PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Williams Earns More Playing Time

Running back Harvey Williams will play more because of his performance Sunday in the Raiders’ 21-17 victory over New England.

Williams, who signed a one-year, $250,000 free-agent contract in April, gained a season-high 65 yards in 17 carries. He also caught three passes for 41 yards, including a middle screen pass that he turned into a 27-yard touchdown.

So will Williams gain his first start Sunday at Miami? Coach Art Shell wouldn’t say.

“The more that he sees the ball out there, the better he is going to get,” Shell said. “Harvey did a lot of good things out there (against New England).”

Tyrone Montgomery, who has started the first five games, did not see much action against the Patriots as he carried only three times for seven yards. Fullback Tom Rathman carried four times for 13 yards, but he also caught three passes for 23 yards.

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Last season’s starting tailback, Greg Robinson, is eligible to be activated off the physically unable to perform list this week after being sidelined with a knee injury that he suffered at the end of last season. Robinson has been running and going through light drills.

“We possibly could bring him off, but we have to talk to the trainers first,” Shell said. “There’s a chance that he may start working with the team. He’ll have to work some with the scout team and see how he is after he gets banged around a little bit.”

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After being ineffective throughout September, the Raiders had a different defensive approach against New England. With cornerback Albert Lewis and linebacker Rob Fredrickson in the starting lineup for the first time, the Raiders blitzed and played more man-to-man coverage.

Not only did the Raiders get more aggressive, but they also showed a few twists in their pass coverages. On one play in the second half, they rushed Fredrickson from the outside while defensive lineman Nolan Harrison dropped back in coverage on Patriots’ tight end Ben Coates.

Look for more of the same Sunday against Miami’s Dan Marino.