Kyle Shanahan felt for Keenan Allen on Wednesday.
asserted
Shanahan → feel → Wednesday
The Colts had traded the veteran wide receiver to the 49ers on Tuesday, he’d gotten to the Bay Area late that night, and by the time he made it to his first walkthrough, he had two hours’ worth of a new offense rattling around in his head.
asserted
worth → trade → head
Allen barely had time to get fitted for a new helmet, and he was already knee deep in one of the NFL’s most complex offenses.
“I’m sure he’s spinning right now,” Shanahan said.
That sympathy only went so far, though.
asserted
sympathy → have → offenses
With a big game to play on Sunday against the Cowboys, Shanahan couldn’t give Allen very much of Wednesday to catch his breath.
asserted
Shanahan → play → breath
In fact, it went straight from welcome aboard to more than 120 minutes of listen, learn and try to keep up.
asserted
it → go → listen
Not even one thought of using Cliffs Notes, either.
asserted
one → think → Notes
“Not really,” Shanahan said.
asserted
Shanahan → say → ?
“We throw everything at him.”
asserted
We → throw → him
Allen didn’t seem to mind the frantic pace.
asserted
Allen → seem → pace
He was more focused on playing in a Shanahan system that offensive players around the NFL spend an inordinate amount of time envisioning themselves in.
asserted
players → play → themselves
After spending so many years admiring it from afar, he now gets to enjoy the perks himself.
asserted
he → spend → perks
“You know, his scheme, week in and week out, everybody’s open,” Allen said.
asserted
Allen → know → ?
Shanahan wants Allen exposed to everything the 49ers might ask him to do Sunday and then give him the next few days to sort through it.
uncertain
49ers → want → it
That is how it goes with a player absorbing Shanahan’s offense for the first time.
asserted
it → go → time
Even a veteran like Allen, who spent a good two hours on Wednesday absorbing every detail from one of the best offensive teachers the game has ever produced.
asserted
game → spend → teachers
“No person in the history of football has been able to hear it for the first time and go out there right away,” Shanahan said.
asserted
Shanahan → hear → time
It was hard to tell whether that takes pressure off Allen or puts more on him.
asserted
that → tell → him
At the least, it tells you a little bit about the respect Shanahan has for his new wide receiver.
asserted
Shanahan → tell → receiver
And the confidence in Allen being able to retain enough of the offense to be able to contribute as soon as possible.
asserted
Allen → retain → offense
“It was a good first start, and I’m sure he’s reviewing it right now at lunch,” Shanahan said.
asserted
Shanahan → ’m → lunch
“We’ll see what sticks at practice.
asserted
what → see → practice
Then we’ll watch film after, and then we’ll put in some new stuff tomorrow.
asserted
we → watch → stuff
Then we’ll see by the time we get to Saturday where he’s at, where we’re at, and then we’ll play the game accordingly.
asserted
we → see → game
Shanahan doesn’t know yet what Allen’s first game as a 49er will look like.
asserted
game → know → 49er
But he has an idea of what he wants the next two months and beyond to look like, especially once Mike Evans gets back.
asserted
Evans → have → idea
That was the whole point of trading for Allen.
asserted
That → trade → Allen
Asked whether the possibility of Evans missing another week or two drove the trade, Shanahan offered a useful glimpse into the thinking behind it.
asserted
Shanahan → ask → it
“That could be the case,” Shanahan said.
uncertain
Shanahan → say → ?
“But even if Mike was good on all eight of these games, wouldn’t have changed anything with trying to add another guy.”
asserted
Mike → change → guy
That’s where Wednesday’s crash course could pay off.
uncertain
course → ’ → ?
If Evans draws a safety outside, Purdy can come back to Allen working against one defender inside.
asserted
Purdy → draw → defender
And when Christian McCaffrey gets the ball, Shanahan already knows how the new guy feels about doing a receiver’s less glamorous work.
asserted
guy → get → work
“He’s a guy who blocks, who never takes a down off, is extremely competitive and a very smart, aware football player.”
asserted
who → ’ → down
As for his new quarterback, Allen is a fan, calling him “a competitor” and “a winner.”
asserted
Allen → call → him
As for the coach who greeted him with two hours of install, Allen sounds like somebody who’s been watching from a distance long enough to appreciate the invitation.
“I mean, being around the league, you know he’s a genius,” Allen said.
asserted
Allen → greet → league
“He’s always dialing it up.”
asserted
He → dial → it
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