By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
Josh Allen’s impression across the NFL is slowly growing. The same can be said for his own locker room, they’ve seen it week in and week out.
The Buffalo Bills’ rookie received some high compliments this week from none other than safety Jordan Poyer, one of the team’s leaders on defense.
Allen, who was proclaimed this week as the team’s leader on offense this week by head coach Sean McDermott, had Poyer guessing what it would be like defending against him in a game.
“It’s probably pretty frustrating playing against him. He’s big, he’s strong he gets out of a lot of bad situations, and he’s able to use his legs and make plays, so it’s got to be pretty ingratiating. I’m glad he’s on our team cause I see some third downs where nothing’s there and he takes off and gets the first down and it’s like, ‘yes!’ He’s taking a lot of really good steps and we just want to continue to build,” Poyer told Spectrum News.
Like most, Poyer’s biggest takeaway from Allen is the work he does with his feet.
“Damn near every game he’s played. Now it’s not surprising… but I think it was the Vikings game where he booked off and hurled I think it was Anthony Barr, I was like ‘damn, this kid’s for real,’” Poyer said.
With 490 yards, Allen now leads the Bills in rushing. Where he leaves something to be desired is with his arm. Currently Allen has 1,429 passing yards this season. His completion percent is 52.4 percent and he has a 5-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Despite that, Allen believes the his running and the cause for concern it gives defense, will hopefully give him more opportunities to find open receivers, starting with the Lions on Sunday.
“I just know that defenses are going to have to respect that aspect of my game now. Like I said, it’s going to have to take somebody ether from coverage or pass rush if they do want to spy. We’re facing a really good Lions defense in the things that they do and the type of pass rush that they have has given some quarterbacks fits in the last few weeks. We’ve got to be good on that end,” Allen said.