Draft Preview - Josh Allen

is that this guy has an absolute canon. He can throw at eighty yards and we're gonna dive in right now. On the Official Jets Podcast e A. The book on Allen is, like I said, the cannon of the arm. But on the other under the spectrum is the fifty six percent completion mark? Is it overblown? Well, that's not for me to decide. I will tell you that he was through forty four touchdown passes at Wyoming. He mentioned

the fifty six completion percentage twenty one interceptions. Here's a guy who out of high school, had no scholarships from any Division one program. He went to Juco School, grew up in California, much like Josh Rosen and Sam Donald. But this was a fireball California, played some basketball growing up, and he can throw a ninety mile par fastball. But after he went to junior college, he was only offered by Eastern Michigan and Wyoming, and then he went to Wyoming.

Statistically he had a better year in two thousand sixteen rather than two thousand seventeen. There are a lot of folks who studied the film Greens who really liked this guy because you mentioned it. Elite arm also tremendous athleticism, and a lot of people talk about his leadership and tangibles. And he is a guy even though he played at a mid major school, he might have an unbelievable ceiling

in terms of his pro prospects. We're gonna speak to Robert Gagliardi of Wild Sports dot Net the Waami Boomerang in just a couple of minutes here, but real quick on Josh Allen is this is a guy who many believe Sam Donald's gonna go number one overall. But if it's not Sam Donald, the next man up that many people believe could be in play at number one for

the Cleveland Browns is indeed Josh Allen. Because this guy has elite arm strength, He's extremely athletic, he can make all the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to and debatedbly, this is the guy that might have the most upside out of the group. I mean, this is why general managers are paid a decent amount of coin, because you have to look at a guy on film and project. How is he going to make the transition from a place like Wyoming to one of the thirty two teams

and play on Sundays. Is gonna be a big difference there. When people criticize Allen, it is for that completion percentage and they automatically assume the lack of accuracy. And there are a lot of folks who say, hey, that is just not right. He's more accurate than you think. Maybe he wasn't playing with a lot of talent on the outside. Maybe Wyoming through the ball a little bit more down

the field. As far as challenging throws are concerned, Allen is a guy who if you're making a quarterback and you put him in a lab and you think about six four, six five to thirty, got some athleticism, can move, can make all the throws. Also, is a good kid willing to learn. It's got a lot of upsides. Now you've got to make that projection. Is he ready to play? How quickly do you think he can play? And how

is he going to adjust to your individual program. I will say, no matter what the Jets do at the number three overall selection, if they indeed do take a quarterback, I think they have a great structure in place because Josh McCown is here a guy who is the consummate professional, and Jeremy Bates has has success with a lot of quarterbacks throughout his career, most notably you think about McConnell last season, but then you can go back to a little fireball back in his day, Ja Cotler when he

was a young guy. And you know, I think Bates is a guy who can take young quarterbacks and he can mold them, and he also can take veteran quarterbacks and get the bus out of them. And then we saw that last year. But I think the Jets have a good situation if they decide, indeed to take a quarterback at number three overall. Josh Allen extremely fascinating because some people are infatuated by him, some people not so much.

But you know, let's check in with someone that's covered him for the three years that he's been in Wyoming, and Robert Gagliardi. Robert, thanks a lot for joining us. Let's dive in here. Josh Allen, he's a man of mystery, I'd say, because some people love him, some people not so much. So from your time covering him, what is your opinion on Josh Allen? Well, I think the first thing that comes to my mind and about Josh Allen is just how much of a competitor this kid is.

You know, I've been covering college football for over twenty years, and I've seen a lot of really good players, a lot of really good athletes, but I'm not sure if I've seen anyone as competitive as this kid. And I think that fuel has been kind of been built based going back to when he was in high school because he's always everyone. A lot of people have always doubted him,

you know that that he couldn't. I mean, there's a kid that didn't have offers coming out of high school at a tiny fireball California is about a six four five pound bean pole, and then went to junior college and even there, even after putting up you know, pretty decent numbers in one year are not a whole lot of people gave him munch of attention, but Wyoming kind of on a buck of the draw, so to speak. They were actually there at his junior college looking at

someone else, looking at a defensive tackle. I believe I saw some potential there, and uh, I thought they'd better take a look at him. They did, and the rest is sort of history. But that's no if it's an underdog mentality, but just just just people doubting him all the time is just fueled this kid's fire. And I think it's even proven that as we get into this draft process, and you know, we all know there's there's been some accuracy issues and I think you know and

Josh is even admitted to that. But then he comes into the combine. He's done every you know, since the end of last season, he's done everything he's you know, he went to the Senior Bowl and did well, He went to the Combine and did well. You know, he threw it as pro day and did well, and worked on a lot of those things that you know, people are questioning about his accuracy with and has made progress with. Now I'm not gonna sit here and say that he's

he's pro ready. He's ready to step in on day on and be someone's franchise quarterback for the next ten to fifteen years. But you know, I think he just really liked the silence of doubters and that just fuels him. And I think that's one of the reasons why, in my opinion, he's going to be a very, very good professional quarterback. Robert is his athleticism underrated because everybody talks about his elite arm and there is no questioning that.

But the more folks I've spoken to over the past few months, they've said, hey, listen, this guy's got a lot of speed, and his feet are underrated as far as getting out of that pocket and maybe throwing on the run and also maybe talking it sometimes. Absolutely, you know, I'm not gonna say he's got four four speed. He is very athletic and not just what he can do if a play breaks down and you know, getting out

of the pocket and throwing on the run. But one thing I noticed that at Wyoming was is just how hard he was to bring down. And that goes back to his athleticism and just his physical stature. At six ft five two thirty five Hounds. But no, he he runs awful well and and you know, he ran a lot of Wyoming sometimes more often than not he's running

for his life. But also, I mean there were times where look Whyoming at trouble running the football last year and Josh Allen, I mean, you know, yes, he was a pro prospect and you know, and everything like that. I mean, they they ran Josh Allen a lot of times. He Josh Allen was often Wyoming's best running option last year. So yeah, the athleticism is certainly there, along with the

arm strength and and things like that. But I would say if I'd say his athleticism maybe is a little bit underrated, but him his ability with that athleticism to extend plays and and move the pocket and things like that are are also wants some of his stronger attributes. I got a two part for you, is that you mentioned the fifty percent accuracy. Someone asked me on Twitter, and I defer to you, is are those stats overblown? One?

And two is I know when people say that, people meaning pundits around the league say that, yes, the completion percentage mark is overblown. It's largely in part of the talent surrounding him. So I just wanted you to touch on, you know, what talent was surrounding Josh Allen because you just mentioned and you said he was Wyoming's off and top rushing threat as well, and obviously he plays quarterback. Look, I'll admit I think some of it has blown up

about his accuracy. Now, I'm also not going to sit here and say that it's completely overblown, because there are some issues there. And again, I think he's been addressing some of those things in the off season and his training and stuff. And how that will transfer to, you know, when guys are coming after him in practices and in games remains to be seen. But I'll take you back to two thousand sixteen, and look, he had a you know, his leading rusher, you know, a guy that ran for

over four thousand yards at Wyoming. Took a lot of pressure off Josh Allen in two thousand sixteen. He had some pretty talented receivers and even a talent to tight end. So you fast forward to two thousand seventeen, all those guys are gone, along with his starting center who was playing for the Washington Redskin this season. And you look at that and you know that there were some issues. Now I'm not gonna say Josh Allen had every throw

and you know everything was perfect. Yeah, there were some drop passes, there were some growing pains there, but there was certainly a lack of quote unquote a talent gap from the production he lost in two thousand sixteen to two thousand seventeen. But one thing that also stood out about Josh to me was his character about it. I mean, he look, he didn't have to come back after two thousand sixteen, but he wanted to. And when even when things were a little rough at times, he never threw

was guys under the bus. He always was, you know, doing everything they can to to encourage them and to work with them, whether that was working late after practices or even in the off season or or things like that. So he never once threw anyone under the bus that way. And another thing I guess with the accuracy is is that this is a you know, pretty traditional pro style offense the Wyoming runs with with coach pick bowl, there's not a lot of gimme throws. The screen game really

wasn't much of an option for this team. Perhaps maybe it should have been, but it wasn't you know, when you look at college football today, guys, and you've seen enough. There's a lot of spread offenses out there and this and that, and that's fine. There's also a lot of quote unquote layups as far as throws the quarterbacks can make, and they're just simply weren't a lot of those for Josh Allen. So I think that's where some of that

accuracy issues come in. Again, I'm not saying that he doesn't need to improve his accuracy, but also some of some of his body of work in some of the systems he was in, and even personnel that he had also lent to maybe some of those struggles at least numbers by Robert, Do you think this jump is going to be bigger for Josh Allen compared to maybe a Josh Rosen who obviously played at U C. L A. Or or Baker Mayfield, who again he played a lot

in a shotgun himself. So he's gonna have to make a significant transition to the National Football League in terms just looking at system and taking that ball from behind center.

And then also Sam Donald considering Alan playing at the mid major level, Carson Wentz had a lot of success right off the bat, but do you think this is a bigger jump for him or that's not fair to say, yeah, you know you're gonna be you know, you're going against NFL guys in NFL defenses and guys who are bigger and faster, and the competition certainly, you know, goes up

exponentially for all these guys. But I'm not sure if you know, Yeah, it's a big jump and it's certainly gonna be a big adjustments for all But I don't I'm not. I don't know if any of them is that daunting do that well, Josh Allen played at a mid major, I don't know if he can make that move, you know, or like you mentioned, guy like Rosen who was mostly out of the shotgun and can't take snaps under center. I have confidence that Josh Allen can handle those.

I'm not to say that, you know, I'll come naturally. He's gonna be a lot of work and a lot of things involved, and I'm sure he's been working on some of those things in kind of a controlled environment and his training at this point. But I don't think it's anything that's so daunting to say, well, we can't take this guy because he didn't play against the competition that say that Donald did or we can't take a rose and for instance, because all I ever did was

play out of the shotguns. So I think for all these guys in the draft, at least these quarterbacks, I think all of it's going to be a pretty significant jump for them. You mentioned Allan's competitive spirit. I just want to know, is there a specific anecdote that either you saw or you've heard from teammates, coaches, other reporters

that really exemplifies how much of a competitor Alan is. Well, I've heard from even teammates of his, like even when they're hanging out and they're playing video games or or something like that, where where Alan is just it's kind of like kind of a cutthroat. I mean, he's even you know, whatever it takes to him. But I think my best example of the competitiveness that Josh allen An's came in two thousand and sixteen and they're playing San

Diego State. I believe it's in the Mountain West Championship game and Josh Allen throws an absolutely awful path. I mean he even admitted afterwards he throws a pick six, okay, and he's and he's so standeva State defensive back Reddit. You know, Allen didn't have a good read on it.

The guy's returning, it looks like it's an easy touchdown, but Josh Allen runs nearly halfway across the field to make a tackle or try to knock this guy at a bound, and not only does he knock him out of bound, he knocks the football out before that he can cross the plane. The ball goes into the end zone and it's a touch back for Wyoming and they

get the ball back. Now. You know, look, I've seen a lot of you know, quarterbacks make those throws and bad plays, and granted good plays on the defense, but that's that's a pick six. You regroup and go from there. Josh Allen didn't let that happen. To me, that was the best example I've seen of him, and I'm sure there were others of the competitiveness of that kid, and

to me, that showed a lot. Yeah, it was a bad throw and he knew it, but he did everything he can to directify it into to make a tackle, to put his body out there, and he ken pretty much dope at the guy to try to make the tackle. And he not only made the tackle, knocked the ball out, got the ball back for Wyoming, and prevented a pick six. So to me, that was that exemplify the kids competitive. What has Josh's reaction ben when I asked about potentially

playing in New York? Obviously a lot of people are talking about him in the top five category, you got the Giants sitting there at number two overall, the Jets at number three overall, and you know, depending on what day you look out there at these my draft Robert, as you know a lot of people haven't paid going

to New York. Sure, you know, I think you know, you know, I think Josh has been saying just pretty much all the right things, like probably a lot of these other guys saying, whether it's it's the Jets or the Giants or whatever, he just wants to go and and learn and compete. And you know, one thing that was interesting to me because after the two thousand and sixteen season there were thoughts that he would come out.

Then in fact, he had decided he was going to come out, not he didn't announce it, but then had a gut just his gut feelings, and now I want to come back to Wombing and play one more year. But he told me after he made the decision to come back to Wind, he goes, I just don't want to play in the NFL, he goes, I want to have an NFL career. And whether that's it with the Jets or the Giant Scats, it's not in day from coming from Wyoming or even from tiny Firebox California where

he's from, to the Big Apple. But I think he I think he's looking forward to wherever it's going to be to just go and compete and fulfill his dream. You know. Yeah, I think it's a different scenario that if you're in New York as as opposed to Cleveland or Buffalo. And again, no disrespect to those cities or

those franchises, but I think he knows that. You know, I don't know if you can really how you can prepare for that necessarily, But I think I have enough faith in Josh Allen that you know, he's a very adaptable young man and and and you know, um, if it is New York in the fish bowl that that media market is, I think it was just just fine and uh and make the most of it and other plus you have to look at in terms of Josh Allen as he's not gonna blink in terms of the

cold where maybe obviously Josh Rose and Sam Donald, you're not playing in too many cold weather games. I gotta imagine that Josh played in Wyoming and some of those road games in some less than ideal conditions. Yeah, you know, In fact, it was interesting at his pro day here and Laryer me a couple of weeks ago, and now looking looking Wyoming, we can get snow in June here, fellas lift you're long enough to where I'd seen that, unfortunately,

but springing Wyoming, it's it's one of these things. Right now. I'm looking out my window and it's snowing right now. You know. It's one of those things where you can get snow one minute, Nick can be sixty five the next. The pro day was held in the school's indoor practice facility, but actually, Josh Allen said, I was hoping it would snow because he wanted to go out there and throw about twenty balls to prove to people that he could

throw in the bad weather. Unfortunately, was just windy, which is pretty much every day out here in Wyoming. But yeah, I think you know, he's he's played in some cold weather. He's you know, he's practiced in it. I know it's not something he loves to do. You know, he'd take nicer weather just like anyone else. But he's certainly not shy at that. He's certainly played in it, and he's played some pretty good football in some of those poor

weather games. So that's also I guess probably you could look at that as as a plus this if you look at compared to maybe a guy like Darnald or Rosen that playing in much better climates. But he's certainly he I can certainly tell he's not shy of playing in in adverse weather conditions. You know, when you're talking about snow in one minute and sixty five the next, it sounds a lot like my alma mater in Syracuse, because Syracuse it actually snowed on my graduation day and

the day before it was like seventy degrees. But I'm not here to reminisce on that. I want to ask you a little more about Josh Allen is that in his three years at Wyoming, if you could pinpoint, you know, water, a couple of areas where you've seen the most growth in his performance on or off the field, where would that be. You know, obviously he got he physically, he got bigger. You know, he probably put on at least twenty pounds since he's been at Wyoming of of muscle.

You know, I think he's studied the game better or taken more of an effort without at least from the first time that he got here. But I think probably the biggest thing that anything is just his leadership. Look, we know, guys, we've seen enough football. The order back position, no matter where, it's kind of the leadership position, whether you like it or not. But Josh Allen has really

really taken to that. Even you know, when his first year when he only played basically what I think it was seven or twelve plays before he broke his collar bone and seven in seven places after getting drilled by a defender. Guys just gravitated this kid. And Josh has taken people under his wings, and just that leadership ability and things like that have have really grown up that he was bad at it before. Again, I think when

your quarterback, you're kind of trust into that position. But just how he's how he's grasped that and how he's embraced that those qualities, you know, and and whether it's his guys on his offense or his defense or had you know, I see him out there with you know, before practice, is joking with the managers and having fun

with them. Just how he's gravitated to the whole team aspect and embracing what it's like to be not just the face of maybe a team or a fanchise, but just a leader of guys and how they look up to him and stuff that growth in him and maybe superstes anything that he's even done physically or statistically on the field or on the statue. How much do you

think he's benefiting working with Jordan Palmer right now? And also has he enjoyed getting close to Sam Donald in this process as I gotta imagine both those guys are fierce competitors, but you know, they've lived together and they're getting the same kind of mentorship right now. Yeah, I think it's it's worked out well for Josh. You know, got to know, uh, you know Donald a little bit, and he's worked with other quarterback coaches in the past

on his own and stuff. But I really think what the work that he's done with Jordan Palmer has been great. I mean, the thing that impressed me about Josh's pro day at least was not just the arm strength that a lot of people have known about, but the work that he's done with his footwork was amazing to me.

And the accuracy and the touch on the ball, the work that he's done with Jordan Palmer, and obviously you know Josh you know, going, you know, going all in, take not taking that, you know that that coaching and that tutelage was probably was far and away the thing that impressed me the most. And I think being around guys like darn Olgin to know them, I know, you know, he's been to the Manning Passing Academy before to get to know some of those guys. He's worked with George

Whitfield in the past. I think just just absorbing kind of like a sponge, just absorbing all of that information and knowledge that he can get from anyone and everyone that's credible out there in this profession. I think is really benefited Josh a lot. And he and he certainly takes to what he takes to learning. He's not shy to work, He's not shy to learn and I think

that's certainly helped him to this point. That's Robert Gagliardi, the senior sports editor and beat writer for the University Wyoming and Mountain West Conference sports for newspapers all over. Gianne and Larry, why, we're very excited to see what happens here for the Jets in the draft. And I know it's an ex sighting time for a lot of folks out there in Wyoming. I'm sure is it's been a lot of fun. Certainly keeps us all on our toes and uh here in a few weeks will have

some solid answers. I think what stood out to me there about Robert Gagliardi is that he just thought that Alan's competitive nature stood out more than anything, even more than his athleticism. I think that is something that goes unnoticed about him. And you know, obviously, when you think of Josh Allen, you think of the arm and you think of his strength. But he is extremely competitive and

his teammates love him. And I think what gagli already said about playing video games and still being competitive, that's something that I think a lot of NFL quarterbacks have is that they hate to lose, and so Josh Allen is extremely interesting on a number of different levels. I think I think it's pretty cool that him and uh Sam Donald about working together throughout this process. They develed

that relationship. Yeah, and when we were at the combine and we heard both of those guys speak, you could really tell that they were very friendly and that they push each other to try to become the best quarterback that they can be. Yeah, I think there's some mutual respect there, and those guys know ultimately that Sam donald success is not going to impact Josh Allen and the slightest.

They might be forever lenked and forever compared, but you have no reason to root against the guy you're coming out with, because bottom line, you're going to a different situation. That competition is probably over for the most part, but you will be forever linked being part of the two thousand and eight team draft class. One thing on Josh Allen's arm. You mentioned that he throws a fastball and

high school he throws the ball eight yards. You don't like those nerf balls that have like the tail on the end of it. He said he could throw one well over a hundred, So, I mean that's crazy. I don't want to get too crazy. Yeah, you're getting a little bit too crazy. Is that I would ask you this, how many times in the NFL game are you throwing ball eight yards? I'm not I'm not sure. I didn't say that you are. I'm asking you a question. You're probably not throwing it a lot of doesn't mean that

it's not impressive. It is impressive. That's crazy. My point is it's like the deep outs, the throws in the Show Football League that we're talking about, or can you throw the ball across the field to the other boundary and things like that. Very few times are gonna throw the ball seventy yards on a rope. But he he does throw it differently than anybody else coming out. There's no doubt about that. He has to be refined. I don't want to call him a project, because I don't

think he is a project. But you can make the argument all these guys before the International Football League are somewhat of a project. The thing with Alan is that he's one of the guys where you don't really see them. You know, you could close your eyes and you can physically hear the ball whistle by you. And that's something that was set in an interview with Daniel Jeremiah and

Bucky Brooks on their podcast Move the Sticks. And I think that Alan, like you said, the deep outs is something that's very intriguing and small windows too, because he can really plant and deliver right, And you're right about that. And the one one of the knocks on him too was that does he have taught? Does he have one speed? And I think he's developing that as we go. And the other thing that it seems like Jordan Palmer is

working on with him especially is footwork. You hear so many guys talk about this Jam Pattington as a great example. So you think about the head and the feet. Where's the head, where's the feet? Because the head's got to set up the protections. The head has to go through the progressions. The head has to look at the defense and say this is what the coverage is. While that's happening, your feet have to be on schedule. And then the

last part of that is the arm. Something with Alan is that he said even at the Senior Bowl back in January, the thousand thing he wanted to work on, and you've seen him improved from the Senior Bowl to the combine to the Pro day and Laramie, Wyoming with Jordan Palmer right there, and that one of the things that Jordan Palmer wanted to help Alan do was kind of widened his base a little bit to help his

footwork to deliver a more accurate strike. And the one thing about Alan that I'd say the top three picks as it stands now have in common is inclement weather, which with an arm like that makes you an appealing option. Because we talked about it just now with Gagliardi, is that it's snowing, it's hailing, it's raining. Alan can throw through it. And old school guys gonna tell you hand size are important, right and Josh Allen is a monster of a man and you're a big man. He's got

big hands too. You know. He didn't turn it over that much last year in terms of interceptions are concerned. But ball security is imperative in the national football If you can't protect the football, you're not gonna have a chance to play. Uh. It's gonna be interesting to watch his transition. The natural comparison as Carson Wantz because once once to North Dakota State, there is some coaching familiarity there.

That's how Alan wound up at Why all I mean because coach who was with once North Dakota State saw this guy and said, we gotta get this guy to wild Loon mean as well, so big dude can make all the throws. Good personality. Will have to see if his career is that kind of ascension that Carson Wentz did, because I'll tell you what in his second professional season wants it looked like down I follow MVP before he went out, but the Eagles won a Super Bowl anyway,

But I digress. I'm getting off point. There you have it. The Josh Allen episode on the Official Jets Podcast, Ethan Greenberg and Eric Allen again the draft just around the corner. Next episode, Next man Up, Baker Mayfield. Stay tuned