Matchupalooza: Santana Moss Vs Marcus Trufant

by John Morgan on Jan 2, 2008 1:11 PM PST

Two years ago, Santana Moss was a pretty big wheel in the nation's capital. That year, he posted the third best DPAR among wide receivers. Moss caught over 60% of all passes targeting him. He had no less than 5 receptions of 50 or more yards. And he received for nearly half of Mark Brunell's 3,050 passing yards. It was the capper on a slick little 3 year run for Moss, but it was also the last season that Moss would be a productive per play receiver.

Two years ago, Marcus Trufant was a good young cover corner on a truly rotten secondary. Tru was frequently left on an island, with predictable results. The two met twice that season, and Moss netted 190 yards, 13 catches and a score. This season, though, Tru has become one of the best corners in all of football, on a secondary that allows him to flaunt it. Rematch?

Conveniently enough, Moss plays almost exclusively from the flanker spot, and Tru, opposite at left corner. Moss is a complete receiver in the sense that he can run a slant underneath,

a quick hook for a first or a double move deep. He's 5'10, but plays smaller. Though Moss is only occasionally shutdown, his counting stats mask the fact that for as much as he's targeted, he only turns that target into a reception on 53% of all plays. Moss is quick, but doesn't get the separation he once did. Nor does he leap like he once did. As such, slight and quick, but no longer sensationally fast, Moss needs a quarterback who can hit him in stride, or just out of his cuts. If he's not quickly identified as open, or matched against a corner that can limit separation from the onset, Moss is boned. He just isn't very good at outcompeting a DB for the ball.

Tru, then, is a perfect match for Moss. Trufant's coverage skills should make Todd Collins think twice before targeting Moss, and should he chuck it Moss's way anyhow, Tru has developed the ball skills and chemistry with safety Deon Grant to make him pay. Or, on a deep double move, a staple of the Redskins offense, Tru can provide the solid coverage that allows Grant to freelance underneath. Either way, it's nice to know that against the Skins' #1 receiver, the Hawks are perfectly staffed for domination.

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(Morgan - check your email)

--Shrug

by Shrug on Jan 2, 2008 2:05 PM PST reply actions

Again, i get the impression that

there is no way Moss will even catch a pass in this game. Marcus trufant who is having a good season with 7 ints. and made the pro bowl for 1st time is the greatest thing on earth. But you never mentioned his past stats like 9 ints in his first 4 years of 62 games, which is mediorce at best. Oh yeah i forgot, the secondary was terrible last year, what about the 3 years before that?

It almost sounds like Moss needs a cane to get down field, lets see.....he cant jump, he doesnt get seperation, he needs a robotic armed QB to him in perfect stride and he was basically done when brunell was benched and put a cap on a slick little 3 year run for moss. HELL, he should just stay home to.

Honestly, i can read the same bias from anyone. Great if your a seahawks fan, but not good if you want to know the truth about both teams.

Other than that its a great piece of writing.

by sincethebeginning @ Field Gulls on Jan 2, 2008 2:08 PM PST reply actions

Have you watched Tru this year?

He is a completely different corner than he was last year.

V. 1.0, mutherf***er, know what I'm sayin'?

by Scruffy Lefty on Jan 2, 2008 6:01 PM PST up reply actions

Judging from his posts this week

sincethebeginning's analysis is mostly limited to "NFC West is soooooo weak!" "NFC East is sooooo strong!" and "Where are your NFL Championships?"

And "bias!".

formerly captain morgan

by Will Kier on Jan 2, 2008 6:12 PM PST up reply actions

Was the secondary that bad 2 years ago??

I thought Dyson was very good (although never healthy), Trufant was decent, Boulware was strong against the run and Manuel was a pretty smart/savy FS.

Obviously it wasn't elite, but I thought they held their own as a group in 2005.

Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Jan 2, 2008 2:25 PM PST reply actions

Dyson was injured a bunch, which left Seattle...

with Herndon starting opposite Tru. Herndon was sucktastic in coverage, but a pretty good run stopper. Boulware would work for a team that wanted someone to play the Horsecollar safety spot, but was feast or famine, famine, famine in coverage. I admit to just not knowing much about Manuel, but Green Bay sure seemed quick to dispose of the guy.

by John Morgan on Jan 2, 2008 2:48 PM PST up reply actions

Defense

The secondary is a huge improvement over '05. Both Jennings and Trufant have gained experience and gotten better and both benefit by having much better safeties.

Add in more pressure from Kerney and the addition of Julian Peterson, Mebane and Tapp and this is a much better defense than two years ago.

by FarNorth on Jan 2, 2008 2:44 PM PST reply actions

Off topic

BTW, not sure where else to put this:

Shula on the Baltimore Ravens: "I am happy to see the Ravens end their nine-game
losing streak. I spent many years in Baltimore as a player and a coach, and I
still love the city. I even have one of my Shula's Steak Houses in Baltimore. It
has the best steak in town. It used to have the best steak knives, too. But then
Ray Lewis opened his restaurant."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/071231&sportCat=nfl

by FarNorth on Jan 2, 2008 2:45 PM PST reply actions