Allen on Odunze: “He looks more polished than I was as a receiver” |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - When a player is going into their twelfth season, they typically have a pattern down for the offseason and what they want to get out of training camp.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen is certainly one of those players. The six-time Pro-Bowler is using this time for conditioning and to get his body right. “Just getting (in) football shape, being ready to play a full game,” Allen said. “The training camp is already set up for you to build that conditioning and like I said, get ready for a full game and just have your body right.” Allen was drafted in the third round in 2013. So, he had to fight for a starting job then, and he knows the importance of preseason games in building chemistry with his teammates. When you have a rookie quarterback, that chemistry is especially important, which is why a veteran player like Allen is not opposed to playing in the preseason. “I’ve been through both sides of the story. I played in the preseason. I’ve not played in the preseason,” Allen said. “I think it goes hand-in-hand, being able to get those reps in the preseason, get your feels out early, being able to get your feet wet in those games when the intensity and the pace is picked up a little bit. I think it’s (worth it). So, I’m not against it.” Quarterback Caleb Williams has been very deliberate about developing chemistry with all of the players, particularly his receiving core. During the summer, Williams and Allen had a throwing session out in California. They also went over the playbook, something that was incredibly helpful to Allen. “It was big. I’m not a guy who masters the playbook by any means sitting at home looking at the playbook. That’s not how I learn it. I’m a trial and error guy. I learn through mistakes and just being able to sit there with him. He (called) out the play, I (drew) it up, vice versa while we’re sitting there watching the NBA playoffs and just being able to go through it with him. We talk about the play, what I like, what I’m used to, what I used to see and then just going over the knowledge, making sure we’re on the same page and just being able to communicate at this level,” Allen said. “Obviously, you got new terminology from college, and (you’re) going to get different coverages too. So, like I said, just giving him the knowledge that I was taught being with guys like Philip Rivers, obviously Justin Herbert, just making sure we’re seeing things the same way.” While Allen is playing alongside fellow veteran receiver DJ Moore, they will also be helping to develop rookie receiver Rome Odunze who was drafted No. 9 overall. Odunze was exceptional in college and is seeking to be a top receiver for Chicago. His confidence in wanting to become the top receiver is something that reminds Allen of himself as a rookie, although he says Odunze is more polished as a rookie than Allen was. “Confidence is key first and foremost. I was the same way trying to come in and take spots, be the number one guy, and just try to do what my goals are. But, sometimes, realistically, that ain’t how it goes. I didn’t start my first game in the season. I was like number three, number four on the depth chart and it took some guys to get hurt for me to be able to be in this position that I’m in now 12 years in. So, the cards may not play out like that for him. They might, they might not. But, we’re going to need him. That’s for sure, and we’re going to need him to make big plays,” Allen said. “He’s a little bit better than me when I came in. He’s faster. I think he comes out of his breaks better than I did when I was that young. He looks more polished than I was as a receiver.” Chicago’s first preseason game is the Hall of Fame game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Aug. 1 (7 p.m./ABC), where fans may see Williams, Allen, and Odunze in action.
