Give Keenan Allen Keys to Drive Bolts

“You can continue to expect more from me. Also a lot of winning, more winning, getting better and more winning. ” the enthusiastic Keenan Allen said about the start of Bolts season thus far.

Things are looking positive in San Diego as the Chargers cap off week 5 beating the Jags following great wins over the Bills and a 30-21 victory over the defending Super Bowl Champs. One of the key contributors in the victory is rising star Keenan Allen. Allen took in a career high of 10 catches for 135 yards in Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Philip Rivers targeted Allen a team-high 12 times. Number 13 is defiantly vibin’ with Rivers. He is coming off of the best rookie wide receiver season since A.J. Green and one of the best ever in Chargers history en route to winning several Rookie of the Year Honors. Although #13 has been a bit quiet if you’re analyzing the stat sheets, flashes of last year’s explosiveness have been there and the opportunities to put up numbers should come sooner than later.

Aside from the 6’3 frame and the intangibles of an athletic specimen, Keenan Allen is one of the most emotional players in the Bolts locker room, and he channels that emotion into game changing highlights. Many may not know, but he considered quitting the NFL last year after being buried really low in the depth chart, but injuries to Malcom Floyd and Eddie Royal left Allen with top wide receiver responsibilities. He answered the call brilliantly.
If an emotional spark was what Allen needed to get back into the swing of things for his second year, there have been plenty. After letting a 4th quarter lead slip away in week 1 versus the Arizona Cardinals, the Chargers had less than a minute of opportunity to come back for the win. A tipped pass on 4th and 2 could have very well been caught by the normally sure handed wide out but the deflection was enough to disrupt him. Final score, 18-17. That’s just the start to the emotional rollercoaster. Earlier this week, the Chargers announced the loss of Nick Hardwick for the season, placing him on Injured Reserve with a neck injury. Losing a centerpiece like Nick is tough, pun completely intended. Now coming in as underdogs against the Seattle Seahawks, lining up across 2 time All-Pro CB Richard Sherman, during a summer heat wave with the fans emphasizing it in bright white hot fashion; well that’s just ingredients for an emotional nuclear bomb. Exactly what Keenan Allen needed.

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Now it may not be a career day for the sophomore wide out, but it was the jumpstart he needed to a very long season ahead. He averaged an impressive 11 yards per catch but most importantly, built on last year’s confidence. If you haven’t seen the highlight of him completely fooling Richard Sherman with a double move and securing a catch for a 1st down, well the video is just a search bar away my friend. Allen may have gotten off to a slow start so far, but keep in mind it only took him 14 games to rack up 1,046 receiving yards last year, and 14 games is what’s left for the Chargers this regular season. Given that their next opponents are the Jaguars, Jets, and Raiders, a 5-1 record after that stretch may not be too bold of a prediction. With spirits riding high for Allen along with the lack of stellar pass defenses from any of the before mentioned squads, it seems the pieces are all in place for another huge season from number 13.