Miami worried about a second pass-catcher, just not any who lined up wide. So when Chris Cooley ran down the left seam in the third quarter, the safety ignored the wideout running down the sideline with the corner. Based on the past, it was a gamble the Dolphins had to make.
Which was just fine with Antwaan Randle El. It finally gave him a chance to do what he was signed to do: make big plays. His 49-yarder set up a third-quarter touchdown.
And his big day — five catches, 162 yards — could pay off for others. That is, if it’s not just a one-game aberration.
“That’s what we need,” receiver Santana Moss said. “We have the guys that can do that.
“I know what I can do when I’m on, now what can we do when everyone’s on all cylinders? But I’m not here to tell you what [the effect] could be; I’d rather go out and do it and then you can see for yourself.”
The Redskins lacked a legitimate No. 2 receiver last season as both Randle El and Brandon Lloyd struggled; the latter more so. Lloyd didn’t catch a pass Sunday.
However, Randle El’s fast start was preceded by a strong summer, when coaches raved about his camp.
“That’s been the question in the offseason leading up to the regular season,” Randle El said. “When are you going to produce? You just have to go out and play and show everybody.”
In 2005, Randle El opened his final season in Pittsburgh with seven catches in the first three games for 220 yards, with three catches for at least 46 yards. However, his longest catch in the next 17 games that season was 28 yards — and in 13 of those games his longest catch was 15 yards or less.
Last season, his longest catch was 34 yards, one of two grabs for 30 yards or more.
Sunday, he also caught a 35-yard pass and a 54-yard Hail Mary pass that was deflected back to him.
And he proved to be an all-around receiver, springing Clinton Portis with a downfield block on a 19-yard touchdown run. His block helped Ladell Betts gain 14 yards on an overtime carry.
But he was brought here to help the passing game. Cooley might have caught just one pass, but every time he and Randle El lined up on the same side, the latter was left in man coverage. He capitalized.
“I don’t feel like he stepped up,” Moss said. “He just got the ball thrown to him and he did what he’s supposed to do.”
