Skins WR has caught just five passes so far
ASHBURN – The compliment comes in the form of constant attention. Other teams know Santana Moss can beat them. Other teams make sure that doesn’t happen. So when he runs inside, a linebacker might block his path. When he runs outside, the safety will roll his way. And when he lines up other times, he’ll see three sets of eyes checking him out.
Recommended Stories
Moss could do without all the compliments.
“I appreciate them respecting me that much,” Moss said. “At the same time I wish and pray that I could get some one-on-one now and then to get a shot to be myself.”
The Redskins need for that to happen. One reason the offense is struggling is the lack of big plays. And one guy who can provide them is Moss, who entered the season averaging 15.2 yards per catch in his career and has 43 touchdowns.
But through two games he has just five catches for 41 yards.
It’s his slowest start since 2002, when he had just two catches after the first two weeks of his second season. And the 41 receiving yards are a career-worst after the first two games of the season (he was inactive for the first nine games of his rookie year).
There are many explanations, though the double teams are a primary reason.
“This has been the most ever this early in the season,” Moss said. “Usually you get off a couple games and then they say they’ve got to do it. But teams that played us know what we do. They say when something is happening, most of the time 89 might be around it.”
The Redskins have tried to get Moss the ball, moving him around and running various routes. They had a deep ball ready for him late in the third quarter of the 9-7 win over the Rams, but quarterback Jason Campbell was pressured and did not have time to throw to Moss.
“I can just tell you we’re trying,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “Our effort is there. It would be a real problem if you’d see him coming to my office going, ‘What’s up, man? What about me?’ He realizes that we’re making efforts.”
It’s not as simple as saying they should move him around or force him the ball. When defenses focus on doubling a receiver, they usually win.
“It doesn’t matter if you go in motion, we can double team you,” Redskins corner Fred Smoot said. “It takes a lot to beat a double team. The only way to beat it is with a patient quarterback and pure speed. That receiver, if he’s a faster guy, can outrun people.”
Moss caught nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown vs. Detroit last year. The Lions have allowed eight touchdown passes this season. They’ll likely focus on Moss as well.
“All I can do is keep doing my job and maybe they’ll see me one day,” Moss said. “I don’t have to sit here and say I need something more. Teams are playing to me, therefore someone else has to get open.”
