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buffalonews.com
It is Josh Allen’s offense, and everyone on the Buffalo Bills knows that.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady was quick to make that proclamation this offseason, and he understands that this team lives and dies by Allen.
Last season, the Bills quarterback threw for 4,306 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for another 524 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The biggest change this year is that Brady is in charge from the start. The Bills offensive coordinator is determined to find every way possible to maximize Allen’s skill set.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, talks with Shane Buechele, second from left, while Mitch Trubisky, right, and quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry listen during a mandatory minicamp on June 13. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
New Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry also knows that Allen still thinks he can improve in Year 7.
“Just his instincts for the game and how he wants to get better,” Curry told The Buffalo News. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he’s always looking for that next edge. Obviously, (what stands out is) his athleticism, he can throw from any platform, and the way he cares about his teammates – he’s a great leader.
“Winning really matters to him. It’s not just talk. He does everything he can to put the team first.”
Doing everything includes a slight tweak to his throwing motion, Allen told reporters in June. But don’t fret – Allen isn’t reinventing everything.
“I wouldn’t call it a complete overhaul of my throwing motion, but definitely some things to work on and clean up,” Allen said in minicamp. “Especially, getting long with my arm and a little bit with my stride. So, just trying to clean that up.”
Instead, it’s just trying to find any edge he can.
“I think that there’s inefficiencies that every quarterback can find,” Allen said. “… Going back to last year, obviously a couple little tweaks, whether it was in the shoulder, the elbow, whatever it was, it changes how you throw it just a little bit because your body is shielding itself from pain. So, making sure that I’m just kind of getting back to how I’m supposed to throw and what my body is capable of doing.”
And if Allen is doing what his body is capable of doing, opposing teams should be very worried.
Returnees: Josh Allen, Shane Buechele.
Newcomers: Mitch Trubisky (from Steelers).
Departures: Kyle Allen (to Steelers).
Key number
61.38%. That is the percent increase in rushing yards per game that Josh Allen saw once Brady took over. Under previous offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Allen averaged 24.6 rushing yards per game, and had seven touchdowns in 10 contests. With Brady, Allen jumped up to 39.7 rushing yards per game (that 61.38% increase), and had eight touchdowns in the final seven regular-season games.Brady downplayed the idea that he was definitely trying to rush Allen more, but the numbers are clear. Whether it was because the Bills were in a constant must-win mode or whether it was a philosophical shift, the results were the same: Allen was running more. It will be interesting to see how Allen’s run game goes from the jump this season.
Top battle
Josh Allen versus himself. This again, huh? Well, to start, there is simply not really any other battle when it comes to the quarterbacks room. Allen is more than set as the starter, Trubisky will serve as his backup, and Buechele will round out the group.When it comes to Allen versus himself, there is risk and reward. But Curry doesn’t seem too worried about Allen’s hero ball.
“He sees the game clearly,” Curry said. “There aren’t many things you can do to trick him, and the good thing is, he understands that defenses play him differently than other guys in the league. He really does study, and it’s a chess game – see what they give me on the first and second series and he’s able to adjust.”