Ex-Bills Star Stevie Johnson: Josh Allen Can Play ‘Loose’ Without Pressure to Feed Stefon Diggs

The Bills lost Stefon Diggs this offseason, sapping star power from their wide receiver room.

But it might not be a bad thing, as former Buffalo pass-catcher Stevie Johnson believes eliminating the pressure to get Diggs the ball could help quarterback Josh Allen.

“It’s perfect for Josh,” Johnson told SportsCasting.com. “There is nobody you need to force it to. I don’t think there will be a fall-off at all. The only fall-off will be by the eye, when there’s no guy with 1,200 yards.

“They may not have that, but what you’re going to see is a more loose quarterback, because instead of thinking about two options and then needing to scramble, there’s so many options. It’s good for a quarterback to have a balanced, clear head, knowing that I can use any piece – not forced to look this way for a certain amount of time.”

Committee Approach Looks ‘More Efficient’

Tight end Dalton Kincaid and holdover Khalil Shakir will team with newcomers Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman, among others, in hopes of replacing the production lost from the departure of Diggs and No. 2 wideout Gabriel Davis.

Johnson, who had three 1,000-yard receiving seasons during his six-year stretch with the Bills from 2008-2013, saw the revamped passing game’s potential during offseason practices.

“It was more efficient,” Johnson said. “(Allen) wasn’t expecting a big play. He was just expecting to move the sticks. Digs for five yards, six yards. You can throw it to guys in space that can turn around and make the play, as opposed to waiting on this super cool post-corner, you know what I’m saying? He’s not waiting on this type of long pattern. (The new setup) is pretty dynamic.”

While the offseason additions may not have the pure talent of Diggs, Johnson said a guy like Hollins has savvy to his game that meshes well with Allen.

“Mack Hollins, I looked at his film and then looked at him at practice, and it’s perfect for our offense with Josh,” Johnson said. “He finds the soft spots, finds the holes. That’s what we needed a lot more of on the team when we had our other pieces. We needed those space-finders.”

Johnson said the running game should be good, and he’s been particularly impressed by fourth-round pick Ray Davis.

“He has that Le’Veon Bell-type style,” Johnson said.

Johnson felt like the lack of titles during this sustained run of regular season success contributed to the breakup of the wide receiver room.

“I don’t know if it had to close, but it was three or four years, and when you see other people winning championships, it’s like, ‘What are they doing that’s different?’” Johnson said. “The pressure comes, and you expect more out of a person. Diggs can only do so much. Gabe can only do so much.

“These new guys that have come in, they’ve got the skills and the technique of the older guys. You put them with a guy like Josh Allen who gives opportunities – who isn’t only doing checkdowns – and that’s why you have to move on.”

The situation feels similar to the Chiefs post-Tyreek Hill, when Patrick Mahomes had to make things work with a new cast of receivers.

“You’ve gotta give props to Mahomes, because I feel like his situation might have been worse than ours, as an offense,” Johnson said. “And the numbers may not be as staggering, as record-breaking, but what did he do? If he’s got the ball at the end of this game, the Chiefs are going to win. And that’s exactly what happened (in the Super Bowl).”

‘People Still Expect A Super Bowl’ From Josh Allen

Like Mahomes, the expectations for Allen remain sky-high after the loss of Diggs and Davis.

“People still expect a Super Bowl,” Johnson said.

The Bills will attack it a bit differently this season, and while some critics expect a drop-off, Johnson is adamant the committee approach will work.

“When you bring in a star guy, you’ve got to feed him,” Johnson said. “That’s credit to being a star. But that’s why I said there’s no fall-off with these guys leaving, because management has brought in guys that aren’t necessarily stars, but they’re veterans and hungry to be in that position Diggs was in when he came over from Minnesota – that opportunity for an elite quarterback to throw to them.”