Return of Chaz Schilens no guarantee of offensive explosion

November 11, 1:11 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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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.

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.

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You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.