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‘Hard Knocks’ teaser shows how analyst 'changed' Bills’ QB Josh Allen's life

Chris Hess has worked with Buffalo’s players as a performance analyst
Khari Demos|
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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It’s safe to say Josh Allen has blossomed into an NFL superstar for the Buffalo Bills. And as many people that played their part in his ascent, Chris Hess can take a lot of the credit for it.

In a preview of the fourth episode for the Bills’ rendition of “Hard Knocks,” Hess is shown talking about what exactly his role entails as a performance analyst.

”Fancy term would be applied biomechanics and performance analysis,” said Hess in the opening clip from the hit HBO Sports’ series. “Simple terms is we’re measuring the quarterback’s movement to help optimize their efficiency and help them avoid injury.”

Allen shared extremely high praises of Hess and how he helped him become an NFL MVP.

”Chris has, honestly, changed my life in terms of how I threw the football,” Allen said. “He knows what I’ve looked like at my best, he knows what I’ve looked like at my worst.”

RELATED: 4 compelling Bills' storylines for 'Hard Knocks' to explore in Episode 4

Hess noted the steady improvement Allen has made in his throwing motion since 2019. He said Allen was initially more of a “chucker” of the football, before becoming a “thrower,” and now he considers him a “passer.”

”What may take another quarterback two months, he can do in two or three reps and be like, ‘you mean like this?,’” Hess said.

Josh Allen
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The numbers coincide with everything Hess shared on Allen. Through his first two seasons, Allen was considered more “athlete” than quarterback. From 2018 to 2019, Allen posted a 56.3 percent completion rate and a 30-to-21 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

That set Allen up to take a superstar turn during the 2020 NFL season, where he finished second in MVP voting and earned his first of two second-team All-Pro selections.

Allen’s rise to elite status has been a long road, but thankfully Hess has supported him in getting there. It will be interesting to see how exactly he assisted Allen once the fourth episode of "Hard Knocks" debuts.

Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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Khari Demos
KHARI DEMOS

Khari Demos is an award-winning sports media creator and is a contributor for Bills On SI. He has written sports betting article covering the NFL for The Athletic and has written pieces about the NBA, MLB, college football and basketball, and more, throughout his career.

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