Stopping Keenan Allen
October 4th, 2020
Chargers WR Keenan Allen.
The Chargers’ Keenan Allen may be one of the more underrated receivers in the league.
A reason is who Allen plays for. He’s a top wide receiver on a second-banana NFL team in a third-banana NFL town. Los Angeles is a Lakers/Dodgers town and any other athlete on any other team better be playing on a winner or be a total superstar (Eric Dickerson or Wayne Gretzky or Mike Trout) or he will be buried under celebrity gossip news that rules Los Angeles.
The Chargers don’t even own their own stadium; they rent space from the Rams. Basically, the Chargers are on the same level of interest as UCLA football, which is way down the totem pole in the City of Angels.
Hell, the Raiders are more popular in Los Angeles than the Chargers and the Raiders play 278 miles away in Sin City.
You hear a lot about Michael Thomas and DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones and Mike Evans. Allen is right there and is sort of like the Lavonte David of receivers, though he has made the last three Pro Bowls. David’s image was hurt greatly by playing in NFL purgatory for so long with a lousy team, often in a half-filled stadium.
The Chargers only hope to fill SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to 50 percent capacity — whenever California is released from lockdown status.
To read the musings of former NFL general manager Mike Tannebaum of BSPN, expect Chargers rookie QB Justin Herbert to throw Allen’s way a lot.
Justin Herbert has leaned on veteran WR Keenan Allen through his first 2 starts.
Allen has accounted for 12 first downs, been targeted 29 times (35% of his passing attempts) and 36% of his passing yds
After Allen’s contract extension, it’s encouraging to see Herbert lean on him
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) October 3, 2020
With Chargers No. 2 receiver Mike Williams out today, Joe has a hunch Herbert will target Allen even more.
What would Joe do? Send in the cavalry, that being Bucs corner Carlton Davis. Since the final month of the season last year, Davis has been on an absolute roll locking up some of the game’s best receivers including Jones (twice), Hopkins and Thomas.
If Davis can take care of those guys, Joe is confident he can handle Allen.
October 4th, 2020 at 6:13 am
CD is a stud.
October 4th, 2020 at 8:10 am
Allen is going to have a HUGE day. 150 yards and 2 TD’s. Blazing speed and surgical route running.
October 4th, 2020 at 8:16 am
Allen will get his but the Bucs CB’s are ready for the challenge and will win the war.
October 4th, 2020 at 8:26 am
The key is to keep Allen covered long enough for the pass rush to arrive!
GoBucs!
October 4th, 2020 at 9:08 am
Herbert’s not going to have much time to target Allen today. Sure, he’ll get some receptions and yardage, but I doubt he’ll be as effective as he’s been the last two games, particularly if the front 4 can get pressure without blitzing.
October 4th, 2020 at 10:01 am
Gonna be wet and nasty and muddy.
That will slow him down a little.
October 4th, 2020 at 10:20 am
I think this would be great strategy… works in the Bucs favor. The LAC will definitely look to Allen and we should shade a safety his way and grab 3 to 4 picks!!!
Speaking of “!!!”, where is the blowhard realist? Too much winning for you realist? Or are you too busy poking your sheep?
October 4th, 2020 at 10:23 am
Herbert can sling it…He ain’t no Driskel. He walks with confidence and commands the offense. This kid is gonna be good judging from his last couple of games.
If he can survive this TB defense and keep it close, you know he is gonna thrive in the future. This kid maybe better than Carr.
October 4th, 2020 at 10:48 am
Jeff is right about Allen’s route running; he is surgical. However, the wet turf, rookie QB & pass-rush may slow him down today.
October 4th, 2020 at 11:08 am
Go Bucs 72
“CD is a stud.”
-———————-
So’s the entire secondary/defense for that matter. Looking forward to their putting on a show in the mud and rain. 🙂
October 4th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Hope everyone comes out of this game healthy. Wet fields increases chances of injuries and we have a trip to Chicago planned early in the week.
October 4th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Great reason to go after Hebert like madmen.