Santana Moss was a couch potato this past offseason — at least, for as long as he could stand it.
Instead of the endless training that has defined much of his seven-year career, for the first time the Redskins wide receiver simply got some rest.
“I didn’t workout until it was time for us to report back here,” said Moss, “The only thing I did, other than lifting weights, I did a little martial arts, just to give me a different kind of workout, work on some of the hip flexors. When you do a lot of that kicking and punching, it works some muscles that you normally don’t work.”
For much of the past two seasons, the muscles he normally worked too often became overworked. Nagging heel and groin issues last year were preceded by hamstring problems in 2006.
But this time around, Moss has stayed healthy by staying away from the gym.
“When you come in this package the way I have,” said the 5-foot-10, 200-pound speedster, “you have to work because it already is a given that you’re not going to be the ‘typical’ wideout or whatever else they want to call you. I’ve been working for it since day one, but when you get older and you understand how this game is played — it’s so hard — you have to learn how to take care of yourself.”
Renewed and refreshed, Moss is more comfortable every day with rookie head coach Jim Zorn’s West Coast offense and quarterback Jason Campbell.
“If we can get him singled up on a defender and have him win one-on-one [at the split receiver], we have a chance,” said Zorn, who doesn’t know Moss other than as a healthy, and primary, weapon.
Redskins wide receiver coach Stan Hixon also said that’s the number one reason Moss is showing the kind of form that led him to the Pro Bowl in 2005, when he broke the franchise record with 1,483 yards receiving on a career-best 84 catches.
“He’s injury free,” said Hixon. “He’s having fun. Last year he might have done two days of OTAs [organized team activities], and he came into fall camp still hurt and we had to nurse him through fall camp. Then he got off to a slow start because of the injuries. I think this year he’s feeling good about the offense, feeling good about himself and feeling good about Jason.”
