Josh Allen’s Quarterback Processing Is Elite for the Bills’ Offense

Josh Allen has led an elite Buffalo Bills offense year in and year out. 

The 2024 MVP runs an offense that demands he read defenses, set the right protections, and use his legs in key situations.

So, what makes his processing so elite?

Allen Reads Blitzes and Non-Blitzes Before the Snap

Let’s look at his process when defenses muddy up the line of scrimmage.

On this presnap, the Chiefs are showing blitz from one direction, and sending the linebacker from the opposite side to pass rush. It becomes just a four man pass rush. It’s quite a puzzle for Allen to process. He gets Ty Johnson to split out wide in the backfield but that doesn’t send him any answers. 

But on the postsnap, he processes the information quickly. The left defensive end is right in his throwing lane so it does feel like a blitz. Therefore, he has to change his throwing angle and widen it out away from the defender to get a clean throw off.

Also, because the Chiefs sent the weakside linebacker to show blitz, he can’t get back into the play because Allen got rid of the ball so fast. Johnson’s already five yards downfield and the Bills showed that they have an excellent counter. 

Here’s another play, this time with a blitz called.

It’s third-and-nine with another empty backfield. Jaguars are showing blitz while the back end are playing off their man.

Allen’s counter to the blitz is a hot throw on a bubble screen to Khalil Shakir. This gets the ball out of his hands quick vs the blitz.

The Jaguars end up with an overload blitz to one side. Dawson Knox makes the key block on Shakir’s man and because Knox’s man is ten yards off the line of scrimmage, Shakir has a lane to spin his way to a first down.

It’s not the sexiest play by Allen, but it’s smart football.

Allen Making the Correct Pass Protections

One of the things a quarterback goes through on his checklist presnap is the pass protection.

It’s third-and-goal from the 15-yard line. The end zone is the only place the football is going to, so that’s where everyone ends up.

The pass protection slides left on the snap which makes it clear that the process is to get Allen to roll out right and buy time for receivers to uncover. 

Patriots play match quarters — meaning the outside corners and safeties take any route runner that goes 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage and it turns into man-to-man coverage.

Once Dawson Knox uncovers, Allen’s throwing process becomes a bullet instead of a pass over the defender’s head since Knox’s man is out of the play.

The Bills present a similar pass protection that buys Allen room in the pocket.

It’s second-and-ten out of shotgun, so they need to cut into the needed yardage. He has a unique pass protection set up with the left guard pulls out to block the strongside defensive end. Allen does a half roll out on his dropback.  

Allen’s vision is working towards the left side of the field with a two-on-two, but Johnson is covered on the wheel route and Brandin Cooks can’t separate on the post route.

That first and second read is taken away and the internal clock is close to expiring. So, the process now is the checkdown to James Cook and see what his running back can do with it. As he looks to Cook, he adjusts his throwing platform towards Cook.

This sort of change in the process makes it a much cleaner throw. And in that instant, the All-Pro quarterback leads the pass to Cook to make it easy for Cook to stay up field and pick up yards after the catch.

The Bills Use Allen’s Legs as a Weapon in Key Situations

A critical component to the Bills offense is Allen’s legs in key down and distance situations.

This is a design power run — a run for the quarterback to go outside. Allen must attack the D gap, which is the outside shoulder of his tight end.

One of the keys to this concept is to leave the weakside edge defender unblocked and let the left tackle, Dion Dawkins, look for work upfield. Simply put, Allen trusts himself to outrun the unblocked defender. 

Running laterally gets you nowhere but Allen must turn upfield as soon as he attacks the D gap. 

It’s Connor McGovern who makes the key reach block — by going to the second level and taking the linebacker out of the play. As soon as Allen sees that, he can go north and go untouched for a score.

Bills run the same concept here but they see a different look defensively. It’s third-and-five. The Broncos are showing blitz, which is difficult for offenses to attempt an interior run. 

Allen has the answer to call his own number and go outside.

They get the tackle, Spencer Brown, to release block and immediately get upfield to destroy the cornerback. On this power run, Allen’s goal is to outrun everyone to the sideline. The idea of turning upfield early is not on his mind. 

Allen’s process worked great on this one. With the line of scrimmage crowded, Allen gets his one crucial block to give him the lane for the first down.

Entering Year 9, the arm talent and athleticism are still there. The question is no longer whether Allen can process at an elite level. It is whether he can turn that into a Super Bowl.