Skins hope Moss will thrive again

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

http://www.examiner.com/blogs-316-caj

Santana Moss knows what’s happened when he’s played this spot in the past: big years. The Redskins, and Moss, hope that happens again.
In the new West Coast offense, Moss will play the X, or outside receiver, position. He last played that spot during his first year in Washington. He responded with 84 catches for 1,483 yards and nine touchdowns.

He also played this spot during his third season in New York — and caught 74 passes for 1,105 yards and 10 scores.

“Those were my best seasons,” Moss said. “Hopefully I’ll do the same thing.”

Moss played the Z, or flanker, spot the past two seasons with Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd playing X. But new coach Jim Zorn wanted Moss at X.

“The group before us, they had him at flanker and motioned him down and saw him as a move guy,” Zorn said. “But I see him as a vertical threat.”

[WinnpegSkinsFan]

Interesting. Basically this article tells me 2 things:
1. Saunders misused Moss in his offence.
2. Zorn feels that Moss can be a contributer in his version of the WCO.

I think Moss has to have a good year in order to be on the Skins in 2009.

I will be very interested to see what Akh has to say about this article - not to stir the pot or anything.

[AUviaMD101]

will moss be used as something OTHER than a deep threat? Can he get some intermediate looks and make plays? That is the question. We all know he has speed. But many forget about his agility. I think that much of the NFL pundits got over hyped with Cooley, the draft pics and the introduction of the west coast offense. They consistently forget about Moss.

Better for us. I have him getting 8-9 touchdowns this season.

[colkurtz]

This offense needs Moss to perform. However, last season he seemed distracted and dropped a lot of balls from JC. Balls that hit him right in the hands. He's has two mediocre seasons in a row.

He needs to step up his game and help Jason succeed this season or he will not be on this team next year. This offense can't afford to have it's #1 WR who can't give us #1 WR performance.

[firehawk157]

I'm sure Moss will get plenty of looks on screens, short patterns and even some intermediate stuff. Regardless, Moss is an elite athlete, he's got the tools if he can get his head on straight. Moving him back to the outside might be the best option, I seem to remember JC being much more accurate to the outside than he is to the inside. It seemed most of his "misfires" were to the inside.

Regardless, Moss is going to need to produce as a #1 now. 1000+ yards and 5+ TDs is the mark that will keep him in Washington IMO.

[jaylen]

Moss needs to stay outside where he might not take as many hits. He's increasingly fragile and he plays terrible less than 100%. With our big youngsters I expect JC will be alot more accurate on the short and intermediate stuff.

Moss I think could be a 70 catch big ypc guy this season.

He needs to find the end zone. Our wr's period need to find the end zone alot more especially in the Red Zone.

[sinskin]

Originally Posted by jaylen

Moss needs to stay outside where he might not take as many hits. He's increasingly fragile and he plays terrible less than 100%. With our big youngsters I expect JC will be alot more accurate on the short and intermediate stuff.
Moss I think could be a 70 catch big ypc guy this season.

He needs to find the end zone. Our wr's period need to find the end zone alot more especially in the Red Zone.

well said!

I have always thought this. JC wasnt very accurate on the short to medium passes, which is well documented. However maybe it is due to the fact that our WR's are munchkins. I for one think the accuracy will become alot better!

[BandWagon]

Originally Posted by colkurtz

This offense needs Moss to perform. However, last season he seemed distracted and dropped a lot of balls from JC. Balls that hit him right in the hands. He's has two mediocre seasons in a row.

He needs to step up his game and help Jason succeed this season or he will not be on this team next year. This offense can't afford to have it's #1 WR who can't give us #1 WR performance.

I'll never forget flying all the way up to Chicago and driving the rest of the way to Green Bay, simply to see Moss have one of his worst games as a Redskin. Mediocre says it all.

[guess88]

Interesting that it said Moss wasn't put in a position to be the main vertical threat. Could that be wrong? I remember Moss going deep several times (with usually overthrown balls, or drops). If true, was Saunders trying to use him more for YAC? Not using Moss as the main deep threat baffles me.

[greatest2]

Moss can do both, YAC and go deep. He was/is a great return man so you know he can make people misses and has agility.

The facts prove his best years have come when he has played the X position. Sounds obvious to me to move/keep him there. He won't be strictly a deep guy, i mean ya gotta keep the corner honest with short stuff and slants, screens, etc. But i expect YPC to go up, while catch's maybe between 60-80. What we need are scores. He needs to find the endzone when he catch's the long ball. I often found him catching and falling down/sliding as he caught it, or being taken out of bounds without being touched (like a guy has an angle on him and he drifts to the line).

Hopefully he can stay healthy. That is always the biggest thing with him. If he is healthy, he can ball and be productive. If he is anything but 100 percent, he will be mediocre at best

[hogskins]

Originally Posted by sinskin

well said!

I have always thought this. JC wasnt very accurate on the short to medium passes, which is well documented. However maybe it is due to the fact that our WR's are munchkins. I for one think the accuracy will become alot better!

No, no, no! I've been taken to school on this very site about that fallacy. It's apparently common wisdom that a guy who's a half foot taller with extra wingspan is NOT a better target on a short-to-medium route! ... just kidding, although I'm no expert.

[Cutter]

Brady doesn't seem to have any problems hitting Welker in stride on short or intermediate routes.

[Hrabanmaur]

I don't know whether Moss's numerous drops last season were b/c of JC's accuracy, fear of getting plastered from playing inside more, or simply a lack of concentration (like Moss's fumbles). I tend to think it's a combination of all three. Regardless of whether Moss will be more comfortable playing the x receiver, he needs to stay healthy and catch the balls that hit him in the mitts to preserve his spot in the x position beyond this season.

Brady doesn't seem to have any problems hitting Welker in stride on short or intermediate routes.

Oh, please. Did you really just compare JC, who hasn't even played a full season, to Tom Brady, arguably, the best QB in the league (with 7 seasons on the field)?

[SkinsfaninNJ]

Originally Posted by Cutter

Brady doesn't seem to have any problems hitting Welker in stride on short or intermediate routes.

So now you expect him to play like a first ballot HOF'er?

[Cutter]

That'd be nice. What I expect is for Campbell to connect with his WRs in stride. He can't blame height because it's clear others can do it. I can't think of a munchkin on the Bucs or I'd have said Garcia. I can't think of a real smurf on the Seahawks or I'd have said Hasselbeck. Can I use those guys in comparisons or is comparing him to pro-bowlers off limits too? Exactly how bad of a QB do I have to use?

The point, simply, is that a good accurate QB has no problems producing with a small receiver for a target. It takes more than that to be a sure fire first ballot HOF'er, but in as much as he should throw accurately to whomever is playing out there regardless of stature, yes he should play just like a future first ballot HOF'er. I expect him to put his helmet and pants on the same way too.