Coming into the NFL, Josh Allen was being compared to the likes of Ben Roethlisberger in terms of his size. On the other hand, in terms of his game, the Buffalo Bills gunslinger has been compared to Cam Newton.
Yes, Allen and Newton are different molds of quarterbacks but there are some similarities there. Entering the league, both quarterbacks had scouts raving about their arm strength.
They also showcased their abilities to extend and make plays with their legs in college. More so Newton, who played in a read-option offense at Auburn before arriving in the NFL.
Since his entrance into the NFL, though, Newton has become one of the league's most dynamic QB's. In his rookie season, Newton had 4,051 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions en route to winning the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Unlike Newton, Allen struggled through the air with just 2,074 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The comparisons actually come from the plays that both made with their legs as rookie signal-callers.
In 2011, Newton rushed for 706 yards and 14 touchdowns as a rookie for the Carolina Panthers. Likewise, Allen rushed for 631 yards and eight scores on the ground.
The 23-year-old quarterback realizes he will need to find a balance between throwing it and running it. Being able to watch Newton across the field at practice is a decent way of learning how to do just that.
Via ESPN.com:
“Kind of how he processes things, how he went from a mobile quarterback to a quarterback who will run when necessary,” said the seventh pick of the 2018 draft. “I’m still going through that transition too, so I can take some lessons from his early career.”
Both Allen and Newton stand at 6-foot-5 and have some similarities in their early careers. Above all, head coach Sean McDermott is hoping Allen has a trajectory akin to Newton's in the near future.
Follow Us
Subscribe