Those who know me well will tell you that two of my favorite things to watch and discuss are the Buffalo Bills and Ted Lasso. Sometimes I’ll throw on a favorite episode to pass the time, or to help me forget about a humiliating loss by the Bills — like last Sunday.
Earlier this week I was re-watching the episode titled “The Signal,” which took place during season 2 following Jamie Tartt’s return to Richmond. Roy Kent had returned to the Richmond coaching staff, and let’s just say the two former adversaries
were struggling to develop their relationship as player and coach. Without running you through all of the details, there’s a memorable scene in the episode that made me think of Josh Allen and the current state of Buffalo’s star quarterback.
When Roy refuses to coach Jamie, things boil over in the locker room and a shouting match ensues. Ted has to intervene, which leads to an exchange that some Bills fans may be able to find relatable. Jamie asks Roy for his feedback on how to make him better, which led to the following response (with some proper editing):
Roy: Fine. I’ll tell you what’s wrong with you.
Ted: All right, now. Here we go!
Roy (looking at Ted): You @#$%ed him up.
Jamie: Whoa!
Ted: Okay. Expound.
Roy: You’ve made him a team player. You’ve got him to pass and @#$%, and in doing so, you’ve made him average. Because, Jamie, deep down, at your core, you are a prick. So just be a prick. We need you to score more goals, and we need you to get in the other team’s #$%%ing heads, and drive them up the #$%%ing wall like only you can #$%%ing do.
Jamie: So I can go back to being a prick?
Roy: No. I’m saying sometimes.When it is appropriate… yes, be a prick.
Here’s the clip, but be advised that it has a fair bit of swearing, should that cause you any trouble.
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While watching this scene it immediately made me think of Allen and the recent play of the reigning NFL MVP. Listen, I’m not saying that Allen is in any way a “pre-Madonna” like Jamie is (Ted Lasso fans will appreciate that reference). But as many fans have watched Allen this season, I can’t help but wonder if the coaching staff has “@#$%ed him up.”
Too often following a Bills game (both wins and losses) the conversation centers around the neutered passing game. Terms like separation, average depth of target, yards after catch, and bubble screen are used way too much in describing a passing game led by the most gifted quarterback in the NFL.
It’s not just the statistics and advanced metrics that seem off — plenty of fans have noticed things seem a bit different on the sidelines this year. The mood is a bit somber, the body language seems off, and everything the offense does feels like it’s difficult.
Listen, I’m certainly not a football coach or a sports psychologist, but I can’t help but wonder if in trying to reign in the “golden retriever” version of Josh Allen has made too many of his performances a bit average. Maybe in trying to establish the run, the team has over-corrected some things related to the passing game. Maybe trying to limit turnovers on offense, has limited what Allen does best as a quarterback.
And maybe a Roy Kent-like intervention would be a good thing for the coaching staff (and the general manager). Because at the end of the day, if the Buffalo Bills are going to make the playoffs, Josh Allen will need to score more touchdowns, and get in the other teams @#$%ing head, and drive them up a @#$%ing wall, like only he can @#$%ing do.
