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Scout: Book on Moss is a good read
By John Tomase
Boston Herald Sports Writer
Friday, June 29, 2007 - Updated: 12:53 AM EST
The question of how Randy Moss will mesh with the Patriots is sure to remain a compelling one until the games actually begin.
According to a pro scout who has watched Moss extensively throughout his career, one of his greatest attributes also ranks among his least publicized - his ability to read defenses.
“It’s kind of interesting, because I hear people say he doesn’t know how to run routes and all this other stuff,” said the scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But he’s one of the few guys I know of in this league who when defenses line up, he knows what coverage it is.”
Moss honed that skill while working with Cris Carter in Minnesota.
“Carter caught a whole lot of footballs by telling the quarterback what the coverage was going to be,” the scout said. “So to say the guy doesn’t know how to run routes and he’s not this and he’s not that, those things are totally false. I don’t know how many guys you know who can line up and tell the quarterback what the coverage is, but Randy is one of them.”
If Moss is as advanced in that area as the scout believes, he should fit right into a Patriots offense that requires its receivers to read and react in sync with quarterback Tom Brady.
“Watch out,” the scout said. “If the guy sitting next to him in the locker room is the guy I think it is, then Randy’s probably going to get a lot of opportunities and things will be good.”
The scout disputed the notion that Moss needs an attitudinal makeover.
“I don’t think he has to change his attitude, because I don’t think his attitude has ever been what people have made it out to be,” he said. “He’s one of those intense competitors that whether it’s marbles or fishing or anything, he hates to lose. Which is why he wants the ball all the time.
“He’s also a guy who has kind of a magnetic effect with his teammates. He’s always holding the barbecues or saying, ‘Let’s go here as a group’ or ‘Let’s go watch this high school football game as a group.’ Some people say he’s going to be this mad malcontent, but that’s not the case because that’s not what he’s all about.”
So why was his tenure in Oakland, particularly last year, such a spectacular disaster? And what about the belief that he can lose interest if passes aren’t coming his way?
“When he got to Oakland, I think he saw there weren’t going to be a lot of opportunities to do what he does, and I think that’s what sunk him into his funk, because he does go into those when he can’t get the ball,” the scout said. “Outside of that, whenever he feels he has a chance to be part of something, he’s Randy.”
Moss clearly has that opportunity in New England. An entire region eagerly awaits the chance to see what he does with it.
http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1008818
By John Tomase
Boston Herald Sports Writer
Friday, June 29, 2007 - Updated: 12:53 AM EST
The question of how Randy Moss will mesh with the Patriots is sure to remain a compelling one until the games actually begin.
According to a pro scout who has watched Moss extensively throughout his career, one of his greatest attributes also ranks among his least publicized - his ability to read defenses.
“It’s kind of interesting, because I hear people say he doesn’t know how to run routes and all this other stuff,” said the scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But he’s one of the few guys I know of in this league who when defenses line up, he knows what coverage it is.”
Moss honed that skill while working with Cris Carter in Minnesota.
“Carter caught a whole lot of footballs by telling the quarterback what the coverage was going to be,” the scout said. “So to say the guy doesn’t know how to run routes and he’s not this and he’s not that, those things are totally false. I don’t know how many guys you know who can line up and tell the quarterback what the coverage is, but Randy is one of them.”
If Moss is as advanced in that area as the scout believes, he should fit right into a Patriots offense that requires its receivers to read and react in sync with quarterback Tom Brady.
“Watch out,” the scout said. “If the guy sitting next to him in the locker room is the guy I think it is, then Randy’s probably going to get a lot of opportunities and things will be good.”
The scout disputed the notion that Moss needs an attitudinal makeover.
“I don’t think he has to change his attitude, because I don’t think his attitude has ever been what people have made it out to be,” he said. “He’s one of those intense competitors that whether it’s marbles or fishing or anything, he hates to lose. Which is why he wants the ball all the time.
“He’s also a guy who has kind of a magnetic effect with his teammates. He’s always holding the barbecues or saying, ‘Let’s go here as a group’ or ‘Let’s go watch this high school football game as a group.’ Some people say he’s going to be this mad malcontent, but that’s not the case because that’s not what he’s all about.”
So why was his tenure in Oakland, particularly last year, such a spectacular disaster? And what about the belief that he can lose interest if passes aren’t coming his way?
“When he got to Oakland, I think he saw there weren’t going to be a lot of opportunities to do what he does, and I think that’s what sunk him into his funk, because he does go into those when he can’t get the ball,” the scout said. “Outside of that, whenever he feels he has a chance to be part of something, he’s Randy.”
Moss clearly has that opportunity in New England. An entire region eagerly awaits the chance to see what he does with it.
http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1008818
