s done to this point and am hoping he takes the next step by starting next week. It’s the most I’ve ever looked forward to a preseason game, between Allen and the great storyline with the Bengals. Gonna be a fun day. 

[26CornerBlitz]

4 minutes ago, thurst44 said:

It's a small point, but a big distinction. Everybody's been talking about him playing with the "two"s and that WAS how it was framed beforehand. However, for his first half drives, wasn't it still the first-string offensive line and wide receivers (or is my memory faulty)?

 

It was indeed the 1st team OL with a mix of personnel at WR.  No snaps with Shady or Zay Jones. 

 

 

[Big Blitz]

"Fighting off narratives."

 

My God.  Even political "lingo" is ruining sports.  

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, Big Blitz said:

"Fighting off narratives."

 

My God.  Even political "lingo" is ruining sports.  

 

That's not an inherently political phrase. 

[Big Blitz]

Just now, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

That's not an inherently political phrase. 

 

 

No but I absolutely hate it with sports.  Something just....dumb about it.

 

 

If Allen succeeds he didnt "defy narratives." 

 

He would have "defied expectations."  

[26CornerBlitz]

On 8/19/2018 at 1:35 PM, Big Blitz said:

 

 

No but I absolutely hate it with sports.  Something just....dumb about it.

 

 

If Allen succeeds he didnt "defy narratives." 

 

He would have "defied expectations."  

 

There absolutely was a collective "narrative" that he was a huge project who required a long and slow development process.   Semantics is what you're arguing about.  Words man.... it's just words. 

Edited August 24, 2018 by 26CornerBlitz

[jimmy10]

2 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

There absolotely was a collective "narrative" that he was a huge project who required a long and slow development prosess.   Semantics is what you're arguing about.  Words man.... it's just words. 

 

Yeah, “narrative” absolutely applies here. It’s why dunderheads like Mel Kiper continue to blast Allen. His narrative was that Allen was a huge reach, and he’ll stick to it until Allen (hopefully) proves him wrong and then we won’t hear a public comment on Allen from Kiper ever again. 

[26CornerBlitz]

1 minute ago, jimmy10 said:

 

Yeah, “narrative” absolutely applies here. It’s why dunderheads like Mel Kiper continue to blast Allen. His narrative was that Allen was a huge reach, and he’ll stick to it until Allen (hopefully) proves him wrong and then we won’t hear a public comment on Allen from Kiper ever again. 

 

I thought it was Kiper who loved Allen.   Just checked and it was. 

[jimmy10]

1 minute ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

I thought it was Kiper who loved Allen.   Just checked and it was. 

 

Then it was another one of those draft wizards, someone brought it up here recently. I stand corrected, though I still think Kiper is a dunderhead. 

[Big Blitz]

Mayock had him as the #1 QB!

 

So who's freaking narratives were they? 

 

Schoop?  Jeremy White?  I think the #NeverAllen crowd while certainly existed in national media, was far more prevalent in our local media, who conducted themselves in the most embarrassing way imaginable in the build up to and after the draft.  

 

They cover this team every day.  They were clearly #NeverAllen.  When it was very very possible Allen was the Bills' guy.  You have to be prepared for that but they got personally invested.  Absolutely bizarre.  And that's why I dont listen.

 

They cried about the McCoy trade.  Anyone miss Kiko?

 

They tell their listeners every day "you can just get goalies anywhere."  Same with RBs...

 

Just tank get a top center all will be well.  Sure thing fellas.  Only been 5 years of rebuilds now.  Fyi Eichel and the tank was worth it---just dont tell us picking top 3 every year is the ONLY way to build.  Boston says "hello."  And they loved Murray.  

 

They have told us that Marrone was and is awful.  He might get to the Super Bowl...one year after playing in the championship game.  We can hate him, fine.  But I think he knows what he's doing. 

 

The 24/7 devotion to all things analytics.

 

And now of course the great QB debate of 2018.  

 

 

Have they given good takes on anything?  Gotten anything right?   

 

Nauseating radio.  /rant

 

 

[26CornerBlitz]

1 hour ago, Big Blitz said:

Mayock had him as the #1 QB!

 

So who's freaking narratives were they? 

 

Schoop?  Jeremy White?  I think the #NeverAllen crowd while certainly existed in national media, was far more prevalent in our local media, who conducted themselves in the most embarrassing way imaginable in the build up to and after the draft.  

 

They cover this team every day.  They were clearly #NeverAllen.  When it was very very possible Allen was the Bills' guy.  You have to be prepared for that but they got personally invested.  Absolutely bizarre.  And that's why I dont listen.

 

They cried about the McCoy trade.  Anyone miss Kiko?

 

They tell their listeners every day "you can just get goalies anywhere."  Same with RBs...

 

Just tank get a top center all will be well.  Sure thing fellas.  Only been 5 years of rebuilds now.  Fyi Eichel and the tank was worth it---just dont tell us picking top 3 every year is the ONLY way to build.  Boston says "hello."  And they loved Murray.  

 

They have told us that Marrone was and is awful.  He might get to the Super Bowl...one year after playing in the championship game.  We can hate him, fine.  But I think he knows what he's doing. 

 

The 24/7 devotion to all things analytics.

 

And now of course the great QB debate of 2018.  

 

 

Have they given good takes on anything?  Gotten anything right?   

 

Nauseating radio.  /rant

 

The reference was not to WGR hosts, but rather to a multitude of draft analysts including Joe Marino who is the author of the piece linked in th OP that has the term narrative in its title. 

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

It was indeed the 1st team OL with a mix of personnel at WR.  No snaps with Shady or Zay Jones. 

 

 

That isn't every Allen play.

[26CornerBlitz]

Another pre-draft Allen skeptic acknowledges his rapid improvement:

 

Greg Gabriel: Buffalo Bills rookie QB Josh Allen showing remarkable improvement

Bills still might be better off starting Peterman, but Allen's growth bodes very well

 

During the pre-draft process last spring, I was as hard as anyone on Buffalo Bills rookie QB Josh Allen.

While I recognized his unique size, athleticism and arm talent, I was scared by his lack of accuracy. 

 

After all, Allen completed just 56 percent of his throws in his final two seasons at Wyoming. His TD-INT ratio (44:21) was not that great, either, during those two seasons. And the fact remains that no quarterback drafted in the first round over the past 12 years with accuracy numbers as poor as Allen’s has had any success in the NFL.

 

Since the draft, Allen has worked closely with Buffalo's coaches (OC Brian Daboll and QB coach Davis Culley) to continue improving his footwork. From what I have seen in the first two preseason games, he looks like a different player.

[Paulus]

Is it "winning over critics" or illuminating their ignorance & stupidity? 

 

 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

On 8/19/2018 at 11:54 AM, aceman_16 said:

Thank you for the link.  I read the entire article and it was very informative.  I am coming around on Allen. I still want to see him with 1s vs 1s before I put on my fan goggles.

 

Preseason Wk 3 should give us 1s v 1s if my crystal ball is predicting the process right. 

Edited August 20, 2018 by Over 29 years of fanhood