Keon Coleman success by route - Not pretty

[SoTier]

1 hour ago, balln said:

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/chiefs-see-rookie-receiver-jalen-royals-as-a-similar-player-to-rashee-rice
 

chiefs get it. Why can’t Brandon ? Let it go. We don’t need meh rotational backup DL and secondary. MULTIPLES of them 

 

They obviously don't "get it" when it comes to the OL. They have drafted multiple OLers but have yet to find a good LT.   Maybe if they had drafted an OT instead of Skyy Moore or Xavier Worthy, they don't get whipped by the Eagles in the last SB.   

 

Edited 6 hours ago by SoTier

[Don Otreply]

18 hours ago, RoscoeParrish said:

Do you not have answers to my questions but you are hoping for the best? 

Hope is a good thing Red, 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Shawshank)

[frostbitmic]

I recall the pass Josh tossed above a crowd in the end zone and Coleman got above the rest and caught the TD pass.

 

The kid was a rookie, I expect every part of his game to improve in his second season.

[Don Otreply]

16 hours ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

I don't blame the fans for being impatient because if he was drafted as a long-term project and not expected to make an impact then the Bills should have had far more talent and depth at WR.

 

The Bills, because of their own poor management over the last 5-7 years, NEED Keon Coleman to be an impact player-- they needed it last year too and failed to accomplish the ultimate goal when it didn't happen. 

 

It's not the fans' fault, it's Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane, and ultimately Terry Pegula's fault.

Bwaahahaha , 

[Doc]

I don't write anyone's obit after even 2 seasons, much less 1.

[harmonkillebrew]

On 5/16/2025 at 10:22 PM, LEBills said:

To be fair to Beane, he wanted to draft a player who could be a X Receiver and who could deal with the physicality in the playoffs that seemed to stymie Diggs.

 

McConkey is great and would have been a better pick but he did play almost 65% of his snaps in the slot this past year (where Shakir and Kincaid would normally play).

 

Funny enough tho, Matt Harmon’s recommendation to get more out of Coleman is to let him line up in the slot more. 

Problem is Beane seems to have a WR X type that is just not that productive in the league. The big, physical jump ball guy, rather than the fast, quick, wins with separation guy. Coleman is the former and there was literally no doubts about his weaknesses at the draft.  It was all over his college tape and showed in his rookie year.  He can't get open, except on slants and flats. He doesnt' have the physical traits nor the route running expertise. Now, he could develop the latter still, but he has an uphill battle given the lack of physical traits.

Many scouts pegged him as a heavy slot, so its not surprising to see he did best in slants.

 

The only reasons he was productive at all as a rook, was Josh. He dimed him on back shoulder throws and scramble plays. Keon will never be a #1, but he could be a solid contributor and dawg. Hope he learns to play special teams, so he can take on more of the Mad Mack role

[RoscoeParrish]

1 hour ago, SoTier said:

 

They obviously don't "get it" when it comes to the OL. They have drafted multiple OLers but have yet to find a good LT.   Maybe if they had drafted an OT instead of Skyy Moore or Xavier Worthy, they don't get whipped by the Eagles in the last SB.   

 

What good OT did you think they should have drafted instead of Moore or Worthy?

 

The Chiefs, as you may recall, traded a first round pick for Orlando Brown and won a Super Bowl with him.

 

I think it’s fair to say they know that OT is important.

[Maine-iac]

I'm just curious what people are expecting out of an X WR in this offense?  Everyone expecting/wanting a 150 target, 30 million dollar a year, super star #1 WR I just don't think it's happening.  Seems like the team wants big guys who can block on a cost controlled contract.  In a perfect world they'd turn into AJ Brown but they'd probably settle for Mack Hollins.  I know that hurts all the stat loving fantasy football guys but I'm guessing we'll still end up top ten in scoring.

[Pete]

7 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

I'm just curious what people are expecting out of an X WR in this offense?  Everyone expecting/wanting a 150 target, 30 million dollar a year, super star #1 WR I just don't think it's happening.  Seems like the team wants big guys who can block on a cost controlled contract.  In a perfect world they'd turn into AJ Brown but they'd probably settle for Mack Hollins.  I know that hurts all the stat loving fantasy football guys but I'm guessing we'll still end up top ten in scoring.

I don't think we need a $30 million, 150 target X WR.  I want a John Brown like X WR whos speed and route running scares defenses.  Most every team has a defense altering X WR

[Maine-iac]

4 minutes ago, Pete said:

I don't think we need a $30 million, 150 target X WR.  I want a John Brown like X WR whos speed and route running scares defenses.  Most every team has a defense altering X WR

I can't argue with that.  Honestly when Mooney was available a season ago he was one of the guys I would have loved to see us sign.  With the focus on running the ball and the amount of shell coverage we face I suspect the team just doesn't focus on trying to run guys past the defense because it's probably rarely going to happen.

[Logic]

As is well documented, I was not a fan of the pick on draft night. 

I spoke all throughout draft season on the importance of receivers who can separate. I spoke after the draft about my disappointment in Beane not double-dipping at WR as in insurance policy in case his top guy didn't work out (the way he does with corners).

So far, to absolutely no one's surprise, Coleman looks in the pros like he looked in college, while Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy look like potential stars.

Beane seemed to reach back to his old Carolina Panthers days with this receiver archetype. I wish he hadn't.

ALL OF THAT HAVING BEEN SAID....

Keon showed some promise at times in his rookie season. Prior to his injury, had a few good games in a row. He was big-boying talented corners on end zone fades and getting some impressive YAC. We'll never know how the rest of his rookie season would've played out if not for that injury, but he was at least showing that he could be a capable NFL receiver.

If we get the pre-injury Coleman, and one who focuses and works hard and takes his job seriously, I have faith he'll be a contributor for the Bills on offense. If we get the post-injury Coleman, and/or if he doesn't focus and work hard and take his job seriously, he may be a one-contract player for the Bills.

 

[DJB]

12 minutes ago, Logic said:

As is well documented, I was not a fan of the pick on draft night. 

I spoke all throughout draft season on the importance of receivers who can separate. I spoke after the draft about my disappointment in Beane not double-dipping at WR as in insurance policy in case his top guy didn't work out (the way he does with corners).

So far, to absolutely no one's surprise, Coleman looks in the pros like he looked in college, while Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy look like potential stars.

Beane seemed to reach back to his old Carolina Panthers days with this receiver archetype. I wish he hadn't.

ALL OF THAT HAVING BEEN SAID....

Keon showed some promise at times in his rookie season. Prior to his injury, had a few good games in a row. He was big-boying talented corners on end zone fades and getting some impressive YAC. We'll never know how the rest of his rookie season would've played out if not for that injury, but he was at least showing that he could be a capable NFL receiver.

If we get the pre-injury Coleman, and one who focuses and works hard and takes his job seriously, I have faith he'll be a contributor for the Bills on offense. If we get the post-injury Coleman, and/or if he doesn't focus and work hard and take his job seriously, he may be a one-contract player for the Bills.

 

 

Agreed on all accounts. Coleman was the ONLY WR in our range I really didn’t have interest in pre draft 

 

Guys that can’t separate in college can’t do it in the pros 

[Toyo321]

The old adage is you can not substitute speed... speed is not replaceable or compensated for.  Keon = No Speed and has little else to offer.  We all knew it when he was drafted.

Now it comes down to this, does he have anything positive to offer this team at WR that can make him a relevant asset.   I did not see it in his college highlight clips and I don't see it at the NFL level at all.  He is basically a bust right now and has to earn his way back onto this team as a starter. 

 

Lets be honest he has a major uphill battle to make this team this year, even getting into the top 5 WR's on this team for him this year will be an accomplishment.

 

2025 WR room.

 

Wide Receiver (X) (4)

Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers, Kaden Prather, Hal Presley

Wide Receiver (Z) (5)

Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Laviska Shenault, Jalen Virgil, Stephen Gosnell

Wide Receiver (Slot) (4)

Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, K.J. Hamler, Kelly Akharaiyi

 

I still think we need a proven talent to be bought in this year, I just don't know who will become available until after the cuts happen after this

years training camps are done.

Edited 2 hours ago by Toyo321

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

I learned my lesson about young receivers after I wrote Eric Moulds off after his first two entirely mediocre seasons. KC gave us hopeful signs, but having your big boss call you out publicly is never a good sign. 

[Alphadawg7]

10 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Does it change your argument a little if Duke Williams was a playoff starter for the Bills? Or if Davis was a starter for way too many postseasons? I totally agree that none of those listed rag-tag boundary options were ever meant to be the team's best option at the position, but that we ended up there nonetheless. 

Honestly, not really.  Who makes those decisions?  Coaches or Beane?  So no, I don’t think that makes me think Duke type WRs are Beanes “affinity” because Duke worked his way via the coaches into some playing time.  

[Dr. Who]

27 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Honestly, not really.  Who makes those decisions?  Coaches or Beane?  So no, I don’t think that makes me think Duke type WRs are Beanes “affinity” because Duke worked his way via the coaches into some playing time.  

When was the last time Beane took a speed WR early in the draft? I think he has a type, and it's closer to Kelvin Benjamin than an elusive burner. Those folks who believe he is consistent with a Carolina philosophy for team building (Dline first, receivers normally excluded from first round consideration, preference for burly types) seem correct to me. And yet, they could have made a trade for Metcalf, and passed on him in the draft. So, he likes the slow, burly types.

 

Yes, some sarcasm, but not entirely undeserved. It might all still work out in the end. If it doesn't ultimately conclude with Josh Allen in a Bills' uniform hoisting the Lombardi, no amount of extenuating circumstances are going to excuse the failure; and if he wins, everything is forgiven/justified. If they don't win it this year, for me, Beane better focus like a laser on the lacuna in his team building strategy.

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Dr. Who

[Ethan in Cleveland]

If Palmer can be a decent #1, then all we need is Coleman to do what Hollins did last year.  Kincaid, Palmer, and Shakir need to be the top 3 targets. After that it will probably be game plan specific production.  If Coleman can be a decent downfield blocker and make some contested catches from time to time he will carve out a role.  If not guys like Moore and Knox will get many of his targets.  

[Einstein]

20 hours ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

I don't blame the fans for being impatient because if he was drafted as a long-term project and not expected to make an impact then the Bills should have had far more talent and depth at WR.

 

The Bills, because of their own poor management over the last 5-7 years, NEED Keon Coleman to be an impact player--

Not only that, but fans tend to downplay their own players issues. 

If Coleman was drafted by, say, the Dolphins, the same folks defending him in this thread would be trashing him. Bias is very hard to overcome.

[Don Otreply]

56 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

I learned my lesson about young receivers after I wrote Eric Moulds off after his first two entirely mediocre seasons. KC gave us hopeful signs, but having your big boss call you out publicly is never a good sign. 

Actually it may renew Keon’s motivation to come into his second year with more purpose, 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

First world problems.  Especially when we have the league’s top scoring offense. 😒