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Moss eases uphis self-criticism

October 18, 2007 12:37 am

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

ASHBURN--For Santana Moss, it was one of those days where you trip on your shoelaces and spill spaghetti sauce on your shirt.

On Sunday, the Redskins wide receiver failed to catch a pass in a game for the first time since 2002, when he played for the New York Jets.

He fumbled the ball on a reverse, leading to the deciding touchdown in the Green Bay Packers' 17-14 victory.

Just as his groin injury had started to feel better, his hamstring tightened up, leading Moss to ask out of the game.

And on top of all that, it was cold and rainy and downright unpleasant in Wisconsin.

Moss was down on himself afterward, but he said when he watched the film Monday, he received a bit of a pick-me-up.

"From the perspective of what I did the whole game, I played really great when it came to everything else, when it came to blocking assignments and running routes," Moss said. "I just had some things I probably would've liked to have [done better]. We paid for it as a team."

For Moss, it has been a struggle to regain the Pro Bowl form he flashed in 2005 when he caught 84 passes for 1,483 yards and nine touchdowns.

Last season, he finished with 55 catches for just 790 yards and six touchdowns, though he did miss two games because of injury.

This year, Moss is on pace to register 38 catches for 636 yards and no touchdowns. Those would be his worst numbers since the 2002 season.

"I feel like I've been through things that put me in this spot right now that's worse than what I went through last week," Moss said. " It happens. I had to really sleep on it to understand you ain't perfect."

Count Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell among those who are unconcerned about Moss' recent struggles.

"I've still got all the confidence in Santana," Campbell said. "The season's still early."

Moss is not alone in his failure to reach the end zone, however.

Through five games, no Redskins wide receiver has caught a touchdown pass.

"I've been on that side before where you don't have nothing early and then it comes later," Moss said. "So I just wait my turn. When it comes, I'm gonna take it by storm."

On Sunday afternoon, the Redskins' already-depleted offensive line got weaker by the minute.

With normal starters Randy Thomas and Jon Jansen already out for the year, the ranks were further depleted when center Casey Rabach, tackle Todd Wade and tackle Stephon Heyer were injured.

It got so bad that at one point, defensive lineman Lorenzo Alexander had his helmet on, ready to enter the game on offense.

Yesterday, Alexander took work on the offensive line.

"I'm just trying to stay [on this team]," he said. "Maybe this is the best way I can. The more I can do for this team, the better it is for me."

Heyer, Wade, Rabach and left guard Pete Kendall (hamstring) missed practice yesterday.

SPRINGS OUT

Cornerback Shawn Springs has been excused from the team to be with his father, Ron Springs, who went into a coma Tuesday.

Ron Springs, who has diabetes, recently received a kidney transplant from a former teammate, Everson Walls.

"Our thoughts and prayers are going out to Shawn and his family," Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington said. "We totally understand that family does come first."

Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com