Game-winning catch against Saints could open things up for WR
Santana Moss predicted the catch would unclog shorter routes for him. Jason Campbell figured the play provided proof that he and Moss had started to click. Jim Zorn viewed it another way. He considered it a sign of Moss’ comfort level in the offense.
Initially, Moss’ 67-yard touchdown catch simply beat New Orleans on Sunday. But as the week progressed, the play took on different meaning for those involved.
Regardless, it could be a good predictor of things to come for Washington. For this offense to be dynamic, Moss must be a central figure.
And, for Zorn, Sunday’s catch is evidence that he will be.
Moss caught just five passes for 37 yards in the season opener, though one went for a 12-yard touchdown. Sunday, he caught seven passes for 164 yards. Some of it stems from less pressure up front; some from facing a weaker secondary. But some is related to Moss’ development in the West Coast offense.
“As our receivers start understanding the differences in our offense, they start playing faster,” Zorn said. “There’s not so much thinking going on and that’s what’s happening with Santana. He’s the first guy I’ve seen in our group where you can see the burst in and out. … He could start running patterns with greater confidence.”
For Moss, though, connecting early in the year on a deep ball has lasting ramifications. In 2005 especially, when Moss caught several long throws early, corners played him a little deeper, giving up underneath throws. In the West Coast system, he’s adept at turning those short crossing routes into long gains (a 27-yarder Sunday) and touchdowns (vs. the Giants).
“When it comes to deep passes, you don’t want to be the one getting beat late in games,” Moss said. “It should help us a lot. … I’ve never been a guy that says just run me deep all day. Guys respect that and they back up, but I like when I attack them in so many ways underneath that I can hit them over the top.
“I like the shorter routes more than the deeper routes. It’s hard to be a defender when you have a guy that’s equally fast or faster; you can’t be too overaggressive. But I like the deeper routes when it’s time.”
And Sunday’s deep ball showed Campbell what they can do, having worked all summer together unlike last year when Moss wasn’t healthy. Moss averaged a career-low 13.2 yards per catch.
“It makes us feel,” Campbell said, “like we’re growing together.”
