Veteran defense out to exploit rookie QB
Bills’ Allen creating as much concern with feet as arm 5 games into career
Heaving spirals with impressive velocity and hurdling defenders with rare athleticism, Buffalo Bills rookie Josh Allen is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the game.
At 6-5 and 237 pounds, the strong-armed first-round draft pick from Wyoming is the prototype for the position.
As much potential as Allen holds, though, he’s also experiencing plenty of growing pains following an encouraging start against the Minnesota Vikings punctuated by him jumping over linebacker Anthony Barr for a first down.
Allen could be in major trouble against a veteran-laden Texans defense Sunday at NRG Stadium.
The Bills’ offense ranks 31st in the NFL, averaging an anemic 221.2 yards per game. They rank last in yards per play (3.64 yards), last in passing yards per game (121.8), last in interception rate (3.74) and last in sack percentage (4.96).
The 22-year-old Allen has thrown two touchdowns and five interceptions with 748 yards in four starts and five games, compiling a 60.4 passer rating.
“Josh Allen, he’s a rookie, so we have to be able to get pressure on him, get him off his spot and put the game in his hands,” Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus said. “Essentially, he’s panicked a few times. But he’s good with his legs, so we have to keep him contained.”
The Texans rank 14th in total defense and are coming off their best performance of the season during a 19-16 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Allen’s NFL education continues against a defense headlined by three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, Pro Bowl linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and former Arizona Cardinals All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu.
While the Texans acknowledge Allen’s skills, they also see an opportunity against him.
“We’ve got to respect him,” said Texans cornerback Shareece Wright, who played for the Bills last season. “He’s a professional quarterback, although he is young. We want to do our best to make it frustrating for him and make it confusing for him, disguise things, get pressure, get in his face.
“He’s a good quarterback. He can make every throw on the field. We see him making amazing plays with his feet. He has heart and passion.”
‘It can be an edge’
The Bills are leaning heavily on running back LeSean McCoy rather than entrust much to Allen at this point.
“It can be an edge,” Mercilus said. “The biggest thing for us is we have to stop the run because they’re going to put the ball in McCoy’ hands. We want to put the ball in the quarterback’s hands and go eat.”
Against the Green Bay Packers, Allen completed just 16 of 33 passes for 151 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked seven times and lost one fumble.
During a 13-12 win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, Allen completed 10 of 19 passes for only 82 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He has been sacked 10 times in the past two weeks.
Despite his struggles, Allen isn’t being taken lightly.
“He’s got a good arm, he’s athletic,” Watt said. “He can run. He hurdled a guy.”
Allen has run for three touchdowns, so he’s a legitimate threat to take off and scramble for yards.
“Lot of tools,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “Very strong arm, very smart guy. He’s got great enthusiasm about him. He’s really good with his feet. Just because he’s a big guy doesn’t mean he can’t move.
“He’s making a lot of plays with his feet, as well as his arm, can make all the throws. A guy that you don’t really have a lot of tape on, relative to pro football, so it’s a big challenge for us.”
Bills coach Sean McDermott is trying not to overburden Allen at this stage of his career.
“I think it’s all part of the development of a young quarterback,” McDermott aid. “I don’t know many young quarterbacks out there that all they do is throw the football just to develop. I think that would be irresponsible of a coach to bring along a young quarterback and just sit back there and throw it 70 times a game. There has to be a healthy balance.”
The Texans have created a lot of pressure the past few weeks. Watt is tied for the NFL lead with six sacks.
Clowney was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following a win over the Indianapolis Colts.
“Obviously, they’re physically just freaks of nature: they’re big and they’re huge and fast,” Allen told Buffalo reporters when asked about Watt and Clowney. “They’re smart football players and they’ll kind of do different things. They just kind of make it hard on your offensive line. Obviously, they’re a very accomplished defense.”
More room to improve
During the win over the Cowboys, the Texans bottled up running back Ezekiel Elliott, limiting him to 54 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Quarterback Dak Precott completed 18 of 29 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown and a 66.5 passer rating. The Texans intercepted him twice for their first multiple-interception game of the season, and their first picks since Mathieu intercepted New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the season opener.
The Cowboys had just 14 first downs, 292 yards of total offense and went 4-of-14 on third downs.
It was a big improvement compared to how the Texans fared against Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who passed for 464 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions the week before the Cowboys game.
“I still don’t think we’ve reached what we’re capable of playing,” Watt said. “I still think that when we look at the film, when we watch and we try and analyze what we can do better, I think there’s a lot of things that we can do better.
“Against a good offense, especially a good running offense like that, I think we did a good job, but I think we have a chance to be even better.”