Revisiting my first Josh Allen evaluation after his first preseason game in 2018

[BillsPride12]

I just received a thumbs up alert from a post I made after Josh's first preseason game back in 2018 so I was able to go and revisit it, nothing earth shattering as far as X's and O's but I'd say I nailed it! And here we are with one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league ☺️

 

"The kid is Raw(as was advertised) but my god the potential is there...give him some time to learn the NFL game and improve his fundamentals and bring in some legit Receiver's and we could have a very explosive offense in a couple years"

 

 

Source: 

Bills' Preseason Week 1 Game Day vs. Carolina - 7 PM ET at New Era Field - Page 46 - The Stadium Wall Archives - Two Bills Drive

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by BillsPride12

[NickelCity]

Safe to say those of us who follow the Bills closely remember the TD in the corner when Josh fired an absolute laser between two defenders. First time i had to watch a replay to actually see the ball. That opened a lot of eyes. 

 

I reread that thread yesterday as I got a notification about it too, and I remember your post. 

Edited August 10, 2022 by NickelCity

[Airseven]

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people.

[The Wiz]

4 minutes ago, Airseven said:

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people.

[JoeF]

The draft is such an inexact process.  The Bills leadership did great due diligence on Josh.  But does the team really know how much the player wants to be great until he begins to work with the team?  If you look what was on the table -- Josh was the riskiest (rawest) yet safest (strongest arm, best athlete) choice.  The Bills have done a tremendous job surrounding Josh with everything he needs to be successful and of not getting in the way of his work ethic (Working with Jordan Palmer not against him).

 

BillsPride you saw the talent before a lot of folks great job.

 

One short story...We attended the Titans home game Josh's rookie year.  Not his best game by far but still a win.  We were in the airport Monday waiting for our flight home and a prominent Bills alum was on the same flight.  He was talking on the phone as he got to the gate.  He was telling the other party how "This kid sucks and will never be a pro QB.  We will be starting over again in three years" were his almost exact words.  This same ex-player has been quoted publicly now praising Josh the last two years.  I think a lot of us were like this including me.  I am so glad Josh Allen is a Buffalo Bill.

[BillsBytheBay]

5 minutes ago, Airseven said:

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people.

many people believed him a bust.

few people had this ”generic” take. and I'm glad they feel vindicated.

[Brand J]

17 minutes ago, NickelCity said:

Safe to say those of us who follow the Bills closely remember the TD in the corner when Josh fired an absolute laser between two defenders. First time i had to watch a replay to actually see the ball. That opened a lot of eyes. 

 

I reread that thread yesterday as I got a notification about it too, and I remember your post. 

Was that the one going from right to left where you could hear the ball hit the  player as he caught it? If so, I remember it as well. Can’t remember who the player was, but the stadium was sorta quiet and it was the first time I had heard a ball “boom” when it was caught.

[BillsPride12]

12 minutes ago, Airseven said:

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people.

Fair which is why I specifically said nothing earth shattering X's and O's wise but this was the first time I truly felt like we drafted the guy that could be THE guy if that makes any sense.  Even to this day it still feels kinda surreal to me that this is where we are.  I also remember at least 50% of the fanbase were not sold on him until his breakout year in 2020 but I always saw the flashes of greatness being there from his rookie season.  

[Don Otreply]

10 minutes ago, Airseven said:

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people.

Really dude? No real change since the old BBMB days aye…, 

 

nuthin but luv, 

 

Go Bills!!!

[nedboy7]

What was your take on Edmunds? Let's get this party rollin!!!!

[Augie]

21 minutes ago, JoeF said:

The draft is such an inexact process.  The Bills leadership did great due diligence on Josh.  But does the team really know how much the player wants to be great until he begins to work with the team?  If you look what was on the table -- Josh was the riskiest (rawest) yet safest (strongest arm, best athlete) choice.  The Bills have done a tremendous job surrounding Josh with everything he needs to be successful and of not getting in the way of his work ethic (Working with Jordan Palmer not against him).

 

BillsPride you saw the talent before a lot of folks great job.

 

One short story...We attended the Titans home game Josh's rookie year.  Not his best game by far but still a win.  We were in the airport Monday waiting for our flight home and a prominent Bills alum was on the same flight.  He was talking on the phone as he got to the gate.  He was telling the other party how "This kid sucks and will never be a pro QB.  We will be starting over again in three years" were his almost exact words.  This same ex-player has been quoted publicly now praising Josh the last two years.  I think a lot of us were like this including me.  I am so glad Josh Allen is a Buffalo Bill.

 

Kyle Orton was just jealous because he could see that Josh actually cared.     

 

….just a guess. 

[without a drought]

I'm still on the fence.

[JoPoy88]

1 hour ago, BillsPride12 said:

I just received a thumbs up alert from a post I made after Josh's first preseason game back in 2018 so I was able to go and revisit it, nothing earth shattering as far as X's and O's but I'd say I nailed it! And here we are with one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league ☺️

 

"The kid is Raw(as was advertised) but my god the potential is there...give him some time to learn the NFL game and improve his fundamentals and bring in some legit Receiver's and we could have a very explosive offense in a couple years"

 

 

Source: 

Bills' Preseason Week 1 Game Day vs. Carolina - 7 PM ET at New Era Field - Page 46 - The Stadium Wall Archives - Two Bills Drive

 

lol. Now dig up a 4 year old opinion of yours that you were wrong about and make a thread about that.

 

LAMP

[LabattBlue]

1 hour ago, BillsPride12 said:

I just received a thumbs up alert from a post I made after Josh's first preseason game back in 2018 so I was able to go and revisit it, nothing earth shattering as far as X's and O's but I'd say I nailed it! And here we are with one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league ☺️

 

"The kid is Raw(as was advertised) but my god the potential is there...give him some time to learn the NFL game and improve his fundamentals and bring in some legit Receiver's and we could have a very explosive offense in a couple years"

 

 

Source: 

Bills' Preseason Week 1 Game Day vs. Carolina - 7 PM ET at New Era Field - Page 46 - The Stadium Wall Archives - Two Bills Drive

 

Hope you didn’t hurt your arm while trying to pat yourself on the back. 😂

[Doc]

1 hour ago, JoeF said:

The draft is such an inexact process.  The Bills leadership did great due diligence on Josh.  But does the team really know how much the player wants to be great until he begins to work with the team?  If you look what was on the table -- Josh was the riskiest (rawest) yet safest (strongest arm, best athlete) choice.  The Bills have done a tremendous job surrounding Josh with everything he needs to be successful and of not getting in the way of his work ethic (Working with Jordan Palmer not against him).

 

BillsPride you saw the talent before a lot of folks great job.

 

One short story...We attended the Titans home game Josh's rookie year.  Not his best game by far but still a win.  We were in the airport Monday waiting for our flight home and a prominent Bills alum was on the same flight.  He was talking on the phone as he got to the gate.  He was telling the other party how "This kid sucks and will never be a pro QB.  We will be starting over again in three years" were his almost exact words.  This same ex-player has been quoted publicly now praising Josh the last two years.  I think a lot of us were like this including me.  I am so glad Josh Allen is a Buffalo Bill.

 

I disagree completely with this.  Sure he had a strong arm and athleticism, but unless/until he could throw the ball better, it didn't mean a lot.  Many people were wrong about him, myself included, but he's a unicorn doing what he did.

[Punching Bag]

45 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

Fair which is why I specifically said nothing earth shattering X's and O's wise but this was the first time I truly felt like we drafted the guy that could be THE guy if that makes any sense.  Even to this day it still feels kinda surreal to me that this is where we are.  I also remember at least 50% of the fanbase were not sold on him until his breakout year in 2020 but I always saw the flashes of greatness being there from his rookie season.  

 

Some will forever not be able to shake off JerrySullivanitis.

 

I heard a report during draft that the Pegulas flew to meet Josh Allen by our airplane watcher but had not heard same thing regarding other possible QBs.  The other QBs talked about being drafted in 1st round did nothing for me.  Other Josh (California QB, we tried that), Darnold (too mechanical), Mayfield (not a leader) and Jackson (we tried a running RB QB and traded him away) were not QBs I'd want to as 1st round picks so I was guessing it would be Josh Allen or use 1st on offense lineman and draft a QB in 2nd or 3rd and hope we got a Russel Wilson who could learn while being protected.

 

I'd rather be hoping for a QB who could get better than being sour on whatever Bills decided on.  I did find it odd they kept Peterman since I did not think he was worth spending energy on him and would never have predicted that he would be named starting QB.

[LeGOATski]

1 hour ago, BillsPride12 said:

I just received a thumbs up alert from a post I made after Josh's first preseason game back in 2018 so I was able to go and revisit it, nothing earth shattering as far as X's and O's but I'd say I nailed it! And here we are with one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league ☺️

 

"The kid is Raw(as was advertised) but my god the potential is there...give him some time to learn the NFL game and improve his fundamentals and bring in some legit Receiver's and we could have a very explosive offense in a couple years"

 

 

Source: 

Bills' Preseason Week 1 Game Day vs. Carolina - 7 PM ET at New Era Field - Page 46 - The Stadium Wall Archives - Two Bills Drive

 

Can you check to see what I said?

 

If you do, I'll be your best friend.

[DCofNC]

I remember thinking “I see what got this kid drafted, but 5% chance he actually becomes something”. Glad he became what he is, I was doubtful he could actually harness all of it and play professional Football.. then 2020 comes.. followed up by nearly as good 2021, he went from a wild eyed kid to THE MAN.  So impressive.

[CLTbills]

1 hour ago, JoeF said:

The draft is such an inexact process.  The Bills leadership did great due diligence on Josh.  But does the team really know how much the player wants to be great until he begins to work with the team?  If you look what was on the table -- Josh was the riskiest (rawest) yet safest (strongest arm, best athlete) choice.  The Bills have done a tremendous job surrounding Josh with everything he needs to be successful and of not getting in the way of his work ethic (Working with Jordan Palmer not against him).

 

BillsPride you saw the talent before a lot of folks great job.

 

One short story...We attended the Titans home game Josh's rookie year.  Not his best game by far but still a win.  We were in the airport Monday waiting for our flight home and a prominent Bills alum was on the same flight.  He was talking on the phone as he got to the gate.  He was telling the other party how "This kid sucks and will never be a pro QB.  We will be starting over again in three years" were his almost exact words.  This same ex-player has been quoted publicly now praising Josh the last two years.  I think a lot of us were like this including me.  I am so glad Josh Allen is a Buffalo Bill.

Isn’t it crazy how inexact the draft is? I mean think of the MILLIONS of dollars spent by teams by not only paying a GM, but also many scouts, assistants, travel expenses, etc, and then they pick guys like Josh Rosen or Johnny Manziel or Tim Tebow or Jamarcus Russell (and the list can go on and on) in the first round. Almost anything in life gets easier as time goes on. As more data and experience is acquired, success rate should go up. And it doesn’t. It’s still just as much of a crapshoot as it’s ever been. It’s just wild.

[NewEra]

While we are patting ourselves on the back, I may as well say that I thought he had the highest upside of any QB I had ever seen when he was at college.  
 

I also thought that becoming a Bill would be the worst thing for him, as we weren’t allowed to have nice things.  

 

1 for 2. 
 

He might become the best QB ever based on what he can do on the football field when compared to every other QB.  
 

We have a very nice thing

[The Wiz]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

While we are patting ourselves on the back, I may as well say that I thought he had the highest upside of any QB I had ever seen when he was at college.  
 

I also thought that becoming a Bill would be the worst thing for him, as we weren’t allowed to have nice things.  

 

1 for 2. 
 

He might become the best QB ever based on what he can do on the football field when compared to every other QB.  
 

We have a very nice thing

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people. - Airseven

 

😆 

 

Sorry @Airseven, it was just too tempting. 

[NewEra]

Just now, The Wiz said:

That was a rather generic take likely offered by a lot of people. - Airseven

 

😆

 

Sorry @Airseven, it was just too tempting. 

That’s where i was going with this 😉 

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, NickelCity said:

Safe to say those of us who follow the Bills closely remember the TD in the corner when Josh fired an absolute laser between two defenders. First time i had to watch a replay to actually see the ball. That opened a lot of eyes. 

 

I reread that thread yesterday as I got a notification about it too, and I remember your post. 

 

I distinctly remember Allen's rookie season where the ball got there so fast sometimes that the cameraman didn't get there until after it was already caught. Took at least half the season to get up to speed and track his throws properly.

[ticketssince61]

13 minutes ago, CLTbills said:

Isn’t it crazy how inexact the draft is? I mean think of the MILLIONS of dollars spent by teams by not only paying a GM, but also many scouts, assistants, travel expenses, etc, and then they pick guys like Josh Rosen or Johnny Manziel or Tim Tebow or Jamarcus Russell (and the list can go on and on) in the first round. Almost anything in life gets easier as time goes on. As more data and experience is acquired, success rate should go up. And it doesn’t. It’s still just as much of a crapshoot as it’s ever been. It’s just wild.

 

Of the 4 examples, 3 of them had obvious risks associated that the scouts "chose" to ignore.

 

Manziel had talent but not character or size;  Russell had talent but not character; and Tebow had character and no talent.  

 

Maybe teams are so desperate for the franchise QB that they roll the dice and hope (e.g. EJ Manuel)

 

I think what make the Bills current management successful is finding  the proper blend of talent and character in their draft picks  and FA signings

 

 

 

 

[ToGoGo]

38 minutes ago, BTB said:

Hope you didn’t hurt your arm while trying to pat yourself on the back. 😂

 

Lots of people took a lot of pain for defending Allen early on and believing he had what it takes to be great. The pain came from fellow Bills fans. 

 

I agree that in comparison, the OP had a generic and safe take for the time. 

[The Wiz]

15 minutes ago, ToGoGo said:

 

Lots of people took a lot of pain for defending Allen early on and believing he had what it takes to be great. The pain came from fellow Bills fans. 

 

I agree that in comparison, the OP had a generic and safe take for the time. 

Those generic and safe take's have been used against people before when they were wrong.  I don't see a reason to dismiss it for being right.  

 

I defended EJ without arguing about it.  The game day threads weren't kind some days.

Edited August 11, 2022 by The Wiz

[The Jokeman]

2 hours ago, NickelCity said:

Safe to say those of us who follow the Bills closely remember the TD in the corner when Josh fired an absolute laser between two defenders. First time i had to watch a replay to actually see the ball. That opened a lot of eyes. 

 

I reread that thread yesterday as I got a notification about it too, and I remember your post. 

You're talking about a TD to Ray-Ray Mcloud as remember it. 

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, without a drought said:

I'm still on the fence.

That’s gotta hurt after all this time, 😂

[Beast]

Made this comparioson right after the draft:

 

 

Made this one in the early pre-season:

 

 

And this almost at the end of his first season:

 

 

 

 

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

PFF said he sucked then, and he sucks now.

[WyoAZBillfan]

Not a bad take, not here to criticize anyone. Some of us watched him bring WY back to watchable football (coach helped and is still working on this). Literally called the pick a year before and when the Bills made the trade and pulled the trigger, many others in Wyoming became Bills fans!

[Augie]

44 minutes ago, Beast said:

Made this comparioson right after the draft:

 

 

Made this one in the early pre-season:

 

 

And this almost at the end of his first season:

 

 

 

 

The first one is HYSTERICAL!  Saying Josh Allen = Drew Bledsoe is like saying Lamar Jackson is like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. These two things are not the same.

[BillsPride12]

I'm cracking up at some of these replies.  I knew I would catch some flak for this post and I was still ok with it because I wasn't trying to claim I discovered Josh Allen or anything like that but it's just cool looking back to that first game and seeing a little gleam of hope after all of the suffering we had been through up to that point.  You have to keep in mind that this fanbase was entirely split down the middle if not more people not being happy with the Allen pick at the time(I was at the field house the night he was drafted and people were booing the pick and chanting for Rosen).  If you guys really wanna criticize someone's opinion, we should dig up all the posters who were claiming Josh Allen was going to be trash 

[Richard Noggin]

The preseason Play from Allen's rookie year that keeps getting mentioned was a back shoulder-ish two-seamer to Ray-Ray McCloud that kind of improbably forced itself into his arms as he slid between defenders.

[dma0034]

Wrong Josh Never Forget

[Homey D. Clown]

Considering my 3 QBs in order of who I wanted the Bills to draft were::

 

1.  Josh Rosen

2.  Josh Allen

3.  Mason Rudolph

 

I'd say I was fairly disappointed they didn't draft Rosen, as I thought he was going to just be laser sharp, but then shifted my attention to Allen.  He actually began winning me over slowly with his draft stage interview.  I thought, "OK kid, you're a Bill now, prove me wrong".  

 

Anyone who saw that pass(including me that day, hoped there was much more in the tank).  I just didn't get my hopes too high, as the 20 years of garbage football has beaten the living $h1t out of my optimism.  Props to anyone who saw it that day too.

 

Ohh... and lastly, "pre-season Peterson" had me very hesitant to get excited about anything I saw in pre-season... 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Homey D. Clown

[st pete gogolak]

I believe that the majority of Bills' fans were very enthusiastic about Allen after his rookie preseason.  I know I was.  Not only the TD pass against Carolina but also an amazing TD against the Browns (and Mayfield) showed enormous potential.  Remember that most folks thought Allen would sit his first season a la Mahones.  Yes, he looked raw and ragged for much of the first season but again, by the end of season one, I believe the vast majority of Bills' fans were very optimistic about next season and see what Allen could do.  

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, Homey D. Clown said:

Considering my 3 QBs in order of who I wanted the Bills to draft were::

 

1.  Josh Rosen

2.  Josh Allen

3.  Mason Rudolph

 

I'd say I was fairly disappointed they didn't draft Rosen, as I thought he was going to just be laser sharp, but then shifted my attention to Allen.  He actually began winning me over slowly with his draft stage interview.  I thought, "OK kid, you're a Bill now, prove me wrong".  

 

Anyone who saw that pass(including me that day, hoped there was much more in the tank).  I just didn't get my hopes too high, as the 20 years of garbage football has beaten the living $h1t out of my optimism.  Props to anyone who saw it that day too.

 

Ohh... and lastly, "pre-season Peterson" had me very hesitant to get excited about anything I saw in pre-season... 

 

I was in the "either Josh will make me happy" camp heading into the draft.  I liked Darnold, but knew he was out.  I did not like Mayfield, Rudolph or Jackson at all.

 

As the evening unfolded, I ended up being ecstatic that we got Josh Allen.  Josh Rosen did a great job putting on full display what an arrogant little douche he is. 

 

Josh Allen did the exact opposite.

 

 

 

[MJS]

16 hours ago, BillsBytheBay said:

many people believed him a bust.

few people had this ”generic” take. and I'm glad they feel vindicated.

No, there was quite a lot of excitement after that game seeing some of the traits that Josh exhibited. I remember the cheers after that long bomb incompletion during one of his first series. People could tell he was super gifted physically and it was discussed with a lot of excitement at the time by Bills fans.

[Ralonzo]

12 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

The preseason Play from Allen's rookie year that keeps getting mentioned was a back shoulder-ish two-seamer to Ray-Ray McCloud that kind of improbably forced itself into his arms as he slid between defenders.

The very first throw that gave me a “sit up and notice” on what was to come was a deep over to McCloud that Allen stepped into, and put right past a LB’s ear hole before he could react and absolutely pasted itself into Ray-Ray’s center mass. Just ridiculous.