The strengths and weaknesses of Josh Allen

Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Check out my video breakdown of Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen.

Note: After pressing play, click on the arrows at the bottom-right corner of the video to make it full screen.

STRENGTHS:

WEAKNESSES:

This article has 126 Comments

    1. I don’t think so. The 49ers should pair Ford with the best edge rusher available. They have plenty of run defenders already.

    2. I was thinking in base Ford LEO, Allen SAM. In pass both DE, or rotation. I think situational pass rusher is also a good way for a rookie to adapt to the NFL. Haralson OLB base and Aldon OLB pass downs worked really well.

      1. If you ever watch Quentin William’s tape you will see why the 49ers wont pass on him. Then again, DK Metcalf has amazing tape too. Ppl say about his routes, not understanding their offense limited their outside receivers to mainly vertical types. Reminds me of Megatron. With the right coaching those 2 and I’ll throw Josh Allen in, but these 3 seem to have incredibly high ceilings. They are not finished products. Bosa, to me, is the media MVP. Hes the big name. And hey, hes better than Solly, no doubt. But I’m just not sure hes really going to get better. I mean I can’t say picking him is a bad pick but…Idk. It’s not like he was Reggie White in the 3 games he played last year.

        1. I was disappointed with the heart issue of Sweat’s, but it sounds like the problem is not disqualifying.
          .
          Sweat not only has 4.41 elite speed, he has 35.75″ arms AND 10.5 ” hands. His 3 cone drill is faster than Bosa’s, so he is measurably superior compared to every other EDGE.
          .
          Niners should trade back, and select Sweat. If not Sweat, Clelin Ferrell looks good with his 34.125″ arms and 10.5 ” hands.

        2. They arent going to check out Josh Allen at his pro day and people are still saying Allen is the pick. Smh. Bosa and Williams at 2. Everyone else are a tier or more below these 2.

      2. Both are productive sacking the QB, but both seem to be weak in run defense.
        .
        Sound very similar to me.

      1. They have Ford. Allen is redundant, but they both are not redundant, since Ford fills a role.

        1. How is Allen redundant? The 49ers need two explosive edge rushers, not just one.

          1. I agree that they need to draft a pass rusher, but if the skillsets of Allen mirror Ford’s, maybe they should find a bigger pass rusher with long arms. Maybe Rashan Gary might be another good choice. They say he is explosive out of the blocks.

            1. Gary also has a 38″ vert, while weighing 11 lbs more than Bosa, with his 33.5″ vert.

            2. Rashan Gary is a bad football player that is a physical freak.
              For crying out loud, he wasn’t even the most productive DE on his own team.

  1. Grant, are you going to do a Strength and Weakness for Burns and Sweat? I actually think that along with Allen I like them as much or more than Bosa.

  2. Great job Grant
    If you can do one on Q Williams too…..would be nice.
    It’s a good way to simply observe some of these things for us lacking true knowledge (yet all talking like we are experts) and to observe in a stripped down way some basic fundamentals.

      1. Great job Grant, keep it up. You’re the man. ‘You’ getting paid the big bucks, we know.! So yeah it would be great if you could do a video breakdown on Sweat in case they trade down for him. Burns too and there’s talk of the 49ers now liking Q.W, a video on him would be nice. Thanks!

  3. Grant, we’ve all read your articles criticizing Bosa’s intangibles, specifically his arm length. Allen also has a physical limitation that is even more striking than Bosa’s: his hands are a tiny 8 3/4″. For all the talk of few elite pass rushers having arms shorter than 34″, I can’t find any elite pass rushers with hands under 9 1/2″.

    Allen is fairly limited in terms of a pass rush repertoire. Do you think his small hands contribute to his lack of counter moves? I’ve watched games where he disappears for stretches if his first move isn’t working. To what extent is his poor hand usage a product of a failure to hone his technique versus his physical limitations?

      1. Wonder if hand-fighting is a bit easier if the hands are larger–all other athletic abilities being equal?

      2. I disagree. DL players need to be able to get their hands on blockers’ pads to control and redirect them. They need to be able to deliver a strike with their hands. “Heavy hands” isn’t a phrase coined for a receiver.

        I did a little more looking, and I can’t find any sack leaders in the past five years with hands smaller than 9″, and only Junior Galette and Whitney Mercilus come in below 9 1/2″, at 9″ and 9 1/4″ respectively. Most of the effective pass rushers have hands that are at least 10″. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

  4. Thanks Grant. These are fun.

    Doing an edge rush series is great. Time permitting Williams too?

  5. Allen’s ability to quickly change direction, then accelerate in an instant back towards the quarterback is shocking. He seems safely ridden high behind the quarterback by the tackle, but in a blink he’s changed direction for a strip sack.

      1. Samples of Allen changing direction, then suddenly re-accelerating into the quarterback from behind.

        https://youtu.be/_HQyP1oG51U?t=108 (at 1:55)

        https://youtu.be/5OV33GE2Krw?t=243 (at 4:03)

        https://youtu.be/t7HmT0MKDnY?t=142 (at 2:20)

        There’s another sack (I haven’t been able to find where Allen is ridden about 8 yards up the pocket by the tackle. He seems totally blocked. Then like a rubber band he’s hitting the quarterback from behind. If I can find it I’ll post it.

        Aldon was a praying mantis, using his length to get to the quarterback a fraction sooner than anticipated. Allen acheives the same result with speed. Great for forcing turn overs.

              1. An agile pass rusher helps when chasing down Wilson. If Murray ends up in our division it will be down right essential.

              2. Good call. I have visions of Bosa flailing and falling while trying to catch those two.

    1. Allen is really quick making that tight little u-turn back to the QB with balance!..If he doesn’t get the sack he can at least put lots of pressure on him. Also knocking a lot of balls out of the QB’s hands maybe for fumbles.

  6. I’m not sold on Allen. The game film I’ve seen he is poor in run support and takes the play off when it runs to the other side of the field. I like Bosa, but the more I see Williams I lean that direction. If the Niners picked up another edge rusher in the draft or free agency (Houston) they would be scary with that Edge or Armstead, plus Buckner, Williams and Ford across the front. This group would not only bring the heat and not let a QB step up but would be great against the run. So in writing this I have talked myself into Williams as the best “all around” defensive improvement option.

    1. What people should be saying is how Williams can rush from the edge on third down. I really think Lynch is gonna see the Warren Sapp in him. Of course they won a Super Bowl and this ‘Seattle Style’ defense uses alot of Tampa 2 concepts. Just a thought

      1. Williams wouldn’t be rushing from the edge on third down, he would be next to Buckner and either Thomas or Armstead would kick outside.

  7. A little off topic, but Sebbie will love it…

    AAF Championship Game…

    “To be able to showcase our brand of top-flight football on NFL Draft weekend in the state-of-the-art football facility built by Jerry [Jones] is a Texas-sized win for our league,” said Bill Polian, head of football, The Alliance. “Texas has played a huge support role in the launch of The Alliance. Our San Antonio Commanders average nearly 30,000 in attendance for home games, and we are sure football fans in Dallas/Fort Worth will support our Championship.”

  8. Grant,
    Nice job on Allen. Appreciate the breakdown.

    There is a difference between Allen and Bosa that gives me pause regarding Allen..
    Allen has better physical ability than Bosa which everyone agrees on. Theres no argument on this.

    But you showed one aspect of Allen’ game that I have seen more then a few times and that is his Read and Reaction time. His speed is going to be nullified by this alarming weakness.
    In some of his tape he seems to make downfield tackles that could have been made closer to the LOS had he read and reacted quicker. When Allen receives a year to develop more strength, knowledge of defenses and the NFL speed of the game he will be better.

    Bosa is not as fast as Allen, but he is much better at reading and reacting than Allen. And Bosa has better control and leverage when using a combination of power, speed and technique.
    Ive seen Bosa power over Olineman and double teams on occassion. Bosa does more than a decent job of covering the edge because of his quick read and reaction time.
    Unlike Allen, Bosa will be effective from day one.

    But as I’ve said before, I’d be happy with either of these players along with Q. Williams. Anyone of these players will upgrade our defense.

    1. Kendrick Bourne Poly

      @BournePoly11
      Bosa the icing on the cake for the D line ?

      1,289
      5:42 PM – Mar 20, 2019

  9. If the 49ers go edge it should be for Allen, Burns or Sweat. They already have two first round picks in guys like Bosa.

    Like the idea of Allen being used like Aldon Smith while he gets coached up on the intricacies of the SAM role in this defense.

    1. “They already have two first round picks in guys like Bosa.” Hammer

      Which two are you referring to Jack?

        1. Jack,
          I have little doubt that Bosa can supplant either of these players.
          Bosa has the ability to get more sacks in one season than Thomas has had in his last two years.

          Armstead had a good year and stayed healthy. That gives me more confidence in his game going forward. But I doubt that he would have more sacks than Bosa.
          Both Armstead and Thomas can do some nice things, but they are not sack specialist like Bosa is.

          This off season was supposed to be about getting someone who can get to the QB consistently. Bosa is the best pure pass rusher in the draft who could be that player.
          If he is healthy enough to play and has a passion for the game, I would be happy with him. But this might be a major IF.

          1. Bosa is the icing on the defensive cake. If only he had a different name, like maybe Nick Smith.

          2. Last season the 49ers got 9.5 sacks out of guys who play the same position as Bosa. Even if he matches what is brother did as a rookie, he won’t, and gets 10.5 sacks the improvement of the defense with his addition is minimal and not worth the investment.

            The pick should be Williams. That addition would give the defense the biggest bump in production.

            1. Jack,
              So, it takes a village of players to do what one player (Bosa) can do. I wonder how Lynch and Shanahan view this scenario.
              Even if Bosa can get 7-8 sacks in his rookie season he will make us better because defensive cords would need to scheme with Bosa in mind.

              Q.Williams (though a different position) is this type of player as well. Dcords will lose sleep the night before games.
              Bosa or QW may send Thomas packing. The village could get smaller sooner than later.

              1. The bottom line:

                Bosa can win 1v1
                Buckner can win 1v1
                Ford can win 1v1

                3 prong attack coming from both edges and inside is the formula, which is why Bourne described Bosa as the icing on the defensive cake.

                People are overthinking and hung up on last names….

              2. If only the front office listened to the players….

                « Even if Bosa can get 7-8 sacks in his rookie season he will make us better because defensive cords would need to scheme with Bosa in mind. »

                So a reduction in production is now a good thing?

                Coordinators won’t scheme for Bosa unless he shows he can make the plays, and he won’t be the edge rusher everyone thinks.

              3. I believe if Niners stay at 2 it’s Wlliams. Too much talent to pass up. Plus from all accounts I heard is that Williams also has a great character which is very important to Lynch and Kyle. I think there is starting to be a little bit of separation between Williams and Bosa. It’s down to those two players. Allen is not an option at 2… As many have stated the Niners are in a good position either way.

              4. Bourne might have a little more insight than you or I, and his opinion, although not influential over the front office, and to my knowledge no one inferred that it did, holds more weight than anyone else’s in here, as does Gil Brandt’s….

              5. If Gil Brandt is the end-all-be-all of draft talent why even waste our time discussing this stuff? Grant should just link to Gillies tweets and turn off the replies.

              6. I think it would be foolish for anyone of us to believe we know better than Gil. His opinion is well respected throughout the NFL community. If he agreed with you, I don’t think you’d cop an attitude over it….

              7. I respect Brandt’s opinion but could care less about Kendrick Bournes.

                If you would have said Charles Haley, Kevin Green, or some other former edge defender I would have been intrigued as they have a better idea of what they are looking at.

              8. Shoup, so you’re saying that Bourne does not have a better pulse for what the defense needs? He is in the locker room, and I’m sure he hangs out with a few of them. Trusting his insight doesn’t mean you have to trust his opinion just from the wide receiver perspective….

              9. Razor,
                what does having the pulse of the locker room have to do with the evaluation of a defensive edge rusher prospect?
                In my mind the two do not equate at all. If he had the pulse of the locker room and said something like Shanahan has lost the team, or such and such a player is creating a rift I would listen.

              10. Shoup, not pulse of the locker room. I said he’s in the locker room and part of the team. He has insight into what the feeling is among his defensive team mates as to what they feel is needed to get to the next level.

            2. “So a reduction in production is now a good thing?” Hammer

              No, but a reduction in a player who has 4 career sacks is a verygood thing. Bosa could have 4 sacks by mid season. Ah, yeah. Thats a heck of a good thing.
              Bosa combined with the other players in your scenario who got us to 9.5 sacks will provide more production than having Thomas.

              1. I keep coming back to the championship game where Clemson took the will from the Alabama front, and made them quit on the final drive. Williams was pretty much a non factor, and looked winded. I also didn’t appreciate his comments laced with excuses afterward. Clemson ran them over….

              2. Bosa would be taking those snaps.

                Let’s say, for $h!t$ and giggles that Bose is able to come in and take 80% of the snaps for the defense and comes away with 8 sacks with Armstead/Blair maintaining their same level of play as a year ago and the team trades away Thomas.

                The net of that would be a total of 10.5 sacks. Why? The 49ers faced 1073 last year. 80% of that would be 858 snaps. 8 sacks for Bosa would be a sack rate of .01, the same as what Blair posted last year. If Blair gets the same then he finishes with 2.

                Only so many snaps to go around.

              3. Williams is 1a.
                Bosa is 1b.

                Position value/team need is the deciding factor. We’re fine at DT, and we’re fine against the run. You’re over thinking it Hammer….

  10. Of all the available edge rushers in the 1st round, I really like Josh Allen. I do not see him as redundant to Dee Ford. Josh Allen can play strong side and drop into coverage as well as rush the passer. I see a lot of similarity to Aldon Smith (without the behavior issues); they are similar in size and skill set.

    I’m with Grant on Nick Bosa…I see a lot of risk with that pick.

  11. Gil Brandt prefers Bosa, and now Kendrick Bourne does too. I guess they haven’t seen Renis’ “secret” youtube video.???

    1. Perhaps not, Razor. Your analysis is getting lazy… One might start to suspect you are using Brandt as a crutch…

  12. The way I see Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, and Josh Allen is as follows:

    Prospect with the highest ceiling – Nick Bosa
    Prospect that is the most athletic – Josh Allen
    Prospect that is the biggest difference maker – Quinnen Williams

    The 49ers will be getting a solid boost to the defense no matter which guy is taken with the second pick.

    1. Bosa with the highest ceiling? I suspect he is more like the highest floor, but probably lowest ceiling of the three.

      Allen has the widest range between floor and ceiling.

      Williams has the highest ceiling imo.

      1. I see this differently.

        Best prospect – Williams is actually a tier above the other 2.
        Prospect with the highest ceiling – Allen
        Prospect with the highest floor – Bosa

        As it seems that Allen has become the best fit for this team, SAM/Edge/Leo backup with the addition of Ford, Williams or a trade back increases in likelihood. I’m actually ok with any of these players.

        BTW as a fun exercise has anyone compared Solomon Thomas’s numbers against the edge rushers in this class? He had a much better combine than I remembered.

        1. Bosa: 2.7 tkl. 1.0 tfl. .6 sacks
          Allen: 5.2 tkl. 1.0 tfl. .75 sacks
          Oliver: 6 tkl. 1.66 tfl. .42 sacks
          Burns: 3.7 tkl. 1.2 tfl. .71 sacks
          Sweat: 3.9 tkl. 1.13 tfl. .87 sacks
          Ferrell: 3.8 tkl. 1.15 tfl. .61 sacks

          Thomas: 3.4 tkl. .94 tfl. .46 sacks

          1. Jack, these number are interesting but for context are you doing a breakdown of their per game averages for their last year, career, years as a starter, games played?

            Sorry I just would like to know how to put this in context?

        2. Thomas is an elite athlete with a pSPARQ score in the 94.3 percentile. His pass-rushing problems are due to technique. He’s actually built pretty similarly to Bosa, including the relatively short arms (both 33″). But the way they go about rushing the passer is completely different. Bosa is always attacking one half of his blocker, whereas Thomas always seems to be going right at the blocker’s chest. It gives me just a tiny bit of hope that Thomas can improve, but the problem has been clear for two seasons and he hasn’t really improved on it at all to date.

      2. Bosa has the highest ceiling if you ignore his injury history, family history, short arms, lack of explosiveness, lack of balance and lack of production.

  13. Solid four round draft by Kyle Madson:

    2. Bosa Constrictor
    36. Oruwariye, CB, Penn St.
    67. Emanuel Hall, WR, MS
    104. Redwine, FS, Miami

    My only quibble would be Oruwariye. He has the size they covet at the position, but doesn’t always play like it. I think we can get a better player at FS there, and a zone CB with size in round 4….

        1. Damn another genius comeback…Razor were you sheltered as a kid?…Did you grow up in a closet?
          Here we go again year after year spewing his big fancy talk about football,and this year just like the rest everyone he identified as playmakers will go into the NFL and flop…Just like his belly over his waistline…It’s almost like pure magic to be so wrong so many times…But nope,here he is again running his mouth and will be wrong….,………Again! Bwahaha

          1. Big Troll, you sound upset. Did your boyfriend spill his milk prematurely on your lips before you were able to quench your thirst?

            That genius enough for you, little bone?

            1. Lol..you never disappoint..lame and uncreative as ever…lol
              Just like your football knowledge..

              1. Big Troll, I wish I could say the same for you. It’s very disappointing that you feel the need to disparage another to get their attention. Were you bottle fed as a child?

  14. Dwayne Haskins looked good at his pro day. He’s oozes leadership and humility.

    Haskins > Murray

  15. 49ers after Free Agency…..

    Offensive starters
    QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
    RB: Jerick McKinnon/Tevin Coleman
    FB: Kyle Juszczyk
    WR (X): Dante Pettis/Marquise Goodwin
    WR (Z): Kendrick Bourne/Jordan Matthews
    Slot: Trent Taylor/Richie James
    TE: George Kittle
    LT: Joe Staley/Shon Coleman
    LG: Laken Tomlinson
    C: Weston Richburg
    RG: Mike Person/ Joshua Garnnet
    RT: Mike McGlinchey

    Defensive starters (base)

    DE: Arik Armstead/Solomon Thomas
    NT: D.J. Jones
    DT: DeForest Buckner
    DE: Dee Ford
    SLB: Malcolm Smith/Mark Nzeocha
    MLB: Fred Warner
    WLB: Kwon Alexander
    LCB: Richard Sherman
    RCB: Jason Verrett/Ahkello Witherspoon/Tarvarius Moore
    FS: Jimmie Ward/Colbert
    SS: Jaquiski Tartt/Marcell Harris

    Defensive starters (nickel)

    DE: Ronald Blair
    DT: Arik Armstead/Solomon Thomas
    DT: DeForest Buckner
    DE: Dee Ford
    MLB: Fred Warner
    WLB: Kwon Alexander
    Nickel: K’Waun Williams

  16. Absent from this debate about who is better, is talk about the existing players, and the position coaches.
    .
    WC wondered how the coaches will coach up the players. The subtraction of Earl Mitchell will also factor in. I am hoping DJ Jones will anchor the middle. Kentavius Street will essentially be a rookie, and Julian Taylor may contribute, after gaining more experience. Both Blair and Sheldon Day need playing time, so the interior line is deep, and there may be little room for Quinnen Williams.
    .
    Will Kocurek put the right players in positions to succeed? Can he utilize Solomon Thomas properly, so he can get sacks? Will Woods successfully use Sherman and Verrett, so they will cover the receivers long enough to let the pass rush get to the QB? Will Woods help Saleh become a better DC? Can the defense get more turnovers? Will the returning injured DBs be adequate, or do they need to draft a CB and safety?
    .
    Those, and many other questions need answers to, before one can determine if the Team is ready, or still rebuilding.

  17. I still think Josh Allen would be a difference maker if we draft him cuz he would be a nightmare as Off-LB

    SAM in the Under plays a 7 or a 9 technique on the TE, but he does not have to play on the LOS. Generally the leaner and less experienced strongside backers get moved off the LOS, or play a 9-technique off the TE’s shoulder on the line. His job on the run is to control the outside D-gap. He is truly a one-gap player, but his assignment is difficult because of the pass read he constantly must make. This is where you would want your freak athlete in the Under defense.

    SAM in the OVER is a different player, more like WILL. In the Over, the strongside DE gets moved to the 9. They are both moved outwards to a 50-alignment. In the Over you could then think of them as equal players, and in the textbook Miami Over they are lined up on the same side no matter where the TE goes. However in practice nowadays Over teams will pick a SAM much like an Under team does, and put the bulkier player there to tangle with TEs. His assignment is the C-gap but he commonly does stunts with the 9-tech end, and so they often switch gaps.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/nfl/2019/3/1/18242791/josh-allen-nfl-draft-2019-kentucky-scouting-report-film-breakdown-edge

  18. Another nice breakdown Grant. But I have to say I don’t look on most of those clips on his pass rush as positively as you do. Good to see he tried some other moves, and good that some of them got ok results in this game, but when you watch the clips you can see how clunky he is with anything outside his speed rush comfort zone. Without considerable improvement NFL OTs will see those coming pretty easily from film study. And the bull rush and inside counter moves weren’t as clear cut wins as you made them out – Taylor got himself off balance by oversetting for speed on the bull rush but was able to find his anchor in the end, and the inside counter was going to get pushed right across the face of the QB without too much trouble.

    His speed rush is very good, his other moves need a lot of work. And his weaknesses you ponted out are a real area for concern. Can’t just assume coaching will coach these things up/ out of him.

    1. Looks like we agree again Scooter,
      I’m going to have to stop making a habit of it.

      Here is what I saw differently than Grant.
      Pass Rush
      – In regards to the pass rush his speed rush jumps off the screen but everyone knows that.
      – I actually think his “spin move” was a counter move when he realized his speed rush wasn’t working. I think he would have initiated his spin much sooner if that was his “planned move”. *Note* if that was his planned move it was beyond terrible.
      – He does have an inside rush, it just doesn’t show up on this tape. He uses it as one of his planned rushes not as a counter and it is very effective when the OT starts overreacting to his outside speed rush.
      – While he does have an inside rush it is not a counter and is ineffective if the Tackle reads it because he gets to high, which means he has almost no low end torque.

      Run Defense –
      – The rep vs the TE didn’t bother me, he kept his outside shoulder and read the play.
      – The rep vs Taylor Lewan was a bad rep, he tried to loop around and created a hole.
      – From everything I have seen he has 2 flaws here, in he is a poor read and react run defender because he gets too high when trying to read the play.

    2. Taylor is very good. The bull rush resulted in a pressure, and the inside rush resulted in what looked like a hold. Those moves are good. His long arm move also is good. His spin move needs work, but it beat Taylor. And Brodie2Washington posted a clip of Allen using a better spin move against South Carolina.

      Look at how much Allen improved with just one year of NFL coaching. He has the most upside of the top prospects. Bosa has a low ceiling. He already is technically refined. He always will have problems staying on his feet and finishing.

      1. I guess we’ll just have to disagree a bit on this. After watching Allen’s film I came away feeling like he needed a lot of work still on most of his pass rush moves. Lots of talent and great to see the strides he made this season, but he might be a guy that just is never that good at other pass rush techniques and that would limit him a bit.

        1. Fair enough. I believe Allen’s go-to move will be more effective than Bosa’s go-to move in the NFL. And Bosa’s secondary moves are overrated. His techniques just don’t work against length.

        2. Allen is more atheltic and teachable. He does seem to have most upside and better balance, can’t really teach that. Bosa lacks explosiveness and will always have short arms.

      2. Bosa has a LOWER ceiling than Allen. He doesn’t have a LOW ceiling. He’s very similar to his brother, who is a pro bowl player. His ceiling is a double-digit sack guy who is a very good all-around player. His ceiling is an impact player. He doesn’t have the room to improve that many other guys do because he’s already very refined, but that’s why his floor is among the highest in this draft.

        Bosa almost certainly won’t ever be Von Miller as a pass rusher – but Allen won’t be Von Miller, either. Allen is a good athlete, but let’s not pretend he’s elite in that area. In fact, the 40 is the only area where he beat Bosa handily in terms of measurables, and even there his 10-yard split was actually a hair slower (1.61 vs. 1.60). Allen’s broad jump was better (2″ advantage), but Bosa had a better three-cone (0.05s) and short shuttle (0.09s). Curiously, Allen didn’t do the vertical at the combine and apparently won’t do it at his pro day, either. Allen is a solid athlete. He’s not special.

  19. For the guys who think that Dee Ford and Josh Allen couldn’t play together:

    You can do a nickel variation of the Bear front, where they remove the two 3-technique DTs and swap the SLB with another Leo (this would be Josh Allen).

      1. Well, take a look at who’s doing the measuring. Some dude in a Chiefs jacket.

      2. I’d say this speaks to how these measurements are inherently imprecise, and it’s a bit silly to get wrapped up in a half-inch of difference. Allen’s arms may be longer than Bosa’s, but they aren’t exactly long. Certainly any arbitrary cut-offs are just dumb.

        And as I posted above in more detail a few minutes ago (take a look if you haven’t), Allen isn’t the elite athlete you’re making him out to be. The only area where he performed markedly better than Bosa was in the 40, which is almost certainly the least useful measurable for an edge rusher. His short-area quickness and agility scores were slightly worse, his broad jump was slightly better, and he has never done a vertical. He has a good speed rush, and has plenty of upside, but he’s certainly not a sure thing and his ceiling may not be nearly as high as you’re making it out to be.

        1. I find it ironic that you say “these measurements are inherently imprecise, and it’s a bit silly to get wrapped up in a half-inch of difference” but then use the same combine measurements to prove your own points later? Combine drills and measurements should not be used to develop concrete opinions on any player. Aaron Curry nearly outperformed every other prospect during his showing at the combine too. John Ross and Obi Melifonwu are more examples. Look at how much that matters on the field. When people say someone is a great athlete, they aren’t just talking about a drill performance, it’s also about how they use their physical, raw abilities to find success situationally and instinctively. Let’s not over- or under-value any of these guys. Bosa and Allen are great. They both have limitations. They both have upside.

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