Quarterback Josh Allen has been getting called “psycho” all week for how much he loves contact on the field, even grinning wider than the Cheshire Cat after diving into the thick of things. But Matt Warren, a familiar name to anyone who follows the game, dropped a tweet that flipped the script: maybe Allen calling his shot when it comes to contact isn’t a bad thing at all. He thinks Allen gets more control over how he falls this way, and not doing the traditional slide might actually be a smart move.
The Contact Debate: Why Everyone’s Talking “Psycho”
Look, the clearest counterargument to all this is obvious: sliding is supposed to avoid contact entirely, and no contact is always ideal. The same goes for running out of bounds. If you can slide so early that there’s zero risk of getting hit, especially when you just need a first down to run out the clock and seal a win, then absolutely, get down! That’s the smart play sometimes. But how often is that *actually* the case for competitive players? Not every snap. Most of the time, guys like Allen are going to try and squeeze out every single yard they can, and we cheer ’em on for that fire. But even then, sliding could still avoid contact, yet it opens up a different, sometimes heightened, risk.
The Real Stakes: Why Going Upright Might Be Smarter
Here’s where it gets interesting, and it’s why Matt’s take, and now mine, makes sense: elevation. When a player slides, by default, they’re the lowest person on the ground, and what’s the most exposed part of them? Their head. Getting hit there is a nightmare, and we’ve all seen enough of those hits to know the worry is real. So, how is barreling into a defender actually *better*? Allen’s a tall dude, right? Staying upright longer makes him way less likely to take a shot to the head. Plus, he’s not passive about these hits. He squares up to the defender. As a big guy, tacklers are naturally going to aim low, which puts knees at risk. By squaring up and dropping his shoulder, Allen can lessen that knee injury risk too. In simple terms, he’s trying his best to dictate the outcome, taking the hit to his shoulder, which is arguably the best part of the body for that kind of impact. And hey, for what it’s worth, someone with experience falling and choosing how to fall, like from judo and professional wrestling, might just know a thing or two about dictating impact.
This isn’t about avoiding contact entirely; it’s about making a dangerous situation as safe as possible for a guy who’s going to fight for every single yard. For a competitive player like Allen, understanding this strategy might just be key to his long-term health, and keeping him on the field is the biggest win for his team’s fans moving forward.
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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