Oakland Raiders DE Shilique Calhoun a potential breakout player
The Oakland Raiders need improvement on their defensive front, and second year player Shilique Calhoun could be a breakout player…
Shilique Calhoun was a third round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2016, and is one of a few potential breakout candidates on their roster this season.
After injury cut short his 2016 rookie season, Calhoun was placed on injured reserve and had just five tackles in his first year in the NFL.
Once a three-time All-American at Michigan State, Calhoun came to the NFL with relatively high expectations as a top 100 selection and a player whose areas of weakness were less about production and more about his overall game translating to the NFL without functional strength.
He’s determined to quickly turn that into a strength after adding 20 pounds this offseason.
"Football is my baby."
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 16, 2017
- Shilique Calhoun opens up about his rookie season and looks ahead to 2017.
Read: https://t.co/gMtRcTZi1p pic.twitter.com/XR8e2dbiuZ
Part of Calhoun’s scouting report coming out of Michigan State was that he needed to become more effective against the run. If he wants to take the lion’s share of snaps on the opposite side of the field from Khalil Mack, the added weight should help him do just that.
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Watching Calhoun at Michigan State, there were times when he was flat out unblockable. His game didn’t transition quickly to the NFL and he obviously wasn’t healthy all of last year, but I think this is a player that is primed for a breakout season. He finished his collegiate career with 44 tackles for loss and 27 sacks.
Playing with a player of the caliber of Khalil Mack should only help Calhoun, who has the explosiveness off the snap to be a solid complimentary edge player.
There were some who initially thought Calhoun might be better off as a linebacker at the next level, but the added weight this offseason proves the Raiders will use him mostly along the defensive line, and I think that’s the right move.
In year two, I fully expect him to show out and prove he was worthy of a top 100 selection.