What can or can't Keon Coleman bring to the Bills' offense in his first year?
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The Bills' second-round pick out of Florida State is one of, if not the most hyped player to come to Buffalo this offseason. Keon Coleman has already won the hearts of Bills fans with his comedic attitude in his conferences and meetings, most of which have already gone viral. Fans are even referring to Coleman with cookies or puffer jackets.
Now fans are hoping for the 21-year-old to succeed, and even have high expectations for him in his rookie year. However, there's only so much the young rookie can bring to the team in his first year, besides his funny jokes and quotes.
What can Coleman bring right away?
Right out of the gate, Coleman has the size and frame to be one of the best jump-ball receivers in the NFL, and he's already proven to be a lethal one in college. With Coleman's 6'4 ft, 215 lb frame, he can box out defenders and win one-on-one matchups. He also doesn't drop many passes and arguably has the best hands in his entire draft class.
Compared to Stefon Diggs, Coleman is a nice change of scenery from a player who was supposedly a bit dramatic to someone seemingly more humble and light-hearted in their approach to the game. Coleman seems to have that mentality that many star players have, someone who's not trying to replicate others, rather than just focusing on their craft and improving to the best of their ability.
As a former high school quarterback, Coleman's football IQ is high enough to impress coaches and NFL vets. Coleman takes pride in using his IQ to draw out his plays in college, which he learned from his wide receiver coach, Courtney Hawkins, back when Coleman played for Michigan State.
There may be some early chemistry between Allen and Coleman, as he praised his new quarterback, and believed Allen to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The feeling is mutual with Allen, "I think his [Coleman's] play style [is] what we needed in our offense," said Allen.
The two players have continued to form a chemistry as the offseason progresses. However, will their chemistry come to full fruition once the season starts? Only time will tell.
What can't Coleman bring right away?
Coleman is more of a jump-ball receiver. His frame and athleticism make him a dangerous receiver to leave him one-on-one with.
However, with that, Coleman won't be a speed guy and isn't a guy you'd expect to beat out the secondary with his speed, as he ran a 4.6, 40-yard dash at the combine. Even if his football speed is faster than that, he still doesn't have that dangerous second gear to make defenders worry about.
Another thing Coleman probably can't bring right away is elite route running. That doesn't mean he can't run good routes, but it's nothing that catches the eye. It's something that needs to be worked on with his game. He's struggled with gaining separation in college, mainly against press coverage, as he had times when he struggled to get open.
This is one of his big concerns, as he needs to develop his route running and ability to accelerate outbreaks and cuts. However, we've learned that receivers don't necessarily need game-breaking speed to gain separation, we've learned that from receivers like Keenan Allen, Devante Adams, or a more comparable receiver like Mike Evans.
Coleman is still just 21 years old, he's got the physical tools to be an elite wideout but still has a lot of learning to do. He has the coaching staff and players around him to maximize his potential, but that likely won't take place in year one. There will likely be flashes of brilliance from the wideout, and if the Bills are lucky, they'll see a lot of growth from the young wideout in year one.
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