In the race for the U-T's highly coveted Chargers Training Camp MVP award, several candidates have emerged. Keenan Allen, who has lost weight and is moving well, is the early leader. He has made a wide variety of plays, such as a touchdown catch Wednesday, off a fade against Jason Verrett. Several others are having a strong camp, incuding Stevie Johnson, Verrett, Branden Oliver and Melvin Ingram.
Allen was a victim of the “sophomore slump,” finishing #46 in standard formats after a #17 finish as a rookie in 2013. He has lost some weight in order to increase his speed and quickness, so that he can better deal with the attention he’s going to receive as his team’s top receiver. He’s also taking his preparation more seriously, per reports. We’re expecting Allen to bounce back in his third year, but it may be a stretch to expect a return to the heights of his rookie season.
