Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Slowing Allen on to-do list
It may have been just one game, the season opener of Josh Allen’s third NFL season.
But Allen, the Buffalo Bills quarterback whom the Miami Dolphins will face Sunday, seems to be steadily improving. And that might not bode well for a Dolphins team that is 1-3 against Allen, including a sweep for the Bills last season.
“I think he’s made incredible growth from the time we first saw him until now — from an accuracy standpoint [and] just an overall presence,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said this week of Allen, the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
“He’s got command of the offense. His leadership, you can see it really on a play-to-play basis. That team rallies around him.”
Allen remains a quarterback enigma as his accuracy issues, particularly on the run, are the worst part of his evolving game. Against the New York Jets last week, Allen
had several poor passes, including an overthrow of a wide-open target in the end zone after a play-action design.
But it’s clear Allen has become more comfortable as the Bills’ starter, beginning the season by completing 33 of 46 passes for 312 yards with two touchdown passes.
Allen had time to sit back and throw, often unfazed, as Buffalo’s offensive line gave him time in the pocket to examine his downfield options, which now includes receiver Stefon Diggs, who had eight catches on nine targets for 86 yards in the opener. And that could be a scary sign for the Dolphins and other AFC East rivals as Allen hopes to lead Buffalo to the playoffs for a second straight season.
“It will be a great challenge for us [because] they’re a really good football team, well coached,” Flores said. “Sean [McDermott] has done a great job there.”
Perhaps the Dolphins’ biggest concerns heading into Sunday’s Week 2 matchup: Allen’s prowess as a runner remains. He led the Bills with 14 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown run against the Jets last week despite two lost fumbles, which came with Buffalo holding onto a comfortable lead.
Allen is even better against the Dolphins: He has rushed for nearly 11 yards per carry (10.96) with three touchdowns.
After allowing New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton to run for 75 yards on 15 carries with two rushing touchdowns last week, the Dolphins defense knows Allen and the Bills offense will attempt to beat them on the ground.
This may not be an easy task for the new-look Dolphins defense, which nees improved efforts from players such as defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy after Miami lost 21-11 to New England and gave up a leagueworst 217 yards rushing in Week 1.
“First of all, we’ve got to stop the run,” Ogbah said. “If we stop the run and make them one-dimensional, it’s going to take care of itself.
“We’ve got guys that can get after the quarterback, [but] we have to focus on stopping the run first. That’s the most important thing this game.”
As a passer, Allen has been able to do more than enough to build his 3-1 record against Miami.
While Allen has completed 61% of his passes, he has thrown 10 touchdowns with only three interceptions in four games against the Dolphins.
Allen lost his first game against the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 13 of the 2018 season as a 40-yard pass was dropped in the end zone after a dive by tight end Charles Clay with less than a minute remaining.
Allen had the last word four weeks later, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two more in a 42-17 blowout of Miami in the 2018 season finale. He also had a four-touchdown performance — three passing, one rushing — in the last matchup against Miami in Week 11 of last season.
“Josh Allen’s arm is really strong,” Dolphins safety Bobby McCain said. “We know he can throw the ball down the field, probably 100 yards if he tried.
“And he’s a good athlete with his feet. He can run. He’s faster than people think he is.”
Flores, also looking for his first win against the Bills as Dolphins coach, knows slowing Allen will be a great challenge as Miami hopes to secure its first win during the 2020 NFL season.
“Obviously he’s always been able to extend plays and pick up yardage with his legs,” Flores said of Allen. “He’s more of a dual threat as far as throwing the ball downfield.
“He’s more comfortable. He’s coming into his own.”