The Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen debate rages on.
Even in April, after a year in which neither quarterback made the AFC Championship Game nor won an MVP, the discussion of which player is better continues to be conjured by chittering podcasters and manufactured debaters to fill the void when meaningful pigskin play is months in the making. With little better to talk about, here we are.
Charles Omenihu, who played the past three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and signed with the Washington Commanders this offseason, has played both quarterbacks. On the "Speakeasy" podcast, the pass rusher said he believes NFL defenses have figured out how to defend Jackson but are still struggling with Allen.
"This is the thing about Josh Allen. I don't think the league has truly figured him out," Omenihu said. "With Lamar, honestly, you bring a five-man rush on him and collapse that pocket, he's drifting backwards and, unfortunately, he might make a play that isn't going to be the best play for the Ravens. With Josh, he's going to drift backwards, run around, and he's so hard to tackle. He's a large human being. Hard to get down. He can make every throw. Every throw from no matter where he's at. His arm strength is unbelievable. I don't think Lamar has that big amount of arm strength like Josh does.
"Like I said, I think [people] have figured out Lamar. You come after him, you close all the lanes, you five-man rush him and you cover his guys, and I think you get it done. It's been shown."
Given the discourse surrounding the topic, at least Omenihu brought an interesting take to the table. The pass rusher was asked if there was one trait Jackson boasts over his counterpart.
"The speed. If you do let him out, he's gone," he said. "And he's not going to fumble the ball. Josh is going to fumble the ball. That's the thing about it. If Josh could just chill on the turnovers -- don't try to be Superman all the time -- the Bills, I think, beat the Broncos. Before it even got to my boy, (Brandin) Cooks' catch-not catch, all that craziness, it would have never gotten to that. They would've won."
Allen and Jackson have taken turns turning the ball over in big spots in the playoffs. It's one reason neither has gotten over the hump. Last season, without Jackson, Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow in the AFC playoff bracket, it seemed Allen's best shot, but Buffalo came up short in the Divisional Round, leading to this offseason's coaching change.
Omenihu added that if the QBs were to switch teams, he believes Allen would win a Super Bowl first.
"And this is why, I think Josh's will to win, no matter if it's pretty, ugly, rain -- now, he does turn over the ball over a little bit," Omenihu said. "We saw in the Denver game where that game probably should have been over. He's running with the ball, I think it hits his leg and he fumbles, just little things like, bro, come on. You don't have to do that. You could really just run and take over the game like that.
"He can make every throw. He's huge. I just think Josh is a hell of a player. I don't think he has much weakness other than he turns over the ball a little bit too much. But if you put him on the Ravens, you have Derrick Henry, you've got Zay Flowers, you've got Mark Andrews. You have a defense. You've got Roquan (Smith), you've got Kyle Hamilton, you've got Marlon (Humphrey). You've got some guys. You've got some pieces. For the Bills, they're saying, 'Oh, he doesn't have enough guys, he doesn't have enough pieces.' With the Ravens, he ain't gonna have that problem.
"I know the Derrick Henry and Lamar thing is kind of crazy, but, bro, you've got 6-5, 250 (pounds) in the backfield. Then you go, whatever he is, 6-2, 240? Come on."
