Enticing Schilens has plenty to prove

By Anthony Carroll  |   Monday, May 12, 2008  |  Comments( 35 )

Oakland Raiders
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Just as coaches and owners have project players, so do fans.

For the faithful Oakland Raiders following, this year’s fan favorite may be the team’s seventh-round draft choice, wide receiver Chaz Schilens. Standing 6-foot-4, 208 pounds with a 43-inch vertical, Schilens is a player who opens eyes just on paper.

And on YouTube.

Highlight reels and measurables aside, the young wideout does have some numbers to back up the hype. A three-year starter at San Diego State, the 22-year-old caught 103 passes in his Aztec career for 1,603 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, Schilens averaged over 19 yards per grab, and finished off his senior season with 215-, 174-, and 106-yard games, respectively.

Matched up against the rest of the ‘08 receiver class, though, Schilens knows he still has a lot to prove.

“As far as number wise, they weren’t the greatest. But I consistently took steps forward to make myself better. You just have to keep working. You’ve got to work through some stuff. Everyone goes through it -- injuries and whatnot,” the receiver said Friday.

You could say he’s the new Johnnie Morant of 2008. Fans can only hope this story ends better, though.

Morant, like Schilens, was a late-round, 6-4 pass catcher with comparable college numbers (88 grabs, 1,535 yards and seven TDs) and just as much hype. The former Syracuse standout even had two strong preseasons in ‘04 and ‘05 and seven receptions in 2006 before being cut by the Lane Kiffin regime last offseason.

That’s where backers of the appealing Schilens hope the story changes -- and Schilens, too, who got his wish when the Raiders took him 226th overall last month.

“I had written down the top teams I was interested in, and the Raiders were at the top of the list,” Schilens said. “So I’m glad it happened. I’m glad they picked me and it ended up this way. I think I would have been coming here either way to be honest with you.”

Currently, the Mesa, Ariz., native is one of 11 receivers on Oakland’s roster. Of the 11, eight are either second-year receivers or rookies, none of whom are guaranteed to make the roster. Only veterans Javon Walker, Ronald Curry and Drew Carter seem to be early season locks to make the team, meaning at least two -- but more likely three -- spots will be up for grabs.

Those spots will likely go to the receivers who adjust best to the team’s new quarterback, second-year gunslinger JaMarcus Russell.

“He’s obviously going to get the ball there quick,” Schilens said of Russell. “I hope he doesn’t take one of my fingers off. He throws the ball hard. He has a big, strong arm. He can throw it deep. I’ve seen him throw a lot of good routes. I’m going to be looking forward to it. I’ll definitely be trying to focus because the ball will be there a lot quicker than I’m used to.”

If Schilens can impress coaches early, the hopeful wideout may be able to add some more highlights to his YouTube gallery -- this time in a Raiders jersey.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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