VIDEO BREAKDOWN: Isolating Keenan Allen & Distracting Defenses

Earlier today I went over 4 running plays that the Browns have success with. Now it’s time to talk how the Chargers have been getting so open the last couple weeks. A lot of it has to do with throwing the ball to your best player. It took awhile but it feels like the team realizes the offense should run through Keenan Allen. He’s been unguardable as of late. If you haven’t checked it out yet our Garrett Sisti broke down his long touchdown from last week.

What the team has done is isolate Keenan on linebackers. I’ve long felt like he would be a nightmare in the slot. Giving a guy that quick a 2-way go isn’t fair. We’ve seen more and more of that lately and the results speak for themselves. In the video below the 1st and last plays illustrate Keenan in the slot. Teams are tipping their hand at what coverage they’re in based on how the Chargers line up. It’s usually Austin Ekeler on the outside and Allen in the slot. The corner will stay with Ekeler, letting Philip Rivers know it’s some sort of matchup zone.

As far as confusing defenses, the team has really come on as of late at stressing defenses vertically. There are some very good wrinkles that get defenses to bite on phantom action to open up what the offense is really targeting. Usually, it’s to set something up for Hunter Henry. Ken Whisenhunt has some nice concepts to mess with the defenses eye level. I think the Chargers should have their way with the Browns through the air. Here are 4 passing concepts that have led to a lot of success for the Chargers.

Prediction: Chargers 27 Browns 13