New England wasn’t a breakout game for D.J. Williams.
It was a blast from his rookie year’s past.
Bronco fans remember the relentlessly pursuing, hard-hitting Williams. Or had they forgotten about the talented outside linebacker?
After posting four consecutive double-digit tackle games near the end of his rookie season in 2004, Williams experienced a sophomore slump. He didn’t disappear so much as he was sent to the sideline on nearly every passing down. And with the Broncos playing with a lead in nearly every game last season, opponents passed, and Williams sat, frequently.
But against the Patriots two weeks ago, with Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson bothered by a pulled hamstring, Williams got another chance to become an every-down linebacker.
The result was 10 tackles, his first game in double digits since Christmas Day of his rookie season, a span of 19 games.
“It was just by chance,” Williams said. “Al was a little dehydrated a couple plays, and I went in to back him up.”
Anytime Williams is asked about a particular game or performance, he invariably refers to the mental part of his job. His fine play against the Patriots was largely the result of carrying out assignment responsibilities, Williams said. His at-times disappointing play last year, he said, was the result of mental mistakes.
It’s as if Williams, an otherwise athletic, 242-pound specimen, has been ingrained with the importance of following orders.
“You’re not going to get to this level unless you’re already physically gifted,” Williams said. “I think I proved the last two years that I’m physically capable of doing the job. It’s just little things I needed to improve on.”
ESPN – and its dog
The Monday night game against Baltimore will be called by ESPN’s broadcast team of Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser and former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann. They are just three of – get this – 460 credentialed people the network is sending to work the game. Match that, NBC.
Rebecca Villanueva, manager of the Broncos’ media credentials, said ABC used to send in roughly 220 people for its “Monday Night Football” productions, but ESPN sends in an additional 240 people for its on-site studio programming.
“It’s by far the most credentials we’ve ever given to one media outlet for a game,” Villanueva said.
The crew was to fly into Denver on Friday night to begin preparations for the game.
So large is the ESPN contingent, it’s taking three downtown Denver hotels to hold them for the weekend. With this kind of manpower investment, ESPN will be pulling for a closely contested, entertaining game.
“Big plays will be at a premium in this game,” Theismann said. “It’s a game where the defenses have as much opportunity to score as the offenses.”
