Keon Coleman’s rookie breakout is keeping the Bills’ passing game humming
I was very excited when WR Keon Coleman was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round. Buffalo is in the process of retooling their receiver core, and Coleman brings a different body type and playing style to the room. However, he got off to a slow start with the Bills, receiving a lot of attention and trying to find his footing.
However, the rookie has taken off recently, and it’s really fun to watch. He’s gone over 50 yards in both games since the Bills traded for Amari Cooper, and the attention Cooper receives has helped him find a better role for his skills.
Where Coleman excels as a receiver is at the catch point and after the catch. While he’s not a burner, he’s explosive within the first few steps and can go up and get the ball. This helps him on the outside when the Bills need him to win jump ball situations, where he puts his basketball background to good use. While this season started off slow for him, the rapport between he and Josh Allen has been fun to watch grow, especially with Cooper taking some of the defensive attention away.
Over the last two weeks Coleman is averaging 0.66 EPA per target when lined up on the outside, good for ninth in the NFL with a minimum of five targets when lined up out wide. In the Bills’ demolition derby of the Seattle Seahawks, Coleman went 2 for 3 in contested catch situations, including dunking on CB Riq Woolen for a Bills touchdown. What stands out about this catch is his ability to literally box Woolen out, and the focus to finish through contact and score a TD. Plus, the “atta boy” head tap of Woolen at the end. Such a fun player.
This deep catch against Seattle came when he was in the slot, but you can see the above the rim capability that Coleman brings to this offense. He turns 50/50 balls into 70/30s in Buffalo’s favor, and now that he’s playing with more confidence, he’s really shining. Look at the trust Allen shows in Coleman to go up and get this ball. That’s an incredible level of growth from the rookie and the Bills’ dynamo signal caller, putting this in the air for Coleman to go up with reckless abandon and bring this in.
(/whispers) “Are they gone now? Cool, cool.”
Alright now that we got all the throwing the ball mumbo jumbo outta here, let’s get into what I love about Keon Coleman the most: he blocks his ASS off, and is an incredible blocker for a receiver. We at Establish the Fun enterprises passionately believe in the mantra of “no block, no rock”, and Coleman is one of our strongest soldiers in that aspect of the game. The Bills as a whole have adopted a much more physical, ground-based offense in 2024, and Coleman isn’t afraid to get dirty in the blocking department, a very cool aspect of his game.
I mean, just watch Coleman here on this quick pass to Khalil Shakir. This gets the blood flowing. I want this hooked directly to my veins. It gives me life in the morning. PUT EM IN THE BLEACHERS, KEON! OH YEAH! OH YEAH!
This is the type of effort that gets you rewarded by your teammates and coaching staff, this is what they want to see. Coleman’s selflessness as a blocker is what’s separating him, and helping to hammer home the more physical nature of the Bills’ offense this year. Every team needs a blocker like Keon Coleman.
On top of that, he got Riq Woolen again, but this time as a blocker. This is just rubbing it in at this point, but it’s that mindset of wanting to finish blocks like a lineman that has me so excited about Coleman. You can build everything else, but you can’t teach effort and drive as a blocking receiver. This is going to keep him in the league for a long, long time.
AND THEN HE POINTS! I LOVE THIS GUY!
Obviously, there’s more to his game that needs to be expanded. He’s not the smoothest route runner and will have the focus drop. However, for a team that needs his ability to win as a blocker and on contested catches, his role is going to expand for Buffalo, and opportunities like the ones he’s had over the last couple of weeks will continue to come. Coleman and the Bills have another showdown with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, so go take some time out your day and watch Coleman block.
