Josh Allen admitted he’s “fighting mechanically some stuff right now” after the Buffalo Bills’ Week 5 win over the Rams on Monday Night Football. Straight up, that’s not something you hear from one of the league’s most electrifying QBs very often, and it definitely sent me down a rabbit hole trying to figure out what’s going on.
What’s Josh Allen Actually Battling?
Allen’s postgame comments in Los Angeles were pretty telling. He felt out of rhythm early on, wasn’t hitting those underneath throws, and yeah, he specifically mentioned “fighting mechanically some stuff.” Good news is, he got into a rhythm in the second half, and his guys made some big plays to pull out the win. But the mechanical stuff? That’s the kicker. When he spoke to media at UC Irvine a few days later, Allen followed up, saying, “I think it’s every quarterback fights throughout the year. It could be as simple as one thing.” Turns out, his QB guru Chris Hess is from that area, and they had a pre-planned session already on the books. Talk about perfect timing. Allen was stoked to have Hess there, hoping to “learn a thing or two, and try to find a way to tweak something and feel good.”
The Sidearm Mystery Unpacked
Alright, look, nobody wants to pick apart Josh Allen. The guy’s a freak of nature, one of the most gifted throwers in NFL history. It feels weird even looking for flaws, but Allen said it himself. So, based on what I’ve been seeing early this season, here’s my guess: Allen’s release point is dropping too low, getting way closer to a sidearm delivery than we’re used to seeing. It’s not every single throw, for sure, but there have been some misfires where it looks like the ball is leaving his hand on the same vertical plane as his helmet, or even lower.
Remember that deep shot against the Lions to Khalil Shakir that fell incomplete? From my vantage point in the concourse, I remember being stunned by how sidearm that arm angle looked. Then, in Week 3 against the Chargers, on a target for Keon Coleman down the field, that ball also fell incomplete. And honestly, that one was even clearer: it looked almost fully sidearm. More recently, against the Patriots, on that wild drop by Joshua Palmer, the throw was well behind the receiver. You could really see Allen’s sidearm-ish delivery there. Watching that live, I was genuinely surprised Allen, even under duress, couldn’t get the ball far enough downfield to hit a wide-open Palmer in stride. That just never happens with him.
What’s Next for Allen?
Allen’s session with Chris Hess is huge. This isn’t just some minor adjustment; it’s about getting him back to feeling “good” with his mechanics, especially with those deep throws. They’re looking to tweak something, find that sweet spot again, and ensure his release point is where it needs to be. The Bills need their superstar QB firing on all cylinders, and getting this fixed early in the season is critical.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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