AT ISSUE
Stop, don’t touch
What: Illegal contact calls on defensive backs
Background: This call has been epidemic this year, particularly during crunch time. The Broncos have been called for it in the fourth quarter of their last two games, both losses. In Chicago, on a fourth-and-10 play that would have essentially ended the game with about two minutes to go, Broncos cornerback Dre Bly was called for it on incidental contact on the receiver, and it had no impact on the incompletion. The Bears turned the break into a touchdown. At Oakland on Sunday, Denver defensive back Domonique Foxworth was called for it on third-and-long on an incompletion when the receiver simply ran into him. Denver would have gotten the ball back on a punt with about eight minutes to go and trailing by a touchdown. The Raiders turned the break into a touchdown. Denver coach Mike Shanahan declined to talk about the plays this week.
Williamson’s take: Memo to defensive backs — Be careful when the game is on the line. Clearly, the officials are looking for these types of plays. It happened on the final drive of the Patriots’ win at Baltimore on Monday night. Look, defensive backs aren’t going to win this battle. They just can’t touch the receiver 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If they do, they’ll be flagged no matter.
THE HOT SEAT
Play JaMarcus
Who: Raiders coach Lane Kiffin
When: The rest of the season
Why: Kiffin is going to be watched closely in his usage of rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell. The LSU product made his NFL debut against the Broncos on Sunday. The No. 1 pick in April completed 4-of-7 passes for 56 yards in two second-quarter series. Kiffin has indicated he has a plan for Russell, who will likely continue to play in spots. However, the Russell plan should be simple — just play the kid all the time. He’s the future of the team and, at 4-8, the Raiders don’t have much to play for besides the future. Kiffin will be roundly criticized if he doesn’t get Russell quality playing time, and that means four starts at the end of what is now a meaningless season.
ROOKIE WATCH
Revenge factor
Who: Kansas City defensive back Tyron Brackenridge
When: Sunday, Invesco Field at Mile High against the Broncos.
Why: The cornerback has been a find for the Chiefs. He has 22 tackles and is playing often. However, a nice season by an undrafted rookie isn’t the reason why we’re looking forward to keeping an eye on Brackenridge. It will be his matchups with Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall. When the two teams met in Kansas City four weeks ago, film caught Brackenridge punching Marshall with a closed fist to the groin. Marshall had to be helped off the field. After the game, Marshall brushed off the incident, saying it was just football. Brackenridge wasn’t fined by the NFL for the cheap shot. While Marshall took the high road, you know he’d like to burn Brackenridge a couple of times.
