Priority: Develop Allen or Win Ugly?

[Rebel101]

21 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

 

Ok so a Specific Offense tailored for Allen?  Dont you think then kind of vital having the 1s learn that specific offense. 

 

They HAD to know Allen was going to start sooner than later with Peterman. If not that is a problem. Just like it would be a problem installing two specific offenses 

I agree but I really think they thought the way peterman looked in preseason and it being his 2nd year that he was gonna give them a good season...why else get ready rid of McCarron. Who I believe would have preformed better then both our current QBs while also giving Allen a little of a Vet presence to learn from. Getting rid of McCarron was a huge mistake but it goes back to this coaching staff conceding the fact of winning games this year they knew the roster they were taking into the season there is no way they expected to be competitive so I think they are just trying to teach this year and see if there are any young players worth keeping. Because honestly some of the moves this FO has made have been mind boggling. I understand they were told to fix the cap and all that but some things they’ve done to do that are ridiculous because there were pieces they should have kept if they wanted to win they clearly don’t care about winning this year 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

50 minutes ago, Hebert19 said:

Both. 

 

We won ugly and he learned he doesn't need to look downfield every play.  

 

One doesn't mean the other isnt happening. 

Exactly. these are not mutually exclusive outcomes. In fact, probably complementary. Every rep I think has the potential for him to learn from, regardless of the game plan going in. 

[JMF2006]

 

I think they should throw it 48 times a game and get Cornfed killed

 

Then they can draft another 1st rnd QB next year and do it again  

 

You can win ugly and have your QB throw 19-25 times and still teach him.

 

Winning builds confidence for the whole team.

[oldmanfan]

I guess the OP is asking what the priority would be.  I still say both.  I read somewhere that Allen is out before every practice working on his mechanics even as he prepares for the next game. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

WINNING gives Allen confidence and that's what a young QB needs. He needs to believe in himself so he can take that next step not to mention everything is not about Allen, we have 52 other players on this team. People may not realize it, but we are slowly building an elite defense. The Titans were no pushover at 3-1. I'm not talking playoffs just yet, but if this running game holds up and the defense keeps playing at the level they are generating turnovers (which was no fluke last year) then maybe it's a possibility.

[KennyDavisEyes]

50 minutes ago, Hebert19 said:

Both. 

 

We won ugly and he learned he doesn't need to look downfield every play.  

 

One doesn't mean the other isnt happening. 

 

Great post! 

[nucci]

best way to develop is to win.....then you know it's working

[Heavy Kevi]

58 minutes ago, DuckyBoys said:

this is why I said yesterdays game was unsatisfying and got crushed for it  #1 priority to me for this year is developing Allen  Not going to happen if they try and hide him with this type of game plan week in week out.

 

I wouln't say it was "unsatisfying", but I agree with the spirit of your post. 

 

I didn't expect to win this year, and I really wamt them to let Josh play. Let him take lumps and INTs. 

 

I hate it when I can tell they have the reigns on him.

[CountDorkula]

47 minutes ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

If you have a good defense and good ground game you have at least a solid chance of winning the game. 

1990 called and agreed.

 

The Bills are not going to win games scoring 13 points. 

 

Losing scores yesterday

24

12 - Tennessee

31

17

9 - Baltimore

23

14

16

17

10 - Oakland

21

18

31

16

 

You need to score minimum 21 a game to at least have a fighting chance.

 

This is not sustainable. 

 

[boco357]

Say what you want about last drive, but it's a 4th quarter game winning drive.  Only his fourth start.

[Boatdrinks]

1 hour ago, DuckyBoys said:

this is why I said yesterdays game was unsatisfying and got crushed for it  #1 priority to me for this year is developing Allen  Not going to happen if they try and hide him with this type of game plan week in week out.

The ‘04 Steelers limited Roethlisberger to around 20 attempts per game, coupled with a persistent ground game and solid defense. That Pittsburgh squad was far more talented than the current Bills, and no one is predicting that the Bills will finish anywhere near the AFC title game. The concept can work and even make sense. Allen can be developed without throwing 35 passes a contest. It will take creative and judicious play calling from Daboll, and the Titans gameplan can / should be expanded on. 

Edited October 8, 2018 by Boatdrinks

[mjt328]

I'm starting to think that fans don't understand the term "develop."

Josh Allen doesn't need to be throwing 30 times a game in order to learn.

 

I definitely agree that Allen's development should be our #1 priority.  But I have no problem with us executing run-heavy game plans, limiting how much pressure we put him under or doing what is necessary to win games.  We can accomplish both at the same time.

 

 

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

1 hour ago, Berky1010 said:

There has been a lot of debate about whether we should try and win 8 games this year or prioritize the development of Josh Allen. Both are great but there are a number of people who are mad at yesterday's win given the poor showing at QB. So I would ask you - would you rather 1) See good progress from Allen but win 3-4 games? Or 2) Win 8 games ugly and enter next season without a confident grasp of who will be our long term QB?

 

 

 

There is no debate, this is all about Allen's progress going forward, Allen just got his 1st comeback win down in the 4th qtr with not much to work with on offense , zipped an awesome pass to McCoy and helped set up the fg to win against a tough 3-1 Tennessee Titans team who wins by smash mouth defense. Would you rather have Aaron Rodgers numbers but lose the game? Winning games does nothing but good for Allen imo.

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 hour ago, Berky1010 said:

There has been a lot of debate about whether we should try and win 8 games this year or prioritize the development of Josh Allen. Both are great but there are a number of people who are mad at yesterday's win given the poor showing at QB. So I would ask you - would you rather 1) See good progress from Allen but win 3-4 games? Or 2) Win 8 games ugly and enter next season without a confident grasp of who will be our long term QB?

 

 

/smh @ these stupid mutually exclusive exercises.  We all got too much time on our hands.

 

How about win 8 or more games ugly = enters next season WITH a confident grasp on our long term QB.

 

Winning ugly will develop him too.

[klos63]

Why are these the only options? How about help Allen develop as quickly as possible and win games as often as possible, while trying to develop other players as well. The Vikings game was not an ugly win. The defense played well yesterday, they were not ugly.

[quinnearlysghost88]

Do both simultaneously 

[dubs]

You can do both. BOOM!  Problem solved. 

[jkeerie]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

If a young QB believes winning the game is all on his shoulders, and if the team is pass-heavy behind a ticky-tack OL, that young QB will inevitably press and make bad passing decisions.  Allen needs to know that if he throws the ball away because he's under pressure or he doesn't understand what he sees, the rest of the team's got his back.

That was Allen's life at Wyoming.  He had no supporting cast and had to win ball games any way HE could.  Part of his development is to unlearn that.  Keep the drive.  Keep the strong will to win.  Keep the heart.  Lose that it's all on you. 

 

Joe B is the one who has pushed this question and narrative.  He posted it in his column and talked about it in his newscast last night.  You can see how Josh is learning and developing game to game.  It's one lesson at a time (get the ball out quicker, throw it away if there's nothing there, etc)...but it is development.

[frostbitmic]

On a few occasions yesterday I saw Allen calling out a blitzer and blocking assignments, possibly even calling an audible because there was something he was seeing and didn't like. I don't think he did that in his first couple of games and to me that's a sign of development.

[dave mcbride]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

The premise of your question is flawed.  There is no reason you can't do both.  He developed yesterday, despite all the hogwash saying he didn't.  He was more decisive with reads, threw the ball away when he needed to.  Things like that show development.

The offense was awful yesterday and the scheme was neanderthal. They won (largely because of the scheme, ironically enough!), so I'm happy, but let's not sugarcoat reality.  They cannot roll out that gameplan against teams with good offenses and QBs better than Mariota. To be fair, I also think they know that. 

 

As for the original question, wins are hugely important for progress, so I disagree with the premise. I'm of the mind that losses are nothing more and nothing less than losses. I'm not a "moral victory" kind of guy.