Silver and Black Report

By Victor Cotto, S&B Report Staff Columnist

Oakland Raiders rookie WR Arman Shields

One of the goals this off-season for the Oakland Raiders coaching staff was to create more competition at wide receiver.

With JaMarcus Russell taking over, the staff felt they needed an influx of speed and big play ability in order to cater to the attributes of their no. 1 overall draft selection a year ago.

In the draft, one of the players Oakland selected in hopes of given Russell a target to build a rapport with was Arman Shields. The fourth round draft pick was in attendance this weekend during Oakland’s three-day rookie mini-camp at their facility. But prior to their weekend activities, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp commented on what Shields could provide to a team looking to add big plays to their passing attack.

“[Shields] has a great knack of getting vertical after the catch. He showed a great knack of getting yards after the catch. To me has enough versatility to play outside in a one-to-one match-up and in the slot.”

As for injury concerns, Knapp stated, “He got hurt early enough in the season there was time for recovery. He’s ready to go. We are very excited about getting him.”

Another intriguing prospect is Chaz Schilens, the 7^th round draft selection out of San Diego State. At 6’4, 225 pounds, Oakland hopes they found a gem that can use his size and comparable speed to get favorable match-ups and give Russell a big target.

“Sometimes the guys from a program that maybe wasn’t expose as much just didn’t get that exposure to bolt them higher up in the draft and they go to the right place, with the right fit and that allows that guy to grow faster. And that’s how we see him.”

Knapp, who has a history of working in systems that utilized multiple rushers to pace a solid ground game, also commented on the importance of having a backfield with players that can step in and contribute. “My background from being in the league is that you need more than one, you need two for sure and probably three”, he stated, as Oakland appears to be ready to go with a trio Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush in 2008.

“You can’t have enough backs in my opinion”, Knapp continued.

As for that running back from Arkansas that made his debut this weekend, Knapp declared, “He is unique to me in my experiences. His home-run ability is very unique from what I’ve seen in the college tape. Hopefully that will transfer over the pro level as well. What does so is that ability to move him around, to put him in different places.”

McFadden will have an impact on all facets of the offense if he is able to soak in the playbook and handle the varying packages that the Raiders may have for him.

If he is able to be that multi-dimensional playmaker that dominated at the college level, receivers like Shields and Schilens can have productive camps and give Oakland some solid choices to select from when its time to put together their final roster.