Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
As if that headline doesn’t say enough, there is no shortage of confidence for the San Diego Chargers’ third round draft pick out of California. After making some noise earlier in the offseason for a poor fashion choice, Keenan Allen is now being anything but shy regarding his expectations for the upcoming season.
Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego is responsible for securing that candid comment, and Allen continued by saying:
“I want to be a starter. I don’t want to watch. I want to be part of the moment. I don’t want to watch it.”
For a guy just eight months out from tearing his PCL, Allen has progressed rather quickly with the Bolts. During the final day of the team’s minicamp, the rookie lined up with the first team. Although it is very unlikely for Allen to maintain that spot when the first week of the season arrives, the mess at wide receiver on the Chargers depth chart could suggest otherwise.
Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown are expected to be the two main targets for quarterback Philip Rivers with Danario Alexander also a large part of the offense. Eddie Royal is likely to find some snaps in the slot with Allen expected to squeeze in some action there as well. Robert Meachem continues to be an afterthought so Allen will at worst be fifth on the depth chart, but his potential and praise drawn during minicamp could earn him more snaps as the year progresses.
Despite a disappointing 4.77 40-yard dash time at his pro day, most believe he plays much faster than that time indicates. He was also still mending that PCL injury when that time was recorded so perhaps that played a part as well.
For a team that drafted a controversial rookie in linebacker Manti Te’o, it would have been tough to predict that Allen would be the first year player making the most off the field noise. So long as his confidence is getting the publicity and not his Oakland Raiders hat, I don’t think the Chargers will mind.
Anthony Blake is a Senior Writer/Copy Editor for Rant Sports. You Can Follow Him on Twitter, on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
