As the Bills season concluded over the weekend, the team began the process of looking back on everything they overcame this year as well as how to improve.
One of the challenges for their offense lay in the right elbow of quarterback Josh Allen, who suffered an ulnar collateral ligament injury.
It happened on the last offensive drive during an uncharacteristic Week 9 loss to the Jets in New Jersey that added insult to injury.
The injury required him to alter his mechanics, and according to him it wasn’t until two weeks ago he was able to get back to his usual throwing motion.
The good news is that there appear to be no plans for offseason surgery. The QB said Monday that “rest and recovery is gonna be really good for it.”
After the Bills’ second-round playoff exit in a 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Allen was asked about the effect the injury had on him.
“I mean, there was a period, obviously, right after for a few weeks, where it was pretty bothersome, but again, it didn’t affect me all that much,” Allen said. “Just kind of felt like maybe I was trying to throw it a little differently mechanically, had to change a few things and got away a little bit from how I’m used to throwing the ball. That’s just kind of a byproduct of that. But again, it didn’t affect me too much.”
Allen’s injury occurred on a play where a Jets defensive lineman got the best of backup right tackle David Queensberry, who was filling in for starting tackle Spencer Brown. The offensive line has been scrutinized at times in recent years for their protection of Allen as well as opening things up for the running game.
While he did not miss playing time following the Jets game because of the banged-up elbow, he was listed on the Bills injury report for the remainder of the regular season. It wasn’t until the playoffs that he felt like himself as a passer, he said.
“I think, really, two weeks ago is when I kind of felt like I got back to mechanically what I like,” Allen said when asked later about the specific impact of adjusting his mechanics. “Again, being the rotational thrower, it’s very kind of elbow prevalent, and maybe I got a little bit to more of a linear-type deal ’cause I just couldn’t really use all that much force and kind of flicking it out there, but, again, just adapting.”
On one hand, it’s good news to hear that surgery might not be required and that the injury can be rested and rehabilitated.
On the other hand, Allen’s answering the question as to whether it affected his performance during the season or not may have raised other questions about why the team didn’t advance and about the offense.
Among those questions might be the playcalling by first-year offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, as well as questions about QB coach Joe Brady and the performance and depth of the offensive line.
Dorsey has a tough act to follow in Brian Daboll, who is now the Giants head coach. Dorsey didn’t turn heads in his first full season in the new role. Allen appeared to look downfield for knockout-punch big plays instead of going to open receivers for shorter yardage.
While head coach Sean McDermott thew support behind Dorsey this week, noting there is a first-year learning curve for anyone, including the OC, Allen also mentioned in his press conference he doesn’t question the plays Dorsey calls.
When interviewing for the position prior to the season, the Bills brass notably looked at wide receivers coaches before going with Dorsey. Given some of his playcalling and overall game plans, but especially their results, the front office and coaching staff will need to give a close examination in assessing that shift in the offense.
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