Are Fan Expectations Too High for Keon Coleman?

[3rdand12]

18 hours ago, Lafromboise said:

Pause at 26 seconds. Im waiting to see this guy in a few months. Let's see

Thats it ! Love it. Great reach

 He still needs to train for muscling out of those short area cuts to get off coverage.

And foot work plus leverage are key that type type of receiver. Even if it aint pretty. he is a big boy after all lol

 

 

[HOUSE]

17 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

Good lord that are hurtful words ( no offense James ) < lol

and a Pony. You always want a Pony . ( a Seinfeld episode reference  )

 Maybe i read into that OP you created about Oliver a tad too deep 😇

I don't even like horses 

[Sojourner]

Expectations should be high for a guy picked, essentially in the first round. Especially now he’s a second year player and really, for the position, is only battling Shakir and Palmer to be the guy Josh leans on. 
 

Now obviously and I might be wrong, he isn’t overtaking Shakir in that regard but Palmer is fresh on the team so he should be ahead of the curve there. 
 

 

[3rdand12]

12 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

I don't even like horses 

They actually intimidate me with their eyes.

Mules are even bigger I read.

I

 Now back to our regularly scheduled programming

[3rdand12]

2 minutes ago, Sojourner said:

Expectations should be high for a guy picked, essentially in the first round. Especially now he’s a second year player and really, for the position, is only battling Shakir and Palmer to be the guy Josh leans on. 
 

Now obviously and I might be wrong, he isn’t overtaking Shakir in that regard but Palmer is fresh on the team so he should be ahead of the curve there. 
 

 

How would you best use these guys if you were Joe Brady

Using the Everyone eats mantra ?

I think Bills really look hard at game Day matchups , and each WR we have now fits a particular "type" as compared to X Y Z.

Bills were lacking confident speed to get to the top. Coleman has another role for sure.

 

Like to see how he would fit along with current likely starters 

[Sojourner]

1 minute ago, 3rdand12 said:

How would you best use these guys if you were Joe Brady

Using the Everyone eats mantra ?

I think Bills really look hard at game Day matchups , and each WR we have now fits a particular "type" as compared to X Y Z.

Bills were lacking confident speed to get to the top. Coleman has another role for sure.

 

Like to see how he would fit along with current likely starters 

Tough question as he isn’t the best at separating. Contested catches and RZ is where he’ll always make his living imo. Don’t know how you make that your bread and butter as a go to guy. He isn’t Moss or Megatron. 
 

Wholly agree in him having a role, it just might only be the above?

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, Sojourner said:

Tough question as he isn’t the best at separating. Contested catches and RZ is where he’ll always make his living imo. Don’t know how you make that your bread and butter as a go to guy. He isn’t Moss or Megatron. 
 

Wholly agree in him having a role, it just might only be the above?

I think he might improve his separation , learning to use his body and reach.

Not that burst thing though lol

If he can hand fight to get off the line and out leverage, or turn a guy? He might be able to hunt down one of Joshes crazy long throws a few times

he is no stop and go player thats for sure 

[Buffalo716]

I can't believe people are clowning on Coleman for working lol

 

And to anybody who thinks that will not improve your short area quickness or release package at all.. it does 

 

First of all not everybody can be Jerry Rice off the line of scrimmage..  but even plaxico burress needed to have a little bit of this in his bag 

 

There's a reason why professional trainers have wide receivers doing drills like this.. because if you do it for a month straight it pays off

[Dunkirk Donski]

Dudes still finishing routes from last year 

[3rdand12]

1 minute ago, Buffalo716 said:

I can't believe people are clowning on Coleman for working lol

 

And to anybody who thinks that will not improve your short area quickness or release package at all.. it does 

 

First of all not everybody can be Jerry Rice off the line of scrimmage..  but even plaxico burress needed to have a little bit of this in his bag 

 

There's a reason why professional trainers have wide receivers doing drills like this.. because if you do it for a month straight it pays off

and hand work against defenders

The legal push off or box out etc etc

This "cone" type of drill is critical training for Wrs. It's also mental.

 counting steps, angles to and from the point of pivot. Not giving away your next angle

so much more 🙂
Thanks 716

 

1 minute ago, Dunkirk Donski said:

Dudes still finishing routes from last year 

Better late than never my Grandma used to say.

 I think she was talking about pooping though

[C.Biscuit97]

Hated the pick (wanted Ladd and got more mad).  So I have no expectations and hopefully he made some positive gains in the offseason. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

11 hours ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Hated the pick (wanted Ladd and got more mad).  So I have no expectations and hopefully he made some positive gains in the offseason. 

 

I think the challenge there was fit with a boundary receiver who's a plus blocker.  None of that is really his game, and depth wise they had Shakir and Samuel.  They've since added Moore as another similar type of player to McConkey.  

 

Is McConkey as effective a player when outdoors, or when its cold ?  It's a small sample size, but the splits suggest - no, he is not - https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoLa00/splits/2024/.  And that was with this slate of outdoor games: New England, Cleveland, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Carolina.  So 3 of the worst teams in the league, and 2 playoff teams where he had 7 catches on 14 targets for 77 yards and 0 TDs.  

 

It's hard to say one way or another with a really small sample, but i do think sub 9" hands can be an issue with a cold wet ball.  

[3rdand12]

On 7/10/2025 at 12:56 PM, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

I think the challenge there was fit with a boundary receiver who's a plus blocker.  None of that is really his game, and depth wise they had Shakir and Samuel.  They've since added Moore as another similar type of player to McConkey.  

 

Is McConkey as effective a player when outdoors, or when its cold ?  It's a small sample size, but the splits suggest - no, he is not - https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoLa00/splits/2024/.  And that was with this slate of outdoor games: New England, Cleveland, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Carolina.  So 3 of the worst teams in the league, and 2 playoff teams where he had 7 catches on 14 targets for 77 yards and 0 TDs.  

 

It's hard to say one way or another with a really small sample, but i do think sub 9" hands can be an issue with a cold wet ball.  

I am a huge fan of optimism

Keon is my Guy though 🙂

[SCBills]

On 7/10/2025 at 12:56 PM, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

I think the challenge there was fit with a boundary receiver who's a plus blocker.  None of that is really his game, and depth wise they had Shakir and Samuel.  They've since added Moore as another similar type of player to McConkey.  

 

Is McConkey as effective a player when outdoors, or when its cold ?  It's a small sample size, but the splits suggest - no, he is not - https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoLa00/splits/2024/.  And that was with this slate of outdoor games: New England, Cleveland, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Carolina.  So 3 of the worst teams in the league, and 2 playoff teams where he had 7 catches on 14 targets for 77 yards and 0 TDs.  

 

It's hard to say one way or another with a really small sample, but i do think sub 9" hands can be an issue with a cold wet ball.  

This is an interesting point.  He played his college ball down south.  Now in as perfect weather environment as possible in LA. 
 

Id say Ladd has overlap with Shakir but so does Keon if his power slot advocates are correct. 
 

Really comes down to Ladd vs Worthy vs Keon vs Legette.

 

I think we’ll have a much clearer picture of this after the upcoming season.  Its just hard to see the vision for him given we have a QB who likes to see separation before he throws it and Keon’s game will likely never really be that. 

[dayman]

4 hours ago, SCBills said:

This is an interesting point.  He played his college ball down south.  Now in as perfect weather environment as possible in LA. 
 

Id say Ladd has overlap with Shakir but so does Keon if his power slot advocates are correct. 
 

Really comes down to Ladd vs Worthy vs Keon vs Legette.

 

I think we’ll have a much clearer picture of this after the upcoming season.  Its just hard to see the vision for him given we have a QB who likes to see separation before he throws it and Keon’s game will likely never really be that. 

Wish we had one of those QBs that preferred to throw it at guarded guys

Edited July 12 by dayman

[Madbillsfan]

Fans had the same unrealistic expectations of Moulds until his breakout 3rd season. 

[VW82]

Yes and No. Anyone expecting Keon to be a #1 option just because he's our X or develop into that type of reliable option who always gets open is probably in for a disappointment. But for those who aren't planning on holding him to his draft position, and have expectation of someone who will play hard, bring it in the blocking game for a running offense, and fight for tough catches when plays break down, then I see no reason why he can't meet those expectations. 

[Sojourner]

7 hours ago, Madbillsfan said:

Fans had the same unrealistic expectations of Moulds until his breakout 3rd season. 

An aged Kelly into Todd Collins and Van Pelt… come on man. His breakout season was down to Flutie actually getting him the ball. 
 

Not knocking Keon but he’s not starved from having even an above average guy slinging the ball nor is there an absolute elite, dominant guy on the team at his position. Got to do something this year…

Edited July 12 by Sojourner

[Madbillsfan]

7 hours ago, Sojourner said:

An aged Kelly into Todd Collins and Van Pelt… come on man. His breakout season was down to Flutie actually getting him the ball. 
 

Not knocking Keon but he’s not starved from having even an above average guy slinging the ball nor is there an absolute elite, dominant guy on the team at his position. Got to do something this year…

Fans were impatient with Moulds even though he had bad quarterbacks. Unrealistic expectations.

This was Coleman's first season and he should already be a pro bowler. Unrealistic expectations.

[dollars 2 donuts]

On 6/15/2025 at 2:22 PM, NewEra said:

I’ll go for 51- 825-6 if healthy.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Era, even before I saw this thread I thought 51 grabs, 3 a game, would be reasonable for him.  Along with your yards and TDs I think it could be perceived as a successful second season in a team where everybody eats.*

 

 

(* Personally, I am not a fan of the "everybody eats" mantra)

 

 

Edited July 14 by dollars 2 donuts