There is a buzz throughout the Raider Nation with wide receiver Chaz Schilens set to return to the field on Sunday. Schilens was a great story last year as a young receiver who showed flashes promise at the end of last season. He also was the Raiders best receiver throughout the offseason before he was hurt in training camp.
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Photo courtesty of TFDSSports.com. (Patrick A. Patterson)
In the preseason opener, Schilens looked to be Russell's goto guy catching five balls for 52 yards. Then it all came tumbling down. Schilens broke his foot during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers in a non contact injury. The original prognosis was 4-6 weeks, with his expected return the week two game against the Chiefs. However, his injury lingered and he ended up missing the first half of the season.
Meanwhile, the Raiders offense has struggled mightily. The supposedly reinforced wide receiver corps has been largely ineffective, combining for 28 catches in eight games. Schilens was expected to be a keystone at that position after having two strong games to finish the 2008 campaign. In the camps he was Russell's most reliable target not named Zach Miller, and it looked like he would emerge as a go to receiver. However, his injury derailed that possibility.
Now that he is finally returning, there is a temptation to expect a surge from the offense. However, with all the hype and hope surrounding the second year receiver it is easy to forget that he only has 15 catches for 221 yards as a pro along with two touchdowns. To hear the trumpets of his return, it would sound like Jerry Rice's return from injury in 1997. On the 20th of October, the Raiders sent out a press release trumpeting his return, "Wide receiver Chaz Schilens, who has yet to see action in 2009 due to a foot injury, is a welcomed addition this week as the Silver and Black prepare to take on the New York Jets on Sunday, October 25 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum."
Three weeks later, Schilens will make his triumphant return to the field for Oakland. However, the question then becomes whether he will be the catalyst that the organization is hoping. So far, coach Tom Cable has been dead set on sending out the rookie receiving tandem of Darrus Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy. Cable has made repeated excuses for the sub-par play and lack of development on the part or Heyward-Bey, and has been unwilling to bench him. Murphy has outplayed DHB in every facet of the game, but is more likely to see bench time for Shcilens because of their similar skill sets. They are both possession receiver, whilst DHB is the stretch the field burner that Cable Al Davis is so enamored with.
Having a receiver on the field that Russell has some chemistry should help a little, but Russell's accuracy problems were evident through the offseason even with Schilens's presence. With Schilens being absent for eight games, there is no guaranty that they are going to still have that chemistry. Russell's play has regressed significantly this season from what he showed at the end of '08, and one receiver is not going to make a major difference.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Comments
JBUST SUCK TO BAD CHAZ IS DOPE
this is going to help, not a lot but it will help.
I am glad to see Chaz will be playing again starting with the KC game this Sunday, no question.Having him on the field is a definite plus.Unfortunately I think too many fans are expecting Schillens to be the savior of the Raider offense. As Cable is suggesting. Unfortunately,he's not going to be.That is unrealistic based on his achievement thus far in his short career. As Patrick states, he has showed a lot of promise.He is arguably the best wr on the team, but it's like we're getting s not Rice or Tim Brown back.He's not a game changing receiver.Someday,who knows. But, again, the guy caught 15 passes last season. Showed a ton of potential. But the idea that Chaz Schillens is going to come in and be the big fix for all the passing game woes is just pure fantasy.Way too much credit for the player he is in reality. And, again, he can't fix Russell's accuracy issues.He'll be able to miss Chaz as easily as he misses Louis Murphy.
Chaz Schilens will bring back Raider glory along with his fellow receivers as they consistently move the chains down field at the hands of Charlie Frye. Jamarcus will kill us though. Damn 'em all for refusing to see Russell for what he is, a poor 3rd string QB.
At this point of the season, Raider fans take what little glimmer of hope they can, and run with it. Unless Russell has an epiphany of BIBLICAL proportions, I don't see a dramatic turnaround in store for our offense. The Bed and Breakfast Offense, Part 2, continues...
if nothin else itll help miller get a few double teams off miller
YES IT WILL. Since we have Chaz back, we are going to light up the score board..........don't burst my bubble please
Chaz will be a welcome site, but they are still short 3 more WR's. DHB and Murphy can't catch worth a damn. J Higgins has disappered since he got popped earlier in the year. Miller is a bad ass. I hope Chaz can bring up the preformance of the offence. I still say now that Gallery is back just run behind him and Henderson. Better days ahead Raider Nation hang tight.
chris chambers will catch all over asomugha again.
play chaz, murphy, and put walker in the game for god sakes...let dhb sit for a little bit. he is still raw...maybe one day, but not now. let him learn.
I don't care if we have Larry Fitzgeral and Andre Johnson. They wouldn't make a difference because we don't have a QUARTERBACK. Let's face it RaiderNation. Jamarcuss is a BUST!
"One receiver is not going to make a difference" "Russell's accuracy problems were evident through the offseason even with Schilens's presence".
This author must not have seen the Cowboys game, the only game Schilens was in before getting hurt.
Obviously when it does make a huge difference then the proof will be in the pudding on what the real problem was on the team; the RECEIVERS not the QB.
dsjslkadfkl
'triumphant return' by Schilens? What are you retarded?
This is why I hate bloggers that are fans!
This is what it's come to....Relying on a guy with 15 career catches to save the day. We're SCREWED! But of course we already knew that. We have a guy that has gone to the pro bowl sittin on the bench that is supposedly healthy. He has seen about 8 plays all year. Gotta give Walker a chance. If he doesn't come through....dump him, get someone else. It is desperate times.
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