Why was Allen’s running ability not more hyped coming out of Wyoming?

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

And why was he not featured more as a runner in college? 

 

Kind of bizarre if you ask me…

 

We all knew Josh was an athletic unicorn coming out of school, but i was on these boards during that time and i do not recall anyone mentioning the dual threat potential. All i remember hearing about is his arm and those insane TD passes. Of course people knew he could run, but all time leading rush TD leader for QB before 30 years old? 

 

it’s not like it was a total unknown as he did have 512 yards running during the 1 healthy year starting at Wyoming. These are respectable #’s for sure, but if i am Craig Bohl, I am running Allen into the ground. Especially when his supporting cast is no where near his counterparts. Don’t these coaches see this guy every day at practice? 

 

It’s weird when you say that the 7th overall pick was a “steal” but it’s true. If teams knew just how good of a runner he was, he would’ve went to Cleveland instead of Baker. That’s really what separates Josh from the other greats are his legs. Otherworldly at a position not historically known for All World athletes. 

[Tim Tindale]

11 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

And why was he not featured more as a runner in college? 

 

Kind of bizarre if you ask me…

 

We all knew Josh was an athletic unicorn coming out of school, but i was on these boards during that time and i do not recall anyone mentioning the dual threat potential. All i remember hearing about is his arm and those insane TD passes. Of course people knew he could run, but all time leading rush TD leader for QB before 30 years old? 

 

it’s not like it was a total unknown as he did have 512 yards running during the 1 healthy year starting at Wyoming. These are respectable #’s for sure, but if i am Craig Bohl, I am running Allen into the ground. Especially when his supporting cast is no where near his counterparts. Don’t these coaches see this guy every day at practice? 

 

It’s weird when you say that the 7th overall pick was a “steal” but it’s true. If teams knew just how good of a runner he was, he would’ve went to Cleveland instead of Baker. That’s really what separates Josh from the other greats are his legs. Otherworldly at a position not historically known for All World athletes. 

He was known an out-of-control athlete who couldn’t make the easy reads or throws.  His career completion percentage at Wyoming was 56% and a knock on him was that his numbers against Power 5 schools weren’t that good.

 

You have to give the Bills front office and coaching staff credit.  Not only did they have a vivid imagination, but put the time in to curate and develop that talent.  

[Lieutenant Aldo Raine]

4 minutes ago, Tim Tindale said:

He was known an out-of-control athlete who couldn’t make the easy reads or throws.  His career completion percentage at Wyoming was 56% and a knock on him was that his numbers against Power 5 schools weren’t that good.

 

You have to give the Bills front office and coaching staff credit.  Not only did they have a vivid imagination, but put the time in to curate and develop that talent.  

What a crock of ****.

[Don Otreply]

5 minutes ago, Tim Tindale said:

He was known an out-of-control athlete who couldn’t make the easy reads or throws.  His career completion percentage at Wyoming was 56% and a knock on him was that his numbers against Power 5 schools weren’t that good.

 

You have to give the Bills front office and coaching staff credit.  Not only did they have a vivid imagination, but put the time in to curate and develop that talent.  

This right here ^^^

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

8 minutes ago, Tim Tindale said:

He was known an out-of-control athlete who couldn’t make the easy reads or throws.  His career completion percentage at Wyoming was 56% and a knock on him was that his numbers against Power 5 schools weren’t that good.

 

You have to give the Bills front office and coaching staff credit.  Not only did they have a vivid imagination, but put the time in to curate and develop that talent.  

I didn’t see someone who was “out of control.” Just a guy with a crap supporting cast doing everything possible to elevate his team. The completion % is not a telling number. Allen didn’t get the easy throws that most QBs in established programs got to pad their stats. 

[ToGoGo]

I liked his potential a lot coming out college, but even still I only saw him as a more athletic Roethlisberger. He could move but it was “big guy” running rather than anything amazing. 
 

He was thrown on the field his rookie year with all his limitations, but one place he wasn’t limited was his will to win. He would do whatever it took to win in the NFL, and he discovered quickly his legs were a bigger weapon than anybody realized, including maybe himself.  
 

NFL teams didn’t game prep for it early on and started to see this “bust” run all over them (ex. Kiko Alonso). As time went on it stayed a lethal part of his skill set as his passing and game knowledge improved.  
 

For all the “he’s a great RB” digs we heard his first few years, none of those haters expected to see his success on the ground. That’s a subtle sign of their deep deep insecurity they have towards Allen to this day. 
 

It’s a sign of his utter greatness on the football field that he was able to do whatever it took and find gifts inside himself to help the team win. He was special from his rookie year. He just had a nose from the end zone that I’d never seen from a Bills player during the drought, and his running was part of it. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

5 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

This right here ^^^

care to elaborate? 

[Charles Romes]

He was about 6’2 180 his senior year of high school and was still growing well into his college years. 

[Tim Tindale]

9 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I didn’t see someone who was “out of control.” Just a guy with a crap supporting cast doing everything possible to elevate his team. The completion % is not a telling number. Allen didn’t get the easy throws that most QBs in established programs got to pad their stats. 

Lest we forget how Josh was perceived, one of my all-time favorite threads on this board:

 

 

You get the whole litany of perceived flaws and the experts’ reactions.  
 

Like I said, the organization deserves a lot of credit.  Obviously, so does Josh.  Goes without saying.  He’s one of one. 

[PrimeTime101]

cause it was discussed... in detail. 

 

—As an athlete, he uses his 6'5", 237-pound frame well and can run over or around defenders.

 

Source

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2769195-josh-allen-nfl-draft-2018-scouting-report-for-buffalo-bills-pick

Edited February 15 by PrimeTime101

[BuffaloBillyG]

Just now, PrimeTime101 said:

cause it was discussed... in detail. 

 

—As an athlete, he uses his 6'5", 237-pound frame well and can run over or around defenders.

 

Source

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2769195-josh-allen-nfl-draft-2018-scouting-report-for-buffalo-bills-pick

Yeah that's what I thought too. Didn't know if maybe I whacked my head and had a fever dream ..but his running abilities were widely discussed.

[947]

On Allen's first ever drive for Wyoming, in their home opener, he came out on fire & immediately showed everyone he was the real deal. While marching down the field on that drive, he scrambled from the pocket & had a nice gain for a 1st down. Instead of sliding down, he tried to truck the oncoming LB & shattered his collarbone, needing surgery & missing the rest of the season. When he came back the next year, he tore it up, and was smarter about how he ran.

[pennstate10]

15 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Yeah that's what I thought too. Didn't know if maybe I whacked my head and had a fever dream ..but his running abilities were widely discussed.

I’m with the OP. I remember that draft with the top 4 QBs discussed constantly. I didn’t remember hearing that Allen was an outstanding runner. He was usually described as a guy with a rocket arm but no touch or accuracy. 
 

The first time I realized he was an excellent runner and athlete was the hurdle against MN. 
 

 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

22 minutes ago, Tim Tindale said:

Lest we forget how Josh was perceived, one of my all-time favorite threads on this board:

 

 

You get the whole litany of perceived flaws and the experts’ reactions.  
 

Like I said, the organization deserves a lot of credit.  Obviously, so does Josh.  Goes without saying.  He’s one of one. 

EJ Manuel had people shook taking athletic project QBs. 

[LetJamesCook]

His running was absolutely discussed, it’s somewhat naive to think it wasn’t. He was also in the discussion to go #1. That being said, the flaws and concerns about him were legit. He was inaccurate, his footwork wasn’t great, he struggled against better competition. The Browns saw the potential, but coming off a season where they didn’t win a single game that was also an immense risk.

 

Theres way too much revisionist history and hindsight being used here 

[Tim Tindale]

1 minute ago, LetJamesCook said:

His running was absolutely discussed, it’s somewhat naive to think it wasn’t. He was also in the discussion to go #1. That being said, the flaws and concerns about him were legit. He was inaccurate, his footwork wasn’t great, he struggled against better competition. The Browns saw the potential, but coming off a season where they didn’t win a single game that was also an immense risk.

 

Theres way too much revisionist history and hindsight being used here 

It’s why I re-posted the original 2018 reaction thread.  Well, that and it’s hilarious. 

[LetJamesCook]

Just now, Tim Tindale said:

It’s why I re-posted the original 2018 reaction thread.  Well, that and it’s hilarious. 

There are a bunch of names in that thread that crucified the Josh pick that interestingly don’t post here any more…I wonder how many changed their screen names because their takes were so bad 🤣🤣🤣

[BuffaloBillyG]

13 minutes ago, pennstate10 said:

I’m with the OP. I remember that draft with the top 4 QBs discussed constantly. I didn’t remember hearing that Allen was an outstanding runner. He was usually described as a guy with a rocket arm but no touch or accuracy. 
 

The first time I realized he was an excellent runner and athlete was the hurdle against MN. 
 

 

I remember because I had raised the question that on paper, Allen and Lamar had the exact same strengths (Mobility, running abilities) and weaknesses (accuracy) and why Lamar was tossed aside as an option while Allen was bei elevated by draftniks more and got absolutely hammered. 

[K-9]

Hyped by whom, exactly? The talking head pundits and draft experts who were too busy creating their “too inaccurate, gonna be a bust” narratives? To the people who actually get paid to scout and evaluate talent, his mobility in the pocket and running ability was well known. And much to the dismay of those clueless pundits, Allen was always considered a top 10 pick in the draft going back to his junior year at Wyoming.

[Mikie2times]

1. At Wyoming Allen was developing as a passer and was focusing on that development. He showed athleticism, but he wasn't at a progression in his career where it was 1st down at all costs or he had the freedom you see today. It was more in the scheme of the offense than he is now. 

2. Allen didn't fully come into his body until college. He's a stride runner, his top in speed increased a lot in a short period of time as he got taller. 

3. His 40 was 4.75 for the draft. He doesn't look fast. Again, stride runner, deceptive speed. 

 

I think all that stuff sort of came to a head as a young QB in the NFL. Younger NFL Josh was more like 1-2-3 not there, run. He was doing anything to be successful and realized that was a path to helping his team. As that success grew he started pushing the boundaries more. I'm not sure he even realized he could run the way he does on the biggest stage. Everybody knew he was athletic, but I think the production in the run game did surprise people, likely even himself. 

 

As confidence grew and freedom grew his improvisation started to become one of the dominant parts of his game. I don't know that anybody could have really known because his environment previous to the NFL really didn't support testing boundaries and he developed so late even in his running ability. That on top of his running style being more stride driven. Sort of the perfect storm of variables.