Bust or Breakout: Can Keon Coleman make an "Eric Moulds" style great leap forward

[ChicagoRic]

I remember when Moulds came into the league...his production was frankly brutal.  

 

Although his numbers are better than what Moulds put up in year 1 and 2, Coleman is clearly struggling.  Is it just a matter of "waiting for the penny to drop" to reach greater potential, or is he truly a bust?

Edited 13 hours ago by ChicagoRic

[James Can Cook]

[BuffaloBillyG]

I want to believe he can do it. But it takes a lot to make it at this level and talent issues aside, he just seems like a knucklehead.

[4th&long]

Moulds actually had talent. 

[Kirby Jackson]

Oh good, a Keon Coleman thread. In all seriousness, not much to discuss, he sucks. It’s been debated on here for a year and a half. The Keon truthers have finally gone silent.
 

He’s not even really a bust. He was like the 8th or 9th WR picked and he was way overdrafted. Keon was an extremely flawed prospect that hasn’t overcome those major holes in his game. 

Edited 12 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[ChicagoRic]

12 minutes ago, 4th&long said:

Moulds actually had talent. 

Hindsight is a hell of a thing.  For his first 2 seasons, Moulds was quite the whipping boy on this board back in the day.

 

A few scouting reports:

 

"Fantastic athletic-ability. Deep threat. Tough and will go over the middle. Aggressive performer with decent hands. Great runner after the catch. Needs to improve concentration and routes. “Me first”-type player. Moulds has much better size and potential than Glenn and Harrison, but he is inconsistent and immature. 1st-2nd rounder."

 

"Upside: Big receiver (6-2+), very good athlete for his size, huge vertical and big catch radius, collegiate production showing big-play ability.
Risk: Character/attitude concerns, perhaps not fully polished in technique/route-running, not seen as “complete” receiver at the time, more “high ceiling” than immediate starter."

Edited 13 hours ago by ChicagoRic

[Einstein]

7 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

not much to discuss he sucks.

Agreed. 

Moulds didn't have flashy numbers his first couple of years, but his talent was obvious.

[Clyde Smith]

Flutie should take a lot of credit for Moulds development. I would love to see Keon train with Moulds like Shakir does/did.

[RichRiderBills]

Moulds was worse than Coleman at this stage. 

 

Honestly though, keep going. Most good WRs on the Bills were nothing special till year 3 or even 4.

 

Reed, Evans, Moulds, Stevie, hardly any good till year 3 + . 

 

That and Keon could still potentially get 60 catches this year. 

[Einstein]

2 minutes ago, RichRiderBills said:

Moulds was worse than Coleman at this stage. 

No he wasn't. 

[ChicagoRic]

1 minute ago, RichRiderBills said:

Moulds was worse than Coleman at this stage. 

 

Honestly though, keep going. Most good WRs on the Bills were nothing special till year 3 or even 4.

 

Reed, Evans, Moulds, Stevie, hardly any good till year 3 + . 

 

That and Keon could still potentially get 60 catches this year. 

I WANT to believe in the dude, I really do, but he makes some boneheaded mistakes.  Wishful thinking has me hoping.  The dumb/avoidable errors have me doubting. 

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

I think at this point we can kind of just all see he’s not good. On a good day, He’s about what Davis was when everyone wanted him gone. Sort of just a guy out there.  This system is going to be very hard on WRs. They are almost never going to flash. The pick was probably a mistake but in this offense it won’t kill us

[BillsFanForever19]

The difference is that Moulds had attributes that Coleman simply doesn't or won't be able to have. Moulds wasn't nearly as limited as Coleman is, even when he was a year or two into his career. He just had to put it together and develop. The talent was always there, he just had to gain confidence and cut down on the drops.

 

He may improve from what he is now. But Coleman is never going to be a 4.5 guy like Moulds. He's never going to be as physical and as powerful as Moulds. He's never going to have Moulds' frame. And I doubt he'll ever have the "dog" in him that Moulds had.

[sven233]

Moulds, while raw coming out, had undeniable physical skills.  He could run.  Played with an attitude.  

 

You didn't see it much his first couple years because I don't think the attitude was there, but as soon as he took it seriously, there was going to be no stopping him.  And there wasn't.

 

In my opinion, the best WR we have ever had.  I am as big a fan of Reed as anyone, but Moulds was a different cat because he could beat you any way he wanted.  He was fast enough to beat you deep.  He was super strong and physical so he would bully you to death.  He was a thick, extremely strong dude with a big frame that could box you out.  And on top of all that, he had elite athleticism where he could go up over the top of you on 1 play and then come back, run past you and make an incredible 1 handed catch on the next play.  He ran every route that you would want.  Deadly on slants, comebacks, over the middle, and deep.  He'd run over you or through you.  Players hated tackling him because of how big and strong he was.  Oh, and by the way......on any play he wanted to, he could route you up and put you in a blender, catch a short pass and take it to the house while shrugging off tackling attempts.

 

That dude was a dog.  An alpha who knew he was one of the best.  He should be in the HOF, but because of there terrible QB play he had here for most of his career, didn't get to the numbers he could have.  If he played in today's league, he would be just as unstoppable now as he was then because of the athlete he was.  

 

Keon doesn't have these same physical gifts.  Outside of being tall and being able to jump, he is not talent Moulds was.  Keon plays small, has terrible footwork, and is slow.  Now, some WRs can make up for the lack of foot speed by playing bully ball, but Keon doesn't do that.  He's not strong enough and doesn't have that killer attitude you need.  He isn't going to run by anyone.  He isn't going to break anyone's ankles off the line.  He is not going to run through guys.  What he will do is make the occasional high pointed catch, but even at his size, he isn't in the upper echelon of guys in the league that can do that either.  He's got some talent.  He will be in the league a long time.  But he will never be a true WR1, and probably not even a WR2, because of a lot of different factors.  

 

But yeah.....if you are ever bored and never really watched Moulds play, man.....fire up some YouTube highlights of that guy.  He was something else.

Edited 12 hours ago by sven233

[ChicagoRic]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

No he wasn't. 

Um.   

Moulds

1996:  20 catches for 279 yards and 2TD

1997:  29 catches for 294 yards and 0TD

 

Coleman

2024: 29 catches for 556 yards and 4TD.

2025: 29 catches for 284 yards and 2TD so far. 

 

Coleman was showing something and improving before his injury last year. This year feels like a bit of regression. 

1 minute ago, sven233 said:

Moulds, while raw coming out, had undeniable physical skills.  He could run.  Played with an attitude.  

 

You didn't see it much his first couple years because I don't think the attitude was there, but as soon as he took it seriously, there was going to be no stopping him.  And there wasn't.

 

In my opinion, the best WR we have ever had.  I am as big a fan of Reed as anyone, but Moulds was a different cat because he could beat you any way he wanted.  He was fast enough to beat you deep.  He was super strong and physical so he would bully you to death.  He was a thick, extremely strong dude with a big frame that could box you out.  And on top of all that, he had elite athleticism where he could go up over the top of you on 1 play and then come back, run past you and make an incredible 1 handed catch on the next play.  Oh, and by the way......on any play he wanted to, he could route you up and put you in a blender, catch a short pass and take it to the house while shrugging off tackling attempts.

 

That dude was a dog.  An alpha who knew he was one of the best.  He should be in the HOF, but because of there terrible QB play he had here for most of his career, didn't get to the numbers he could have.  If he played in today's league, he would be just as unstoppable now as he was then because of the athlete he was.  

 

Keon doesn't have these same physical gifts.  Outside of being tall and being able to jump, he is not talent Moulds was.  Keon plays small, has terrible footwork, and is slow.  Now, some WRs can make up for the lack of foot speed by playing bully ball, but Keon doesn't do that.  He's not strong enough and doesn't have that killer attitude you need.  He isn't going to run by anyone.  He isn't going to break anyone's ankles off the line.  He is not going to run through guys.  What he will do is make the occasional high pointed catch, but even at his size, he isn't in the upper echelon of guys in the league that can do that either.  He's got some talent.  He will be in the league a long time.  But he will never be a true WR1, and probably not even a WR2, because of a lot of different factors.  

 

But yeah.....if you are ever bored and never really watched Moulds play, man.....fire up some YouTube highlights of that guy.  He was something else.

 

Dude, I am old.  Love, love, love Moulds.

[sven233]

4 hours ago, ChicagoRic said:

Um.   

Moulds

1996:  20 catches for 279 yards and 2TD

1997:  29 catches for 294 yards and 0TD

 

Coleman

2024: 29 catches for 556 yards and 4TD.

2025: 29 catches for 284 yards and 2TD so far. 

 

Coleman was showing something and improving before his injury last year. This year feels like a bit of regression. 

 

Dude, I am old.  Love, love, love Moulds.

 

The difference was opportunities.  Moulds barely saw the field the first 2 year he was here.  Coleman, outside of when he was injured, has hardly left the field.  He's had ample time time show improvement, but hasn't yet.  And when you watch him, you just don't see greatness.  Moulds would make the most of his limited time.  Heck, he was an amazing kick returner early in his career when that was pretty much the only time he saw the field.  Attitude held Moulds back early.  Very immature.  But the talent was always obvious.

Edited 8 hours ago by sven233

[BillsFanForever19]

14 minutes ago, ChicagoRic said:

Um.   

Moulds

1996:  20 catches for 279 yards and 2TD

1997:  29 catches for 294 yards and 0TD

 

Coleman

2024: 29 catches for 556 yards and 4TD.

2025: 29 catches for 284 yards and 2TD so far. 

 

Coleman was showing something and improving before his injury last year. This year feels like a bit of regression. 

 

Dude, I am old.  Love, love, love Moulds.

 

Those stats don't tell the whole story.

 

Keon Coleman was a starter from the word go. He has taken *way* more snaps than Moulds did on Offense in his first 2 years. 

 

Moulds had Andre Reed and Quinn Early above him on the Outside those two seasons. Not to mention Steve Tasker emerging as more of an offensive weapon.

 

Coleman has been the #1 Outside WR on the team from the jump. Moulds was more Kick Returner than WR those first couple years.

Edited 12 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[Success]

Yes!!!

 

I don't actually know - but it's more fun to believe that.

 

[Don Otreply]

I “think” he can, with the caveat, if he is used correctly, 

[ChicagoRic]

6 minutes ago, sven233 said:

 

The difference was opportunities.  Moulds barely saw the field the first 2 year he was here.  Coleman, outside of when he was injured, has hardly left the field.  He's had ample time time show improvement, but hasn't yet.  And when you watch him, you just don't see greatness.  Moulds would make the most of his limited times.  Heck, he was an amazing kick returner early in his career when that was pretty much the only time he saw the field.  Attitude held Moulds back early.  Very immature.  But the talent was always obvious.

Moulds has a quite a few bad drops, especially in year 1.