nfl
[Highlight] Santana Moss smooth route running
Discussion
The Skins were such a fun team to play as in Madden during the Moss and Portis years. Throw in Chris Cooley and Antwaan Randle El and it almost didn't matter that you were running with Mark Brunell behind center.
I would sit there for hours as a kid doing those 3 on 3 rushing drills and Portis was always my favourite to do them with until Sean Alexander in Madden 07.
Rushing Attack! So addicting, just running those drills to the soundtrack.
I spent hours as a kid getting gold on the HoF mini camp drills.
core memory unlocked
Remember making your own player, and the stats your parents had influenced your player?
Party Hard
Reggie Bush was the ultimate cheat code in Madden 07
Running the tennis ball game to get Vick to 99 ThrPw and ThrAcc. Real cheat code in 04 with his 90+ spd, and stacked team.
When I got bored of using Vick I'd switch to the Vikings and bomb it to Moss every play
NFL street too. You could play Portis at QB and you would’ve balled out
I exclusively ran 2RBs with 1 at QB and abused options. My brother and friends rarely stopped it consistently
They were fun on NFL Street as well. Goddamn I miss those days.
Was just gonna comment this. Loved doing franchise mode with the Skins during these years.
I remember their playbook being really fucking fun too
As an Eagles fan, I hated them. But man, did I love to watch them play.
I came here to ask if I heard right and that last pass was thrown by the Jags legend.
So crisp. Didn't realize he managed to cross the 10K receiving yards marker in his career.
He would be HOF if he played with one decent qb instead of 20 bad ones. He had that level of speed and skill.
You mean this isn't ideal!?
Vinny Testaverde (NYJ)
Chad Pennington (NYJ)
Quincy Carter (NYJ)
Mark Brunell (Wash)
Jason Campbell (Wash)
Todd Collins (Wash)
Rex Grossman (Wash)
John Beck (Wash)
Donovan McNabb (Wash)
Robert Griffin III (Wash)
Kirk Cousins (Wash)
Colt McCoy (Wash)
thats a nasty ass list 😭😭
A Bears fan said this 😩
wrs usually dont stick around here long enough to have a list that nasty, but if they did it would definitely be worse.
Cousins, RG3, and 2002 Pennington weren't that bad, but put Moss with a top tier quarterback and he probably has at least 1000 more yards in his career.
By the time Moss played with RG3/Kirk, he was towards the end of his career and was kinda relegated to being in the slot. Which wasn’t a bad fit for him as a smaller, shifty WR, but he dropped down the depth chart by then. His best QBs in his prime were old man Mark Brunell and Jason Campbell, yikes.
Cousins, RG3
Cousins was baddd when he played with Santana during 2012-2014 (combined TD:INT of 18-19 and like 2000 yards total with a rating somewhere in the 70s). Kirk made the leap to solid in 2015 with 4166 yards and then good in 2016 with 4917 yards the next season.
And RG3 was pretty much one read and run. Good if you were Moss or Garcon in 2012 but 2013-2014 it was poor again
Pennington 2002 for sure.
I think you're being pretty conservative there. If you swap him and Reggie Wayne for example I'd bet he's the one making an argument for the HoF.
Why did you stop there? The list continues lol
*edit*
Alex Smith, Josh Johnson, Mark Sanchez, Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz, Sam Howell, and Jayden Daniels
Holy shit I forgot that Gilbert game
Wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy
Not even Travis Kelce?
lol love kelce
Honestly, not a bad list. Some stinkers in there like Quincy Carter, Rex Grossman and Colt McCoy, but everyone else were average at their point in their career.
Some were serviceable or good QBs, but when you look at where they were in their careers:
Testaverde played 11 total games with Moss at the tail-end of his career.
McNabb was at the second-to-last year of his career and was a shell of his Philly self (3.3k 14 TDs 15 INTs).
And then when Griffin III and Cousins came along, Moss was at the end of his career (he started three games his final three seasons in Washington with them at QB, and retired age 35).
The year he had Brunell as his full-time QB(2005), Moss made the Pro Bowl. The following year was the final year Brunell would be viewed as an NFL starter (minus one in 2009).
he started three games his final three seasons in Washington with them at QB.
I'm just going off of PFR, that shows one start in 2012, one in 2013, and 0 in 2014.
Most of Santana's overlap was with Jason Campbell, who wasn't great, but also wasn't terrible either.
Mr. 3.6 roentgen himself
In the context of Santana Moss, Carter only played three games for the Jets, went 2-1, helped them make the playoffs by throwing for 500 yards 3 TDs and one INT in that span. So not bad. Also, I have no idea why I'm defending this guy; I have absolutely no recollection of him lol
Seriously if you put him with a Trent Green or Matt Schaub level even I think Santana has a MUCH better career. Hell, he had 1400 yards in his best year with Mark Brunell as his QB.
Mark Brunell wasn't a bad QB. He was average in 2004 with the Redskins, and he was probably a top 10 quarterback during his time on the Jaguars.
Yeah, Mark Brunell was really good… he was just old and hobbled by the time he got to us. I will always be appreciative of him gutting out and orchestrating a playoff run on veteran wiles and whatever little bit of juice he had left in those knees.
If we’d gotten prime Brunell paired with Santana Moss, Chris Cooley and Clinton Portis… I don’t want to think about it because it’s just going to make me sad again, lol
That week 3 bye threw me for a loop when I saw the records lol
Before he injured both of his knees he was Steve Young Lite!
I was about to say, despite him being a damn good WR in the NFL, I thought he’d have been better coming out of Miami. However , I’d never considered his QBs. That would explain that.
Call it Santana Champ cause it's so crisp
My favorite player for a long time. He made a lot of bad QB play look acceptable.
Holy shit that second route was so tasty. That shit is like good jazz bro. Like I could not find the words to even explain what he just did. He made this hard cut to the sideline but then suddenly was like going in slow motion as he drew the defender to that spot and suddenly he was past him. That was so nasty holy shit.
Moss is better, but he looks so much like Doug Baldwin with these routes. Both were so smooth
The first clip is fucking filthy. He has him beat already on the fake outside, and then he goes back inside just to beat him even more.
I just wanna know were any of these routes post digs?
I just wanna know were any of these routes were post digs?
It's unfortunate that this man's numbers would be even better if he had a legitimate franchise QB throwing him the ball.
You’ll take 78 year old Vinny Testeverde and crippled Chad Pennington to start your career and you’ll like it
Vinny and the Jets, in disguise with glasses.
Still remember him at Miami. So elite.
Same. Him and Reggie Wayne as the starters with Andre Johnson as a backup. What a team.
That’s crazy good.
Their 2021 running backs were Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Najeh Davenport. Crazy amount of talent.
Edit - meant 2001. Fat fingers got me again. 😂
i wish they were all there that recently :(
Must have come back to get their PhD’s in balling
I’ve been yelled at before when I say that college football is better when the Canes are winning. Don’t mind it on the internet but it makes Thanksgiving dinner rough with my Buckeye family members. 😂
You said 2021 btw. Not 2001 ;)
My damn fat fingers. 😂
2021?
My damn fat fingers. 😂
What a baller. One of the best Redskins of this millenium!
There was a pass from Pennington to Moss against I think it was the Chargers in a Wildcard game that's one of my favorite passes of all time just how he dropped over two defenders and Moss made a perfect over the shoulder grab. It was just so clean. Edit- Found it
If Chad stayed healthy man…
Jets need to get back to those unis ASAP, just like Washington needs to get back to theirs (minus the helmet)
Legit case for most underrated receiver in the 2000s
The first football game I ever remember watching was in 2005 where Santana Moss caught two deep bombs with under 5 min in the 4th quarter to beat the Cowboys 14-13
This is why I always laugh when every short fast guy is comped to Tana. Tana was an awesome route runner, had fantastic hands, amazing body control, and was tough as nails. If he were a couple inches taller hes a sure fire HoFer. As it stands if he had better QBs throughout his career hes probably on the fringe.
Dude was also phenomenal at tracking the ball in the air and making the late adjustment to snag it without tipping off the DB. Big part of why he was so effective at hauling in Brunell's absolute moonball throws at only 5'10".
Truely underrated
One of the few bright spots in a terrible decade. Constantly underrated due to terrible coaches and QBs.
Just like in racing, smooth is fast.
No wasted movements in his form, efficient, and you can see the extra step created in each of those tight window throws.
Along with Steve Smith and Doug Baldwin, Santana Moss is the reason I think it should be league mandated policy that #89 can only be worn by short receivers you wouldn't want to start a fist fight with.
I miss the days of watching receiver highlights like this where there are 0 false steps off the line of scrimmage.
It’s shocking receivers were able to get open for 80 years without doing an a pieroutte at the LOS, huh? It’s as if it’s all mostly pointless. Not like CBs figured out WRs. The world watched a Keenan Allen highlight tape and decided that’s the only way to play receiver.
He's just like the ocean under the moon
Rob Thomas approves
Sing a song… SHUT UP
That Titans DB in the end zone practically fell out of his shoes.
I miss the redskins lego and unis. They were so clean
santana….AYE
He was really talented and fun to watch. Always thought he was underrated.
I wish Santana was playing now vs back then when we sucked. Him, Terry and Deebo would have been an unstoppable force for defenses to handle
Santana was awesome.
Was Santana on the Skins during RG3s rookie season?
yes
santana and griff def connected on some sweet touchdowns one of my favorite being in the first dallas game and the go ahead TD to him in the giants game
Maybe
You think this dude was named after Carlos Santana?
Who's throwing those passes? Those are some nice dimes. Jason Campbell?
The one against the Buccs is Campbell for sure. Maybe at least one more too. Last one is Brunell like it says but I'm pretty sure that's the only Brunell clip. The Bears one miiiight be McNabb.
1st ballot Hall of Good. If only he had a real QB.
Truly amazing talent. Breaking DBs ankles on nearly every route run.
89 makes his speed deceiving.
Beautiful
Crazy thing is this guy was probably every bit as talented as fellow 89er Steve Smith, but he wasn't a psycho, so he never quite got to that level.
As a kid I had an XL Moss jersey from Goodwill that was waaaaaaaay too big for me, I'm mad as hell my parents threw it out haha
I remember how pumped I was when the giants drafted his brother. And then he.......was not good.
Wasn't he like 5'8" or something?
Something like that.
Those out-n-up routes are nasty.
He is running about 80% of his full speed and can break on a dime in three steps which is what causes the DB to stop their feet and drive back to the ball. They believe he is actually breaking. Then 1 step to sell the out before being able to push vertical.
I don't think the route in the RZ vs Titans was that clean but also a time where more incidental contact was allows so I think he was more bracing to fight through that then that seeing the DB fall & lunge than he was worried about getting a clean break on his route.
First route just textbook but it is understanding the rules the DB is following with outside leverage vs Cover 3. He is pushing him wider on his outside release that gives him the space to work the hash. Then on the corner break (second cut) really accelerates to get to DBs back quickly causing hesitation whether DB should flip his hips or not. He knows the DB is still trying to have outside leverage so will need to honor that outside break. Sell the post-corner with 3 steps before putting outside foot in the ground and breaking on the post. Nothing crazy athletic about that route running but it is just exactly how you draw it up and coach it which every OC would love in a receiver.
How tf does anyone play cornerback in this league?
Legendary re-acceleration
One of my favorite non-Colts players of all time. He was so fun to watch. I obv loved Marvin but always thought Santana would be Marvin 2.0 if he had Peyton throwing to him.
I'd take Steve Smith Sr. over both of them though
I could tell that first one was Soldier Field just from the thumbnail. It’s crazy that upkeep and maintenance for a multibillion dollar organization relies on the city of Chicago. Just another reason our team is a joke currently
If your last name is moss you already have a receiver spot on an nfl roster
Man this film footage makes me feel old. It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago
Cowboys killer
For a second I thought we’d make it through the highlight without seeing the Cowboys on the losing end.
Man. I played some Madden 06 the other day and it reminded me of how much of a dog he was. Was like "damn, that's a name i haven't heard in a while" then half an hour later I'm down 14 with him boasting 9 catches for 188 yards and 2 TDs. Can't imagine what he'd do with a decent QB in today's game.
this just gave me the strongest hit of nostalgia for zero reason. cold crisp fall/winter mornings, football starting at 1pm, watching with the family, and having to make sure homework is done before school tomorrow
now games for me start at 10am and it is still shorts and a t shirt weather, on top of living across the country from family and having a 9-5. nostalgia and homesick hits in mysterious ways
That 1st route was filthy
Those unis in the clip against the Titans were mwah chefs kiss.
I miss that old Fox (?) electric guitar music.
Legitimately an extremely underrated receiver. That word gets tossed around a lot but I genuinely believe Santana Moss is highly underrated.
Underrated title reference
if we had prime santana now it would be a thing of beauty.
Maybe it's bias or just that I grew up in the region, but those mid 2000's washington teams were fun to watch.
Favorite receiver ever, right behind Laveranues Coles oddly enough lol.
Love me some Tana, goated WAS receiver (if art didn’t exist)
All time great Cane. Had no business wearing 89 though, just an ugly number for a guy like him.
Playing cornerback must be frustrating as hell
effortless running ....
Ugh, one of my favorites and I feel like he never got the recognition he deserved. I’ll never be convinced that he wouldn’t be in the HoF if he had a legit QB his entire career, instead of his best QB being 35-year-old Mark Brunell.
Crisp. Just like the jerseys he was rocking.
Santana was so smooth in his route running and so fast in his speed that his hamstrings couldn’t keep up — he was never really injured or missed games but from what I can remember sometimes he would have trouble with his hamstrings during game after a blazing route running.
boy was a dawg
Crazy how technically weak this looks compared to now
If Moss, Cooley, and Portis played 10-15 years later Jesus Christ. As a dc native I loved those guys
As a Bears fan - it's fun to see Tillman actually do a pretty good job of staying with him (IMO) but Moss's burst and angle out of the last cut still creates so much separation.
Oh, look.. Matthew golden.
Him & Lavearnues Coles were some of my favorite wideouts growing up. It's funny that they passed like two ships in the night between NYJ & WAS.
Crisp
Talk about creating separation damn
This is a Garrett Wilson post
That second one is on a different level
those Skins uniforms look so good, league is better with them.
Man he deserved so much better. He was a legend who slipped through the cracks.
To any Packer fans out there, Santana was the comp some people had for Matthew Golden. I thought it was weird to go that far back for a comp but def was familiar with his game. Dude was a baller.
My favorite player as a kid
Man those uniforms were clean
Watching these super athletes move like this and have a QB drop the ball into their hands at just the right moment. Feels impossible but that's why we watch football.
God I hope they reveal some semblance of those unis today as the "alternates"
When people said MOSSED. I thought this was who they were talking about lol.
I was just thinking about John Wall earlier, I guess it’s a Washington sports nostalgia kind of day
He's running slow as hell, he's locked up in today's game
Hall of streets won’t forget
He was before his time. If we had given him a halfway decent QB, he would’ve cooked
The story of every decent receiver we’ve had the last 30 years
Terry might finally have one, just gotta hopefully retain him.
This sparked some random research and scary Terry started 17 games for the past 4 years in a row??
holy god
I know he's starting to get up there in age but why wouldn't they pay this man?
They're bastards
I agree especially since he's been a steady presence through some really shitty years for the team, and has barley made a peep. Pay him, even if he falls off with age he more then deserves it after all he's done.
Absolutely I agree 100%
He's been (almost puzzlingly) loyal to the franchise, and now that it looks like the commies have turned the corner they should absolutely keep him around. I don't follow them super closely but I can only imagine how much of a leader he is
we’re going to pay him. this exact situation happened before his last extension and we got it done without any issue
Fingers crossed
How the fuck is he 29 years old?! I feel like he just came in the league. Damn I’m old.
He was drafted at like 24
I know!! 😭
Because he’s going to be 31 at the start of the contract and he’s asking for the type of money you give a player entering their prime.
The team is willing to give him a lot of money, just not all the money.
Not paying your best WR when you finally have a good QB on a rookie deal is just stupid
Unreal that he hasn’t been extended yet. Literally back up the truck for him he’s the whole offense after Jayden
I was about to ask if anybody could dig into the vault and guess the QB..
They said it at the end though.
Mark Brunell
Not all of these are Brunell. I think there's at least one Jason Campbell TD in there. Moss played until 2014 so he saw quite a few QBs come and go.
Damn. Been a minute since I've seen someone mention Jason Campbell. Him and Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley were some my favorite Skins player's when I was growing up.
Ahh yes.. Cleveland Browns great Jason Campbell!
Cleveland really is a QB graveyard. They tried their best to bury Baker but he popped up like the undertaker.
He was also on the jets for like 5 years before this . Catching passes from Chad Pennington lol
That's my QB coach
True about Washington and true about parts pf his Miami career
who else is in the hall of streets won't forget? I wanna start an official list
Kam Chancellor: man's not got a chance at the HOF but Vernon Davis still wakes up in cold sweats
Kam might be better than that, honestly. Hes on a list of 1-20 “its a tragedy he wont be in the Hall bc his peak was better than most of them”
If Calvin got in so should Kam. He was the heart of that defense. I've never been so in awe of a physical safety before.
Ehhh idk about that. Megatron was a consistently top 3 WR from like 2009 till he retired. Kam was amazing and was an intricate part of the LOB but was like the 4th best defender on his own team. Wagner and Sherman are sure fire HoFs. Earl Thomas is a close one and I think Kam Chancellor doesn’t have a chance
What makes Sherman such a guarantee but not Kam? Genuinely curious. They both have a pretty short peak.
If that man had a titanium neck I'm convinced he would've been the best safety in team history.
Kenny Easley (and ET3) says hi
I said what I said.
Jevon Kearse
Al Harris
Marion Barber
and then the streets definitely won’t forget Eric Bieniemy for [redacted]
this play alone solidified Marion in the hall of streets
Bob Sanders
Ricky Williams
Cam Newton
Mike Vick
Randall Cunningham
Percy Harvin
Sean Taylor
Brian Westbrook
Desean Jackson lol
Brandon Lloyd. Couldn't make a simple catch, but his highlight catches are better than anyone's.
Golden Tate
He really is.