Santana Moss’ voice nearly cracked twice Sunday, recalling a day in which his hands failed him. And his fumble led to the deciding points. And his hamstring worsened.
A day later, the Redskins receiver said all was forgotten.
“Once you talk about it and sleep on it, it’s last week,” Moss said. “I’ve been through things that put me in the position I am now that’s worse than what I went through last week. I had to sleep on it to understand you ain’t perfect.”
But this has been less than a perfect season for Moss. He’s battled injuries (a groin this spring and summer and a hamstring now). And his productivity has suffered, with only 12 catches in the four games he’s played.
Receivers coach Stan Hixon said Moss’ missed time from injuries has affected his play.
“He’s trying to get back into a groove,” Hixon said. “The numbers are going to pick up. The number one deal for him is to get healthy. When you miss practice, it’s the timing between the quarterback that you have to pick back up.”
The receiving corps has only caught a combined 39 passes — and they’ve joined Buffalo as one of two teams whose wideouts don’t have a touchdown reception.
But the reason for the lack of production centers on one person: Moss. He’s the one who has provided big plays for Washington since coming here in 2005. That season, he had 23 catches and two touchdowns in his first four games. Last year, Moss had 17 catches and three scores.
He’s dropped six passes, second most in the NFL. Hixon blamed that stat, in part, on the injuries.
“Because of your concentration,” he said.
Quarterback Jason Campbell clicked this summer with tight end Chris Cooley, whom he worked out with often in the preseason; and receiver Antwaan Randle El. Not coincidentally, those two have combined for 39 catches. Moss did not work out often with Campbell this summer.
“We’d like to get [Moss] going,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said.
Opposing defenses also pay closer attention to Moss, doubling him and allowing Randle El to get more single coverage when both are in the game.
“Sometimes you look at other people and say, ‘Damn, this guy is having a good year.’ And you say, ‘I wish I was that person; I remember when I was that guy,’” Moss said. “You can either start early or finish strong. I’ve been on that side before where it didn’t happen early and it goes later and I just wait my turn.”
