Jets vs. Payments: Keon Coleman is likely to be Josh Allen’s new most trusted goal

After the commerce of Stephon Diggs to the Houston Texans in 2024, the Buffalo Payments passing offense took on a committee strategy. Khalil Shakir led the Payments in targets a yr in the past with 100. That tied him for thirty seventh most targets within the league. No different Buffalo cross catcher had greater than 75.

The strategy didn’t damage. The Payments had the second highest scoring offense within the league and went to the AFC Championship Recreation whereas Josh Allen gained the MVP.

It appeared value noting that second yr huge receiver Keon Coleman had a giant evening in Buffalo’s Week 1 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Payments are searching for the second yr receiver to make a giant leap in yr two. He posted 8 catches for 112 yards and a landing within the opener. It was a really promising begin to yr two.

It is usually value noting that Coleman led Buffalo with 11 targets.

Field rating scouting can solely take us thus far, although. What jumped out to me when watching the movie of this recreation was the kinds of throws Allen was making to Coleman.

I’ll put it this fashion. I don’t suppose you make this many throws which are going into tight home windows and/or require the receiver to win after the ball is already within the air until you actually belief him.

I didn’t see Allen making some of these throws to another Payments receiver. One recreation is one recreation. There’s solely a lot which means you’ll be able to placed on it. It did appear to be the beginning of a budding belief between elite quarterback and new primary possibility.

One other space the place it appeared like Allen and Coleman had a budding chemistry was when Allen obtained off script. An vital a part of enjoying huge receiver for a quarterback like Allen is realizing the place to get when the play breaks down, and Allen breaks the pocket. It appeared like Coleman’s understanding right here is rising.

For the Jets, Week 1 noticed a change in Sauce Gardner’s utilization. After primarily enjoying on the left facet his first three seasons within the NFL, the newly minted $30.1 million man adopted Steelers primary receiver DK Metcalf across the subject for nearly your entire recreation.

That form of price exhibits that even in zone protection, Gardner was going to Metcalf’s facet of the sector because it was the almost certainly technique to get Metcalf going into the zone Gardner was protecting.

No person can pretty say that Coleman is on Metcalf’s stage at this level. Metcalf has three 1,000+ yard seasons below his belt. Coleman has a good rookie season and a giant Week 1 recreation in his sophomore yr.

I believe this raises a degree in regards to the goal of getting Gardner shadow the opposite staff’s high goal. In fact you need him to be an eraser. However as a lot as that, you need to drive the opposite staff to depart its consolation zone. Even when Coleman isn’t fairly on that stage but, there’s clear proof that he’s turning into Josh Allen’s most trusted goal. If Gardner forces Allen to look elsewhere in key spots, that’s factor for the Jets.

Clearly it goes with out saying that Gardner protecting Coleman gained’t assure the Jets defensive day. Allen gained the MVP final yr spreading it round, and focused 10 completely different receivers in Week 1. A late week look on the damage report by Gardner has additionally raised some questions on his well being.

Nonetheless, I might wager Keon Coleman will see quite a lot of Sauce Gardner in Week 2.