Tag: Keenan Allen

Keenan Allen explains why former Seahawks OC Shane Waldron failed in Chicago

Keenan Allen explains why former Seahawks OC Shane Waldron failed in Chicago

The Chicago Bears relieved former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron of his duties earlier this week. Waldron was replaced as their OC by Thomas Brown, who previously worked under Sean McVay in the NFC West. Seahawks fans were not surprised by the decision based on how ineffective their own offense was last season under his ruling.

Waldron was allowed to interview elsewhere following the departure of head coach Pete Carroll. New head coach Mike Macdonald appointed former Washington Huskies OC Ryan Grubb as the new play caller. Grubb has already been an upgrade, considering Waldron’s offense in Seattle lacked identity and productivity.

Bears veteran receiver Keenan Allen is an excellent judge of a coach’s ability to successfully coordinate an offense. Allen is a six-time Pro Bowler and potential future Hall of Famer. Unfortunately for Waldron, he recently went into detail over his coaching failures.

“He was too nice of a guy,” Allen said. Organized team activities, training camp, we fell into a trap of letting things go and not holding people accountable. That’s a slippery slope. Just professionalism and doing things the right way from the beginning,” Allen concluded his critiques with.

Waldron failed in Chicago despite having the No. 1 overall pick and quarterback, Caleb Williams, from the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears have a loaded offensive supporting cast with DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, Rome Odunze, and D’Andre Swift in addition to Allen. Despite that, the Bears just went 23-straight possessions without a touchdown and are on a three-game losing streak. They’re currently last place in the NFC North division.

The Seahawks are far better off with Grubb as their offensive coordinator.

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Caleb Williams breaks out as Bears pummel Jaguars

Caleb Williams had a huge game as the Bears belted the Jaguars

The first overall pick in the 2024 draft had a huge game in his first NFL international experience.

Caleb Williams put on a show for the Chicago Bears on Sunday in their 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The 2023 Heisman winner from USC threw four touchdown passes in the romp. He was 23-of-29 for 226 yards, connecting with Cole Kmet and Keenan Allen each for two touchdowns.

Williams excelled in the quick passing game.

He also showed some magic that made people look at him as a generational player at USC.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, fell to 1-5 and coach Doug Pederson has to hope he doesn’t get the same message Robert Saleh of the Jets rreceived after losing in London: You’re fired!.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 1 with Raiders Wire

Answers to a few burning questions about the Raiders ahead of their matchup with the Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders are about to duke it out in a divisional showdown on Sunday afternoon.

Before the matchup, Raiders Wire managing editor Levi Damien spoke with us about Los Angeles’ opponent.

What did Tom Telesco do to improve the roster this offseason?

Biggest move was to sign Chrisitan Wilkins. Upgrading the interior defensive line was a top priority. Gardner Minshew isn’t going to blow the doors off anything, but he is an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell, albeit a slight one. Not the franchise QB they needed, but it’s something.

What can we expect from Gardner Minshew, the journeyman?

He will matriculate the ball down the field and should do well utilizing the two tight end sets the Raiders plan to deploy a good portion of the time. He will also create some plays with his legs. That’s something you just don’t get from Aidan O’Connell. Mostly Minshew is the type of quarterback who may not win a lot of games for you, but he also won’t lose them for you. And with the defense being the strength of this team, that could be all the Raiders want from him.

What area/position of the Raiders could determine the outcome of this game?

If the Raiders win, it would be on the strength of their pass rush. Both getting to Justin Herbert for sacks and helping set up their opportunistic secondary to get turnovers out of it. And that task just became considerably more difficult with the loss of Malcolm Koonce to a knee injury. The Raiders will be asking backups Tyree Wilson and Janarius Robinson to step up and fill the void at EDGE opposite Maxx Crosby. If they lose, it will most likely be because they can’t sustain and finish enough drives on offense.

Who is an under-the-radar Raider that Chargers fans should know about?

Tre Tucker has really come up as a receiver. He had Lasik eye surgery in the offseason and it has made a new player out of him. The difference is striking. From a player who didn’t track passes well, and didn’t look like a natural hands catcher, to making several incredible catches in preseason I had never seen him make as a rookie last season. For some perspective, he was drafted for his 4.2 speed. Now he’s got hands to go with it. Watch out for him.

What’s your prediction for the game?

I have the Chargers winning this one. The honeymoon period is in full swing with Harbaugh and his team, especially his young QB. Herbert is elite and Harbaugh won’t squander it. They will play like believers while Harbaugh will break out some things the Raiders won’t see coming.

Fantasy football: Where to draft Chicago Bears WR Keenan Allen

Analyzing Chicago Bears WR Keenan Allen’s 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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The Bears traded for WR Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers in March. The 6-time Pro Bowler has played in 139 career regular-season games, catching 904 passes for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns. He was brought in by GM Ryan Poles to be a veteran target and mentor to rookie QB Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of USC.  Below, we look at Keenan Allen’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Allen joins the Bears, where he’ll play alongside WRs DJ Moore and rookie Rome Odunze, the 9th overall pick. While Allen’s proven talent is undeniable, the crowded receiving corps and the uncertainty around Williams could limit his fantasy ceiling. With an ADP ranking as the 31st wide receiver, Allen is valued for his past performance, but his 2024 outlook is less clear due to these factors.

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Keenan Allen’s ADP: 68.17

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Allen’s 68.17 ADP in redraft leagues places him in the range of the 6th to 9th round depending on the size of the league. His ADP ranks 3rd on the Bears behind Moore (36.16) and RB D’Andre Swift (61.50).

As for Allen’s 31 ranking among all wide receivers, he is just behind Washington’s Terry McLaurin (66.22), Kansas City’s Rashee Rice (61.82) and Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins (60.83). Houston’s Tank Dell (71.78) is 32nd, followed by Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin (72.59) and Buffalo rookie Keon Coleman (75.20)..

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Keenan Allen’s 2023-24 stats

Games: 13

Receptions | targets: 108 | 150

Receiving yards: 1,243

Receiving touchdowns: 7

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Where should you draft Allen?

Allen’s move to the Bears is definitely a mix of excitement and caution for fantasy players. Normally, I’d be wary of a veteran switching teams and facing heavy competition for targets, but Allen has some serious upside.

The 11-year veteran out of Call has been a machine from the slot the past couple of seasons with his efficiency up 26.5% compared to earlier years. Sure, he’s 32 and has missed a chunk of games recently, but his recent stats are too impressive to ignore. Even with the team switch, he still has a lot to offer.

Moore had a killer last season, but with rookie Williams replacing QB Justin Fields — who is now with the Steelers — things could look different. The switch in quarterbacks means we can’t just rely on last season’s numbers to predict how Moore will perform. Honestly, the current ADP might not fully capture the uncertainties of the Bears’ new setup.

Even though Allen’s in a new spot, his track record and the fresh start with Chicago make him a solid pick. With the rookie QB and a revamped offense, Allen could end up being the most dependable Bears receiver in 2024-25. He might just be the best value in Chicago’s receiving corps, especially if Williams has a rocky start.

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Khalil Shakir names his top-three receivers in the NFL

Who are your top three?

Khalil Shakir was tasked with answering who he believe are the best wide receivers currently in the NFL.

Appearing on the “Centered in Buffalo” podcast with Eric Wood earlier this offseason, Shakir was not allowed to select any of his teammates.

That’s how the likes of Keenan Allen, Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb came into the fold. How did he rank those three?

Shakir’s breakdown can be found in the clip below:

https://twitter.com/thebuffalopod/status/1810700237759283373

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Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson pointedly struck down the narrative that Keenan Allen has lost a step

Keenan Allen deserves a lot more respect than he’s getting.

The Chicago Bears knew they’d want to do everything possible to help No. 1 overall Caleb Williams shine as a rookie. (Especially as he annotates all of his critics online.) That’s why they traded for veteran Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. That’s why they picked the gifted Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

It was all for Williams and his hopeful success.

But as Chicago’s starters officially wrap up their preseason, a new narrative has emerged about Keenan Allen’s viability as a dynamic playmaker. Specifically, the idea is that he’s lost a step and isn’t burning cornerbacks the way we’re accustomed to seeing him do for years.

After Tuesday’s Bears training camp practice, standout second-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was asked for his opinion on the matter. Conveniently, Allen spent the day scoring two touchdowns on his teammate, who defends him one-on-one just about every day.

So of course Stevenson came to the strong defense for a star receiver who has nothing to prove in exhibitions:

Stevenson’s position is so reasonable.

Allen is an experienced veteran playmaker, albeit older at the age of 32, who has been around the block. Even if he might look “slower,” Allen has nothing to gain from going full-throttle in preseason football. It’s more of a ramp-up period for him to be ready when the games really count so he can conserve his energy and legs. When push comes to shove in the regular season, Allen will likely be there ready to cook helpless defensive backs as he has en route to six career Pro Bowl selections.

And even if he somehow isn’t, again, the Bears drafted Odunze. They are prepared for a scenario where Allen gradually becomes the wily vet who knows how to sit down in open zones while Odunze potentially supplants him in their receiving pecking order.

Any unwarranted “controversy” over Allen suddenly not being a capable weapon is just that — unwarranted.

Fantasy football outlook: Chicago Bears wide receivers

For the first time in ages, Chicago has a passing game.

When you consider the Chicago Bears franchise stretches back more than 100 years, it beggars belief that they’ve never had a 4,000-yard passer (Erik Kramer holds the record with 3,838 yards in 1995) or had someone throw 30 touchdown passes (Kramer threw 29 in ’95). Are the winds of change finally ready to blow in the Windy City?

If they aren’t, it won’t be from a lack of trying. After trading for wide receiver DJ Moore last year, general manager Ryan Pace spent the first overall pick on quarterback Caleb Williams and then the ninth selection on WR Rome Odunze. Seeking a veteran presence, the GM also worked out a deal for longtime Los Angeles Chargers wideout Keenan Allen.

On paper, this is, by far, the best receivers room in the team’s history. It doesn’t end there, though, as the Bears also have a pair of solid tight ends in Cole Kmet (73-719-6 in 2023) and Gerald Everett (51-411-3 w/ LAC), and an accomplished pass catcher out of the backfield in running back D’Andre Swift, who has averaged 49 receptions per season in his career.

With so many options paired with a rookie triggerman, what can fantasy owners expect in 2024?

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 8

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 8 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers continued training camp on Thursday, marking the eighth day of practice.

I will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members and fan posts.

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 7

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 7 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers continued training camp on Wednesday, marking the seventh day of practice.

I will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members and fan posts.

 

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 6

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 6 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers continued training camp on Tuesday, marking the sixth day of practice.

I will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members and fan posts.