Each Win Builds New Mindset For Redskins
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By DERON SNYDER
Santana Moss reached the playoffs in three of his first four NFL seasons, all with the New York Jets. After Washington acquired him in 2005 for Laveranues Coles, via a straight-up trade, Moss advanced to the postseason in two of his first three years with the Redskins. He was accustomed to such success, having lost just eight times in three seasons at Miami, going 3-0 in bowl games.
But he hasn’t been part of a winning team since Washington went 9-7 in 2007. With a good chance to end that streak over the next four weeks, Moss says this season felt the same as his others in D.C., whether the coach was Joe Gibbs, Jim Zorn or Mike Shanahan, and whether the quarterback was Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell or Donovan McNabb.
“Every team, I’ve felt like we had enough players to go out and compete against anybody and be one of those teams that goes to the postseason,” Moss said Monday after Washington’s 17-16 win against the New York Giants. “When [Shanahan] came and we didn’t go the first two years, my mindset was still the same. I’m not going to sit here and lie and say I knew something was going to be different this year.”
There would be more flash and pizzazz with Robert Griffin III at quarterback, though that wouldn’t necessarily translate into more wins. Cam Newton dazzled while setting rookie records for rushing and passing last season, yet the Carolina Panthers finished 6-10. Considering the Redskins’ concerns on the offensive line and in the secondary, a similar record with RG3 wasn’t out of the question; it actually would be an improvement from the Rex Grossman/John Beck campaign (5-11).
But RG3 is the Redskins’ most obvious upgrade and most significant factor in Washington’s resurrection from 3-6 afterthought to 6-6 contender. The only thing more impressive than his ridiculous numbers (17 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and a 67 percent completion rate) is the way his presence inspires and energizes the team. The results are more evident now, after three consecutive victories, but the raised expectations were in effect even before that.
