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By TJ Macias
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Apparently, the Indianapolis Colts had other things going on behind the scenes rather than pulling the plug and trading away star running back Jonathan Taylor.
And yes, we’re talking about the Keenan Allen trade to the San Francisco 49ers.
Initially, the Niners had their eye on a different wide receiver other than Allen.
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San Francisco general manager John Lynch explained that the team were originally after Josh Downs ahead of the deadline before turning their attention onto Keenan after head coach Kyle Shanahan started talking about Allen while watching film on Downs, NBC Sports said.
“We kind of focused on Josh Downs as an option that we’d have some interest,” Lynch said, according to NBC. “And Kyle and I are kind of watching Josh, and in the process, Kyle’s like, ‘Man, what about Keenan?’ And I was like, ‘You know, we hadn’t given much thought to that, but let me ask about that.’ And so, there started a conversation about two and a half weeks ago, really, when the Deforest talks [happened]. ‘Would he?’ And it’s always fluid, and at a certain time, they didn’t want to give up Keenan. It kind of wasn’t going to be on the table, but we kept communicating, and ultimately we got him.”
Following the trade, Allen told reporters that learning Shanahan’s offensive scheme was going to be a journey.
“Definitely head spinning, new terminology, new way of thinking,” Allen said on Wednesday according to NBC Sports Bay Area. “Just got to hear the repetition, making sure I’m doing the walk-throughs and extra walk-throughs with the receiver coach and making sure I’m ready.”
Allen had 40 catches in eight games with the Colts, and can add to the 49ers in terms of offensive weapons even though he’s not as young as he used to be. He’s averaging +33 EPA when targeted on third downs, which makes him a decent chain-mover.
And he is certainly happy to be back on the West Coast, where he attended UC Berkeley, and is thrilled to be joining a top-seeded NFC team.
"I get a little boost in the way I feel coming into the building," Allen said, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. "Just being par of the guys, being in the locker room. These guys have accomplished so much over the past few years and just happy to be part of them."
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