ASHBURN, Va. -- The first time Santana Moss replaced Laveranues Coles at receiver, he responded with his best season. The Washington Redskins hope that's true the second time around.
The Redskins acquired Moss in a long-awaited trade with the New York Jets for Coles, who grew increasingly frustrated with what he termed a "conservative offense" in Washington.
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs stands with Santana Moss during a news conference announcing the acquisition of Moss from the New York Jets. (Kevin Wolf - AP) Ironically, with Moss and free-agent signee David Patten, the Redskins now say they want to throw more downfield to their pair of fast, 5-foot-10 receivers.
"We weren't productive," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "We didn't get big plays. That's our hope here. That's the best way we can help our team."
Moss is used to big plays. Though he caught a combined 53 fewer passes than Coles the past two years, he grabbed 15 touchdown passes to only seven for Coles.
Last season, Moss, battling a hamstring injury, averaged 18.6 yards on 45 catches; no Redskin receiver with at least 15 receptions averaged more than 12.7 yards a grab.
"When he hits the ground, he's extremely quick and elusive," Gibbs said. "He's a bona fide speed guy."
Two years ago Moss became a starter after Coles was traded to Washington. Moss finished with 74 receptions for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"I got a chance to play and did some big things," Moss said. "Now I'm coming here and he's leaving to go back there. It's so crazy. ... This is a fresh start. Not that I needed one, but now that I have one, it's good."
Moss occasionally will return punts. In New York, he averaged 11.9 yards on 88 punt returns, with two touchdowns.
Coles grew increasingly frustrated in Washington's offense last season, chafing over the lack of opportunities downfield. After several meetings with Gibbs, the Redskins determined it was better to trade Coles and take a salary cap hit of approximately $9 million this season than to have him return.
Coles also called Gibbs "inflexible" when it came to the offense. Gibbs did not want to address his comments.
'We went through a painful deal there and we're hoping this is a great solution for both sides," he said.
Moss was not bothered by Coles' description of the offense. He talked with former University of Miami teammate, and Redskin running back, Clinton Portis. And Moss looked at one number: 168 -- the number of passes thrown to Coles in 2004. Moss said he had fewer than 70 thrown to him.
"The reason it doesn't concern me is look at his numbers," he said. "He had opportunities. ... I want to try and make a difference. I want to be a big-play guy."
Washington also is shopping receiver Rod Gardner, hoping to trade him for a draft pick. He would represent the fourth starter lost in this offseason.
"Until we win games," Gibbs said. "We will be criticized."
Wow! So if Moss only drops say 63 passes (about 4 drops per game) next season of those 168 that went to Coles last season. He'll end up with 105 receptions and with his career avgerage of 16 yds per catch, he should roughly a mass 1680 yds to go along with those receptions.
Jansen on his broken thumbs:
"It’s limited me in some ways but has been beneficial in others. It’s like I have a couple of clubs on my hands. I just have to hit people with them."
I saw Coles drop an uncharacteristic amount of balls last year. But I'd say the majority of those 163 passes that weren't caught couldn't have been got by Yao Ming even if he had a boost to catch them. Brunell and Coles had 0 chemistry. I am not making excuses, Coles dropped a lot of balls; just not as many as that statistic (163) suggests.
Most of those were 'misses', not drops. Coles did seem to drop more passes than usual, but he had a finger issue too. But he still caught the majority of the balls that were catchable (93% i think someone worked out in another thread).
I think all Moss is saying is that good passes or not, he'd relish having his number dialed up 168 times.
Sean Taylor was one of a kind, may he rest in peace.
BossHog wrote:I think all Moss is saying is that good passes or not, he'd relish having his number dialed up 168 times.
Yes, I would agree and I can't wait to see Ramsey dial him in for 168 passes.
Jansen on his broken thumbs:
"It’s limited me in some ways but has been beneficial in others. It’s like I have a couple of clubs on my hands. I just have to hit people with them."
yeah i agree to doctordrew to some extent. Brunell and Ramsey had bad chemistry with our WRS, but maybe more than half of the passes he dropped touched his hands.... and we all know the rules "If the ball touches your hands, u have no excuse if you dropped it". So Coles' statement about he didnt get the ball is false.
washington53 wrote:yeah i agree to doctordrew to some extent. Brunell and Ramsey had bad chemistry with our WRS, but maybe more than half of the passes he dropped touched his hands.... and we all know the rules "If the ball touches your hands, u have no excuse if you dropped it". So Coles' statement about he didnt get the ball is false.
Coles never said he didn't get the ball. He said he didn't get many chances to go long.
BossHog wrote:Most of those were 'misses', not drops. Coles did seem to drop more passes than usual, but he had a finger issue too. But he still caught the majority of the balls that were catchable (93% i think someone worked out in another thread).
I think all Moss is saying is that good passes or not, he'd relish having his number dialed up 168 times.
Boss you said there wasn't going to be any math on this site ....I didn't study so please don't test us.
Over! Nothing is over until we say its over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor! Hell no! -- Future Sen. Blutarski.
Brunell threw a few passes last season that were to his old receivers in Jacksonville. Problem was, they were still in Jacksonville. Okay, once they were in Baltimore, and that pass was spot on.
I thought I had the coolest and most modern TV ever when one of Brunell's passes came crashing through the screen.
Thanks, you've been great, I'll be here all week.
My car doesn't go fast, but if you're important, people will wait for you.
I totally agree that Brunnel overthrew a great deal of passes but I also witnessed Coles drop passes or get jammed up by a Dback that he was supposed to be faster than (perhaps b/c of his toe?). Two play at the catching/receiving game and Brunnel (or ramsey) are not 100% at fault. He grabbed some tough balls but his inability to separate downfield are also part of the problem.
I'm done talking about Coles.
The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.
washington53 wrote:yeah i agree to doctordrew to some extent. Brunell and Ramsey had bad chemistry with our WRS, but maybe more than half of the passes he dropped touched his hands.... and we all know the rules "If the ball touches your hands, u have no excuse if you dropped it". So Coles' statement about he didnt get the ball is false.
Coles never said he didn't get the ball. He said he didn't get many chances to go long.
OK - I lied, one more thing. He couldn't separate when going long... Again, not all the QB's fault. We def need to go long more but he also needed to get open. We paid him to make plays so the few times the ball was too him down the field, catch it.
The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.
They'll enjoy Santana. He's a great talent," Coles said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "Maybe he'll bring something that they felt was missing in me. He's very explosive. I think that's what they were looking for."
Now you've got it Laveranues.
Andre Carter wrote:Damn man, you know your football.
We saw Brunell overthrow him for a couple TDs verse the Bears...
