McDermott: 'The game is slowing down' for Josh Allen   Published: Dec 20, 2018 at 01:10 AM           Around the NFL Writer                               continues to improve each week.     Since mi sing four games due to an elbow injury, the ' rookie quarterback has made strides over the last four tilts, showing promising progre s.     "I went back and watched the Miami game a few days ago and he looks like a different player than he did from two or three games ago, which is important and good for him," head coach Sean McDermott said, . "The way the game is slowing down for him is encouraging."     Anyone basing his or her opinion of Allen solely on the stat sheet has ammo. The numbers aren't pretty. The rookie quarterback ranks last Sheldrick Redwine Jersey  in the NFL (among 33 qualified pa sers) in completion percentage  Ozzie Newsome Jersey (52.2), pa sing yards per game (163.3), TD-INT ratio (6-9), and pa ser rating (65.5). Allen has yet to breach the 250-yard mark in a game, and his 6.5 yards per attempt puts him alongside the Alex Smiths and Joe Flaccos of the world.         Allen has done more damage with his legs than arm this season, ranking first in rushing yards per game among quarterbacks with 50.6. Allen is on track to become the sixth QB in NFL history to average 150-plus pa s YPG and 50-plus rush YPG in a single season (first since in 2014). He also leads all signal-callers in rushing touchdowns with six.     But anyone simply pointing to box scores and stats, however, is completely mi sing the point -- and likely displaying and crystallizing their preconceived biases.        To anyone who actually watched the games, Allen's improvement as an NFL quarterback has been undeniable the past several weeks. He's shown improved accuracy, especially on darts over  Jarvis Landry Jersey the middle. He's getting to a second read faster than he did early in the season. His willingne s to take deep shots (leads all QBs with an 18.7 deep pa s percentage) is refreshing and exciting, even when he mi ses. And he's showing enhanced ability to understand what the defense is trying to do to him.     Take last week's victory over the , when Matt Patricia's defense made a conscious effort to keep Allen in the pocket and not allow him to do damage with his legs -- 16 yards on nine attempts, TD. The rookie was able to pull off some beautiful dimes, including a perfect downfield strike to for the game-winning TD, and another textbook looping 25-yard pa s to tight end to help seal the victory.     Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement in Allen's game. His accuracy waxes and wanes far too much, he makes boneheaded rookie mistakes, and relies on his legs instead of trusting reads. These were expected i sues for a player most scouts viewed as a project Rashard Higgins Jersey  entering the draft. To proclaim him a bust or make resounding proclamations nine starts into his career is unfair, and displays only the speaker's deficiencies.     It's been baby steps with Allen through his rookie campaign, but he's been moving forward. Sunday's tilt versus the -- a Bill Belichick organization that usually dominates young quarterbacks -- offers another test for the rookie.      "Josh has another opportunity to grow and develop. Now it's on the road against a very good football team. Against a defense he didn't face the first time around," McDermott said. "There are going to be things that defenses do that he hasn't seen, but he's really in my mind determined to improve every week.     "A lot of that comes from the way he was raised, but also from the support he's getting in the room from the coaches and his teammates. So it's really just about taking another step one week at a time. The goal is to keep him healthy and give him the chance to grow and develop and get those reps that are important."     Simply comparing Allen's rookie season to 's in Cleveland or 's flashes in New York, won't paint a pretty picture -- Allen also has worse surrounding talent. But the quarterback has made strides each week in his own way, which is all a rebuilding team can ask at this point.       This article has been reproduced in a new format and Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey  may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue. Click here Click here Click here