JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Punter Shane Lechler's Pro Bowl selection notwithstanding, the Raiders' special teams haven't been special the last two weeks.
"You're either getting better or you're getting worse – and we've gotten worse," linebacker and special-teams player Ricky Brown said. "If you go off the last two weeks, we're garbage."
The Raiders allowed a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown by T.J. Rushing in last Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. That came a week after they allowed a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown by Will Blackmon and fumbled a punt that was recovered for a score in a loss to Green Bay.
If the Raiders' punt coverage was at its most aggressive when it corralled the NFL's best returner – Chicago's Devin Hester – Nov. 11, it might have been too passive in its last two games.
"On the one (against Green Bay), there was a guy a yard away when (Blackmon) caught the ball and he didn't make the tackle," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "And on this one (against Indianapolis), we had a guy five yards away (from Rushing who didn't make the tackle)."
The Raiders' coverage units will be tested again Sunday in Jacksonville.
Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew averages 26.2 yards per kick return, seventh in the NFL, and has a 100-yard return for a touchdown. Their punt returner, Dennis Northcutt, averages 10.4 yards a return, fifth-best in the NFL.
"I know we slipped up here the last couple of weeks," Lechler said. "But we're looking to get back on track with Jacksonville and San Diego because they have some pretty good units."
Depth chart update
Josh McCown will start at quarterback against the Jaguars. Kiffin intimated rookie JaMarcus Russell could start but opted for the veteran.
Russell will play regardless of McCown's performance. Kiffin said the offense lost momentum when Russell started the second half against the Colts and the Raiders failed to score in three series.
Kiffin hopes to get Russell into the game during the first half but said he didn't know if Russell would finish the game once he goes in.
"He is our future, so we made a commitment to play him in the last game, and now we've made a commitment this week to play him and practiced that way," Kiffin said. "So regardless of any scenario as far as how Josh is playing, we'll still play him."
Running back Dominic Rhodes will get his first start as a Raider, in place of injured starter Justin Fargas. Rhodes gets the nod over LaMont Jordan, who began the season as the starter before being replaced by Fargas.
Rhodes signed with the Raiders as a free agent in the offseason and was expected to at least split carries. But after serving a four-game suspension, Rhodes has 19 carries all season. Jordan also will play, Kiffin said.
Wait 'til Sunday
Receiver and punt returner Tim Dwight (hamstring) was limited in practice for the second day in a row Friday.
Kiffin said Dwight would be a game-time decision.
Defensive back Chris Carr (shoulder) is probable. McCown (finger) is listed as probable.
Read Jason Jones' Raiders blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
