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Redskins wideout Santana Moss has the speed to go deep, but he's more dangerous on slants and short passes.
Moss' performance not only fires up his team, it also puts a charge in the wideout himself.
Santana Moss twists and turns his way between three Jaguar defenders to score the second |
LANDOVER, Md--Of course he wanted to find the end zone. Of course he wanted to pile up yardage totals that were as high as summer temperatures.
What wide receiver wouldn't?
But Santana Moss is not a complainer.
When the Redskins bolstered their receiving corps this offseason, ostensibly taking away at least a few of Moss' opportunities, he welcomed the additions. When Moss failed to score a touchdown or top the 70-yard mark in any of the first three games of this season, he did not carp.
He knows there's no point. He knows that no one--not his coaches or teammates or fans--want to listen to him cough up excuses.
"You wait your turn and be patient and know this game is a journey," Moss said. "You can't just sit here and say you have to make something happen or look for something to go your way every time; you can't do that. You just have to stick in there."
He sticks in there because he knows the glowing afternoons come with time. And on Sunday, with the early-autumn sun creeping below the top of FedEx Field, Moss made it known that his record-breaking 2005 season was more of a trend than an anomaly.
The ridiculously quick wideout caught four passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Redskins to a thrilling and important 36-30 overtime victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Moss' final catch was his most spectacular, as he gobbled up a Mark Brunell pass near the left sideline, then rocketed downfield for the game-winning 68-yard score.
"The guy couldn't be a better playmaker and I don't know who is in the NFL," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "Every time he gets the ball in his hands, it's a threat to have him go with it."
Moss is averaging 19.2 yards per catch, which is the third-highest mark in the league among receivers who have at least 15 receptions. Last season, Moss had 84 catches for a franchise-record 1,483 yards.
Though sure-handed, Moss is most dangerous when he receives a short pass on a slant or screen. That's when he puts his legs to work and dares defenders to keep up.
Consider the speedy wideout's first score on Sunday: Moss took a few steps, cut toward the middle of the field and caught a pass from Brunell. He wiggled free from the grip of Jaguars cornerback Terry Cousin, and then bolted down the sideline.
Jacksonville safety Deon Grant calmly approached Moss near the 10-yard line. Grant's steps were calculated and deliberate, as he tried to close Moss' lane to the end zone. He succeeded, but it did not matter. Moss, who weighs 20 pounds less than Grant, soared forward and unveiled a tornadic spin move. All Grant could do was reach helplessly at Moss' jersey, but it was too late.
"There are a lot of good receivers out there, but he's certainly one of the best after the catch that I've played with," Brunell said. "He's amazing. He gets it in his hands and he's able to do some thing."
Moss can also be effective without acres of open field ahead. He proved this with his 8-yard touchdown grab that gave the Redskins a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter. But he saved his best for last.
Early in the game, Moss had told Brunell that he was isolated in one-on-one coverage a few times, and felt he could beat his defender. Such opportunities had vanished by overtime, when Moss had already tallied a pair of touchdowns and was a threat for a third.
On a second-and-13 from the Redskins' 32 yard-line, Brunell spied Moss near the left sideline. Cornerback Rashean Mathis and safety Donovin Darius were close to the receiver.
Grant swiped at the ball, but missed. Darius closed on Moss like a runaway train.
"You always have to have one guy ready to tackle him," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.
Moss stayed focused despite Darius' impending arrival. He made the short catch and vanished down the left sideline for the winning touchdown.
"I thought for sure he was going to be tackled on the sideline there," Gibbs said. "Somehow he got away."
Sunday marked Moss' third career three-touchdown game. His other two have come against the New York Giants, whom the Redskins will face at the Meadowlands this weekend.
But Moss prefers not to look at what he's done, choosing instead to look at what is ahead.
"As a player and as a receiver I kind of catch amnesia now and then," Moss said, "because there's always so many other things you can do, so why limit yourself to what you did in the past?"
To reach ADAM HIMMELSBACH:
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com
Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has made the most of his receptions this season. The sixth-year veteran currently ranks third in the NFL in yards per catch, with a minimum of 15 receptions: Rk Players Tm Rcp YPC 1. Bernard Berrian CHI 15 21.1 2. Reggie Wayne IND. 18 19.9 3. Santana Moss WAS 17 19.2 |
