The NFL has hit a golden era for quarterbacking. It’s something that’s been discussed since the early 2010s, but with the new crop of young quarterbacks that term seems as relevant as ever.
Many of today’s biggest young athletes are quarterbacks with the mobility and arm strength that elevate their physical tool well beyond that of the garden variety. And with names such as Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert combining exciting out of structure play with exciting pocket presence, it’s no wonder why this has been a great time for the position.
Among the current landscape, however, our hero today hails from the city of Buffalo.
Josh Allen has had a terrific start to the 20s, ranking inside the top five in touchdown passes (73) and passing yards (8,951). As defenses learned to adjust to the explosive Bills offense, Allen’s numbers slipped a bit in 2021. He was able to rebound in time for the postseason, however, and in his two games he put up back-to-back performances for the ages.
Adjusted Net Yards Per Pass Attempt (or ANY/A) looks at a quarterback’s total net yards by subtracting sack yards from passing yards while adding on touchdowns and interceptions. Some of the most celebrated postseasons are up here, such as Joe Flacco 2012, Joe Montana 1989, and Troy Aikman 1991.
No quarterback with at least 60 attempts stands higher than Allen’s 12.52 ANY/A in 2021. With 637 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, and no interceptions, he followed a near flawless game against the Patriots with a team carrying performance against the Chiefs.
We were robbed of what could’ve been the greatest postseason a quarterback has ever had, and according to ESPN, Allen’s 94.3 QBR (the ESPN metric, not passer rating) is the highest from any postseason they’ve measured.
Even though Allen’s 2021 didn’t hit the same consistency as his 2020 season, one can argue the highs went higher. We can thank a dynamic, versatile skill set for the Bills’ signal caller ascending into one of the game’s truly great young players.
As we go back through his tape, here’s why a case can be made that Josh Allen is the league’s most complete quarterback.
Playmaking Outside The Pocket
Even in the earliest stages of Allen’s career where the criticisms were at their peak, his potential outside of play structure was never questioned. With a more focused level of play, Allen’s playmaking has continued to stand out.
Here, Allen is able to use a subtle pump fake that catches the edge rusher jumping, allowing him to swish by outside the pocket. Eventually, he’s able to find Stefon Diggs on the opposite end of the field, using incredible arm power to get the ball to him under heavy duress for the score.
As great as the throw on the previous play was, the movement here is even better. Off the play fake, Allen jukes two Texans with Tony Romo-esque elusiveness. He has the quick, nimble feet and fluid movement that makes him an exceptional athlete for the position. The easiest part is then piercing this down the sideline into the hands of Diggs for another remarkable play.
Arm Strength
Up there with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert (if not more so), Allen’s supreme arm talent has transformed him into one of the league’s most fearsome deep passers. Facing a Cover 1 defense, Allen also faces quick pressure from his right edge and left interior, and the deep go route from Emmanuel Sanders is designed for a quick play.
Despite throwing off his backfoot, Allen doesn’t just place this precisely into Sanders’ hands, he does it with a low trajectory that fires through the air. There’s a reason big armed qaurterbacks tend to make throws with arcs this low: Because the quick windup and insane power allow this heat seeker to travel relatively low, the safety over the top can’t make a play in time.
We get a similar result on this play. This time the protection is phenomenal, allowing Allen to step into the throw and rip another low trajectory cannon into Sanders’ grasp for the touchdown. This throw looks easier than it actually is: Though Sanders has a step, with where he is on the field he has little room to wait on the ball. That’s why any attempt at a fastball needed to be perfectly executed, which this was.
Running Ability
Getting back to Allen’s mobility, his fantastic running ability has him in the same conversation as Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray as the finest scramblers in the league. (Coincidentally, those are the only two quarterbacks with more rushing yards since 2020.)
According to ESPN, Allen also more expected points added on quarterback runs than any player in 2021, with a 29.5 rush EPA. With plays like the ones I’m about to show, you’ll understand how lethal he was on the ground.
Much like Jackson, Allen’s style of running has made it so he’s able to add an entire dimension on the ground if pass options are taken away, making him a game changer in that area. Allen is less about Jackson’s elusiveness to avoid hits and is more head on with his approach. Sure, it’s dangerous, but his strength (Allen is 6’5 and 237 lb) gives him a Cam Newton-esque approach to his ground attack.
Pocket Passing
One thing that goes underrated about today’s quarterbacks is the pocket play, as most recognize on the intangibles outside the pocket, so much so that the “classic” style of quarterback is considered an artifact. But in actuality, today’s crop of young passers is keeping that tradition alive, but while blending that with top mobility.
College quarterbacking may not typically rely on big NFL throws from the pocket as…well…the NFL, but Allen’s first two seasons were under heavy scrutiny for a perceived failure to stay poised or see the field at an NFL level. Entering the 2022 season that’s no longer the case.
Using this play as an example, Allen’s ability to cycle through his progressions is smoother than ever. When the first read is not open, he holds and notices tight end Dawson Knox on the shallow crosser. Allen pump fakes and creates an opening for Knox, who does the rest by plowing his way for six.
Here’s another great example of Allen making a difficult play look easy. With play action, he has immediate pressure from the right B-gap, which spells trouble because the quarterback’s eyes aren’t on the right interior. But that’s where Allen’s instincts kick in, and he dodges a sack and stays in the pocket, continuing to survery the field.
Without the missile for an arm, I’m not sure Allen would be able to thread this gasser in so cleanly. But because of the calm, poised mindset and the ability to complete passes into windows before they can close, the Bills are frequently able to get plays like this.
Josh Allen is an outstanding red zone quarterback, with his 28 touchdown passes tied for third among all quarterbacks in 2021. This all comes from improved anticipation and sense for creating open lanes, and the two plays above just happen to be against the Patriots.
Without Josh Allen’s efforts in Week 16, the Patriots likely would’ve jumped the Bills as the league’s No. 1 scoring defense. But in combination with the wild card game, Allen had two of the greatest games you’ll ever see from a Bill Belichick coached defense. Whether it’s having the anticipation to fire through five defenders (first clip) or side arm for an opening (second clip), Allen’s subtle creativity made him a dangerous foe inside the 20.
When you’re able to blend great vision with the kind of arm talent that should never be taken for granted, you’d get a guy like Josh Allen. Much like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, he’s able to flawlessly rip heaters across the field, making them look as simple as can be. It’s gone to the point where he’s almost doing this as consistently as Mahomes, and that’s no small feat considering the two are coming off arguably the greatest quarterback duel in playoff history.
Conclusion
While Josh Allen isn’t quite as great a quarterback as Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers, he is a more dynamic runner than the two. Tom Brady may have a more advanced knowledge of the field, but Allen obviously has far superior mobility. Lamar Jackson may have the edge in speed and agility, but Allen has the more powerful arm and tougher frame.
The point is that No. 17 doesn’t just stand tall comparing with the best athletes at quarterback, but in some cases he exceeds them.
I truly think Allen has pole vaulted into the conversation of elite quarterbacks. He has the powerful deep passing ability, game changing ability, and the refined poise in the pocket that’s earned him the comparisons to his peers. He may not be the league’s best quarterback yet, but he could be the league’s most complete.
