Josh Allen - week one report card

[Dr.Sack]

I’ll take 65% and W on the road in a Division game.

[Rocket94]

6 hours ago, rayray808 said:

Grade: B-

 

24/37 - 254 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT - 10 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD, 2 fumbles

 

He stayed poised all game, and when it mattered... he delivered. He seemed to never lose poise and focus. Of the 4 turnovers, one INT was batted at the line, the other INT was bounced of Beasleyʻs knee (which he should have caught, one fumble on a bad exchange on a 4th and 1 which I doubt he and Morse had much practice doing, and the last was a strip sack - which I put the total blame on him.

 

Josh Allen did two important things today: he led a team, and he won a game AWAY against a DIVISION RIVAL when nothing was going our way and they were even down 0-16.

 

GO BILLS!

Josh Allen grew up even more today. Despite the turnovers and chaos of the first half, he did not give up and his persistence paid off...this is the kind of game that good teams win.

[Punching Bag]

1 hour ago, Tiffany980 said:

When the Bills were getting their butts handed to them, EVERYONE here was trashing the Bills. The season was over, you said. Laughingstocks, you said. Suddenly, you're good? Please... NE, NJ, Buffalo, Miami...

 

So are you trying to fit in with the cool kids?  Just change name to "Scott Clone".

[JoPar_v2]

I think OP’s grade is pretty much spot on. I’d bump it up to a B personally; I think Allen bounced back excellently in the second half. Drops by beasley not his fault. John Brown an excellent weapon for Josh. Win’s a win. 

[JoPar_v2]

2 hours ago, Tiffany980 said:

When the Bills were getting their butts handed to them, EVERYONE here was trashing the Bills. The season was over, you said. Laughingstocks, you said. Suddenly, you're good? Please... NE, NJ, Buffalo, Miami...

 Stay up “tiffany.” You’re 0-1 but you got an outside shot of beating out miami for 3rd place in the division. If not, hey you can draft a QB who doesn’t look like a complete doofus

[VW82]

Liked the competitive nature that came through in the end but the man had four turnovers and could have easily had six or seven if not for all the drops by the Jets and the pick that got overturned. That was a D+ performance at best. If you don't take care of the football you don't win. Period. Josh did everything he could through three quarters to lose today and was bailed out by our defense and a few key calls/drops. It was hard to watch. 

[ROCBillsBeliever]

6 hours ago, zevo said:

Over 60% ?

 

But... but... but, @ScottLaw said that was impossible. How did Allen do it? How?

 

?

[HappyDays]

4 hours ago, MDH said:

 

The fumble on the sack is all on Allen. He saw the LB coming and tried to stiff arm him instead of just protecting the ball.

 

 

But there are plays where he does that and actually escapes the pocket to avoid the sack. I'm at the point where I've accepted he's going to take risks, in exchange he will make some miraculous plays. At this stage of his career he needs to figure out what he can get away with.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

7 hours ago, zevo said:

Over 60% ?

 

You're ruining the narrative

 

 

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Da webster guy said:

So his back to back 80 yard drives on the road playing with only TWO of his teammates from last season (the rest new faces) in which he went 80% completion percentage and kept the chains moving to win the game, that only gets a B- ?   Damn.  

 

No those two drives were an A too. 

[billsfan1959]

3 hours ago, VW82 said:

Liked the competitive nature that came through in the end but the man had four turnovers and could have easily had six or seven if not for all the drops by the Jets and the pick that got overturned. That was a D+ performance at best. If you don't take care of the football you don't win. Period. Josh did everything he could through three quarters to lose today and was bailed out by our defense and a few key calls/drops. It was hard to watch. 

The objective analysis in this post is a D+ at best...

[Wayne Cubed]

I think I'd rate his game C+/B-

 

His first drive was very, very good. After the turnover he looked a bit rattled and started playing more sandlot ball. When that happens he gets sloppy with his decision making and rushes throws thinking he needs to win the game right then and there. The last 3 drives of the game though, also very good.

 

To my eyes, he really only had 2 "ugly" throws and those were the 2 that almost were intercepted. He had a couple throws that the placement wasn't great as well but weren't ugly.

 

 

[GunnerBill]

8 minutes ago, Wayne Cubed said:

I think I'd rate his game C+/B-

 

His first drive was very, very good. After the turnover he looked a bit rattled and started playing more sandlot ball. When that happens he gets sloppy with his decision making and rushes throws thinking he needs to win the game right then and there. The last 3 drives of the game though, also very good.

 

To my eyes, he really only had 2 "ugly" throws and those were the 2 that almost were intercepted. He had a couple throws that the placement wasn't great as well but weren't ugly.

 

 

 

This largely accords with how I saw it. 

[Gugny]

B-

 

I didn't like the throw across the body.  That is a rookie mistake that can't happen anymore.  Luckily, he got away with it.

 

Ten rushes.  That is way too many.

 

He needs to learn to brush things off.  As many have stated, the turnovers rattled him.  He can't continue to allow that to happen; especially against teams better than the Jets.

 

When he's confident, he's fun to watch.  He did a lot of great things yesterday.

 

Now if Daboll can get his head out of his ass, I think this offense will be greatly improved over last year.

[Dopey]

12 hours ago, Billsfan1972 said:

If you're a JA fan A, if indifferent probably a B/B+, and the ones who dislike him C-.

 

Beasley 100% responsible for the interception & another drop (pros catch passes and don't let it bounce off their helmet).

 

Ran the ball well and brought them back.

 

Very few "bad" passes.

 

A couple of bad passes too and an int called back.

 

Loved that the Bills wanted to move the ball.

If this report card thread is for week 1 and not the 2nd half, he gets a C.  I like Allen a lot. It's 1 game on the road and I think he'll play better. There's no way he's even close to an A for the whole game. Even a B is pushing it. Without the defense, I sense a different tune. Again, I like Allen a lot, but I took off my Bills rose colored glasses when giving him a C. I think that's fair and he'd probably tell you the same.

[corta765]

B-

 

3 of the 4 turnovers in the first half I don’t pin on Allen. Both INTs were bad luck/Beasley has to catch that and the Morse fumble they should Williams for the Jets made a great individual effort on Morse who looked rusty.

 

I thought Allen actually moved the offense pretty well and I liked his willingness to find his guys for 5-7 yard gains. His final drive he was spectacular and the TD throw isn’t getting enough credit considering it was 3rd and 4 and he put it right on the money. I thought his running was smart not hero ball. The offense would’ve had a FG on the one run had they not got a taunting penalty

 

I didn’t like the Marcus Maye almost INT, but the INT that got called back for penalty you can’t judge because it’s different play and throw if the player isn’t held.

 

Overall solid with poise not great but showed some nice signs of progression with a few plays of growth like the sack fumble or Mayes almost INT you don’t want to see.

[eball]

I haven't read this entire thread.  I will say that at no time during the game did I think Josh looked "bad."  He got lucky on a couple of throws that could have been intercepted but he was also very unlucky on three of the four turnovers, so that balances out over the course of a game.  The Jets literally got every bounce in the first half.

 

Let's remember that the Jets have very good players on defense, and Gregggggg Williams does have at least some idea of how to confuse a young QB.

 

The bottom line is that Allen led a 16-pt. comeback on the road by playing extremely well late.  Isn't that what we always have wanted; a QB who will make the plays in the 4th quarter to win games?  Rookie Josh probably still throws the 3rd-and-4 pass to Smoke "the way it was drawn up" and the pass is broken up.  2nd year Josh recognized the tight coverage, looked off the safety, and threw a back-shoulder toss resulting in the game winning play.

 

Even a 65% completion day isn't stopping the media from continuing to call him "inaccurate" and that's a shame.

 

Imagine what we would be saying if Josh had played like Darnold yesterday?

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, eball said:

Even a 65% completion day isn't stopping the media from continuing to call him "inaccurate" and that's a shame.

 

Seriously? There's people doing that STILL?

 

[eball]

Just now, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Seriously? There's people doing that STILL?

 

 

Read Vic Carucci's column this morning.  I almost punched the screen.

[BillnutinHouston]

12 hours ago, Mc1320 said:

He looked like Blake Bortles in the 1st half.  

 

Good to see he kept his head on straight, but he has got to move on from performances like this.  -4 in turnover ratio plus losing the time of possession battle is recipe for disaster in almost any other case.

Blake Bortles in the first half?  Wow.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, eball said:

 

Read Vic Carucci's column this morning.  I almost punched the screen.

 

People see what they want to see rather than what is.

 

Anyone who chalks up those turnovers to "inaccuracy" doesn't understand football. Period.

 

[eball]

Just now, Joe in Winslow said:

 

People see what they want to see rather than what is.

 

Anyone who chalks up those turnovers to "inaccuracy" doesn't understand football. Period.

 

 

It's "the narrative" on Josh Allen that must be brought up at every opportunity.  Truthfully, he'll probably never escape it unless he has a season of 70%.  Even within games, that one pass out of 10 that isn't exactly in the right spot will inevitably lead to a comment by the announcer or analyst that "Josh's inaccuracy showed up on that throw."

 

We'll just have to live with it for (hopefully) the next 15 years. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Just now, eball said:

 

It's "the narrative" on Josh Allen that must be brought up at every opportunity.  Truthfully, he'll probably never escape it unless he has a season of 70%.  Even within games, that one pass out of 10 that isn't exactly in the right spot will inevitably lead to a comment by the announcer or analyst that "Josh's inaccuracy showed up on that throw."

 

We'll just have to live with it for (hopefully) the next 15 years. 

 

Indeed. I suppose I'll have to learn to live with idiots.

Well, if it doesn't challenge you, it can't change you, right?
 

[Matt_In_NH]

There is good reason to be encouraged after the game yesterday, with all that went wrong, he stuck with it and pulled the game out.  People here were calling for Barkley in the gameday thread.  In general you really will only beat bad teams when you make the mistakes this team made yesterday.    Fortunately for Josh, his worst plays yesterday did not hurt him.  There were a couple throws that should have been picked that were not.  Bad bounces happen, I would argue sometimes they are caused by the QB but the decision to throw off the back foot when Maye dropped the INT would have been crushing.   My major concern with him is that he tries to do too much, need to see less decisions like that.   I say B-

[Magox]

It really doesnt matter what some from the national media or from the few bitter fan base have to say about Allen, barring injury most will change their tune by the end of the year when they realize he isn't who they thought he was.

 

Allen didnt play nearly as bad as the incessantly repeated "4 turnover" half they implied was on him.  His most egregious errors weren't even the turnovers it was a couple of the other bad throws he had, the turnovers were either fluky or bad luck.  The worst one being the fumble he had on the opening drive sack.

 

Darnold had 5 passes tipped or batted away and none resulted in turnovers and Allen's did.  That's how it sometimes rolls.  He was actually moving the offense decently in the first half but these fluky turnovers killed any rhythm they were putting together and took points off the board.

 

I saw Allen hitting passes to WR's in stride, scanning the field and spotting open receivers, looking poised, standing tall in the pocket and hitting darts under pressure and flailing the team to victory with two 4th quarter back to back 80+ yard drives despite all the flukes.

 

That was BIGLY!

 

He gets a solid B from me as he does have to learn to be a little better with his decision making.

[PlayoffsPlease]

First 41 minutes F- - - -

 

Last 19 minutes A + + + + +

 

Under the binary Win Loss system, these two grade average to A +

[billsfan1959]

56 minutes ago, eball said:

I haven't read this entire thread.  I will say that at no time during the game did I think Josh looked "bad."  He got lucky on a couple of throws that could have been intercepted but he was also very unlucky on three of the four turnovers, so that balances out over the course of a game.  The Jets literally got every bounce in the first half.

 

Let's remember that the Jets have very good players on defense, and Gregggggg Williams does have at least some idea of how to confuse a young QB.

 

The bottom line is that Allen led a 16-pt. comeback on the road by playing extremely well late.  Isn't that what we always have wanted; a QB who will make the plays in the 4th quarter to win games?  Rookie Josh probably still throws the 3rd-and-4 pass to Smoke "the way it was drawn up" and the pass is broken up.  2nd year Josh recognized the tight coverage, looked off the safety, and threw a back-shoulder toss resulting in the game winning play.

 

Even a 65% completion day isn't stopping the media from continuing to call him "inaccurate" and that's a shame.

 

Imagine what we would be saying if Josh had played like Darnold yesterday?

I swear, there is a segment of this fan base that looks at this team, and Allen in particular, not even from a "glass half empty" perspective, but from a "glass is shattered all over the floor and beyond repair" perspective. It is beyond negative, lacks any real objectivity, and sucks the positive energy out of threads like this - and that is AFTER a big win on the road against a division opponent where Allen led a fourth quarter comeback.

 

The kid is light years ahead of where he was this time last year, with a lot left to learn. There was far more good in his performance yesterday than bad.

[Seven-N-Nine]

C-

 

Got lucky all his turnovers did not lose them the game.  I had them for a loss on my picks, so I'm 0-1.

[Billsatlastin2018]

C+

 

As others have stated, this Bills version will go as far as Allen. Really helps to have a Top 5, plus some weapons this year. Not outstanding Offensive players by any stretch, but an improved line, to try and ensure Allen doesn’t get killed! Allen reminds me of a Big Ben- Jimbo hybrid, much better runner, strong arm- but less accurate thus far.

 

Of that draft class, that ‘Running QB’ ? of the Ravens moves to the head of the class! Mayfield falls to number two. I’d like to believe Allen is next, followed by Darnold and Risen appears to be the bust of the bunch.

 

To improve?

 

* Less running + more sliding, especially on design Runs, plus always go outta bounds when reaching the sidelines, unless it’s a critical TD moment of the game. So many QBs... always Bills ones, have that problem. 

* Design the Passing Offense to his strengths- 12 yard outs, curls & the odd bomb 3-4x per game.

* Receivers be ready! I haven’t looked at that tape yet, but was the Pick 6 on Beasley too? I’ve seen Brady, Rogers, Brees, P. Manning, etc., ALL throw those deliberately designed low passes- albeit normally at the flag for a TD.

 

Upon further review of my 10-6 prediction, let’s go to the probable Losses to see what’s changed. Not Cheatriots x2, not Philly or the Cowboys... but now the Brownies & Steelers are now possible. On the other winning side, Titans are now questionable and Ravens- uh oh! Could be a wash.

[Seven-N-Nine]

2 minutes ago, Billsatlastin2018 said:

Of that draft class, that ‘Running QB’ ? of the Ravens moves to the head of the class!

 

To the dismay of all of those who hate Schopp   He's right again!

[FiftyPercent]

I would have given him a D if he was his usual 50% completion, so will give him a D+ for having 64%. Still almost cost them the game with all his turnovers.

[Wayne Arnold]

C-

 

Passing grade because they won and he scored both touchdowns after a nightmarish first half against a mediocre defense.

 

But the kid has a looooooooooong way to go.

[Nihilarian]

15 hours ago, Rico said:

A+, he got the win.

A+ he got the "comeback" win! 

 

As bad as he played his performance was better than the #1 overall, the #3, the #10 picks at QB. That last one was Josh Rosen who most of this board wanted the Bills to draft! 

 

Josh Rosen replaced Fitzpatrick to cheers late in the third quarter and went 1 for 3 for 5 yards with one interception. 

 

 

Granted that Lamar Jackson kid picked at 32 had the best day by far but that was against the tanking Dolphins. 

[dakrider]

10 hours ago, Bangarang said:

 

He threw the ball 41 times for 175 yards and was largely unimpressive. Sorry but he wasn’t better

No, I don't think Darnold was better at all.   Thats what I was saying - he really didn't do much, he had 1 big TD drive and that was about it.   But statwise he didn't have a bad game, but thats not what matters. 

[buffalo2218]

32 minutes ago, Billsatlastin2018 said:

C+

 

As others have stated, this Bills version will go as far as Allen. Really helps to have a Top 5, plus some weapons this year. Not outstanding Offensive players by any stretch, but an improved line, to try and ensure Allen doesn’t get killed! Allen reminds me of a Big Ben- Jimbo hybrid, much better runner, strong arm- but less accurate thus far.

 

Of that draft class, that ‘Running QB’ ? of the Ravens moves to the head of the class! Mayfield falls to number two. I’d like to believe Allen is next, followed by Darnold and Risen appears to be the bust of the bunch.

 

To improve?

 

* Less running + more sliding, especially on design Runs, plus always go outta bounds when reaching the sidelines, unless it’s a critical TD moment of the game. So many QBs... always Bills ones, have that problem. 

* Design the Passing Offense to his strengths- 12 yard outs, curls & the odd bomb 3-4x per game.

* Receivers be ready! I haven’t looked at that tape yet, but was the Pick 6 on Beasley too? I’ve seen Brady, Rogers, Brees, P. Manning, etc., ALL throw those deliberately designed low passes- albeit normally at the flag for a TD.

 

Upon further review of my 10-6 prediction, let’s go to the probable Losses to see what’s changed. Not Cheatriots x2, not Philly or the Cowboys... but now the Brownies & Steelers are now possible. On the other winning side, Titans are now questionable and Ravens- uh oh! Could be a wash.

It’s way too premature to anoint wins and losses later on down the road. Anything can happen to any team in that time frame, even ours. 

[ROCBillsBeliever]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

When did I ever complain about Josh's completion percentage? 

 

If you are going to call me out on something at least get it right.

 

You may not have, but you do criticize the heck out of the Bills, so, I just assumed you had, at some point, criticized his completion percentage. I guess you're right! Wear that feather in your cap, bud ?

[OrediggerPoke]

It is the same narrative at Buffalo as it was at Wyoming.  Josh will make some mistakes early in the contest.  Josh's overall stats won't be terribly impressive. But when the game is on the line in the second half, he comes to play and flat out makes plays.  Not to mention the way he is able to fire up teammates on both sides of the ball.  The debate will never end and he will always have his detractors but Josh Allen is one dude that everyone would love to have on their team.

[patzen]

Yes. He's a winner. He should continue to improve as time goes on but it's clear that the entire team believes in him and that's what's truly important right now. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Poyer said as much on OBL today--he said he would go into battle with Allen up to the end of his career, really appreciated Josh coming over to the defensive huddle in the 3rd-4th Q. 

[Jobot]

I like him, but this was only one game.  Additionally it was one of the strangest games based on how it played out.