Friday, November 27, 1998

Randy Moss shows 'Big D' why he's a big deal

By Frank Luksa

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Minnesota on Thursday wreaked the most serious aerial damage on a local venue since flocks of grackles began roosting overnight in downtown Dallas trees. In doing so, Vikings' rookie receiver Randy Moss did more than live up to an already exalted reputation.

He enhanced it.

Moss caught three passes during a 46-36 victory over the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Each accounted for a touchdown over distances of 51 yards once and 56 yards twice. Thus, Moss averaged 54.3 yards PER CATCH, which might account for why he dropped a late-game pass that would've been good for 43 more yards.

'Twas a trifle. Not long enough.

Moss also attracted a 50-yard pass interference penalty when whacked by Kenny Wheaton to set up another Minnesota touchdown. Add that 50, and Moss helped advance the ball 213 yards against a depleted Cowboys' secondary.

The hoped-for duel between rookie flash and veteran dash failed to develop. Deion Sanders did not play because of an injury officially listed as a strained great toe. Others have big toes. Deion's are great, but useless on the sideline.

MORE MOSS

Further injuries bedeviled the Cowboys. One of them took down Vikings' receiver Jake Reed earlier this week. That meant Moss, the No. 3 guy with a normal game allotment of 25 plays, was active for twice that many against Dallas. More of Reed and less of Moss would've been a better formula.

The Moss touchdowns were varied enough to display all his skills. The first, from a flea flicker, advertised speed. Defensive back Kevin Smith and safety Darren Woodson bit on the run fake. Moss had Smith beaten coming off the line, and in the absence of deep help from Woodson, completed a 51-play with ridiculous ease for a 7-0 lead.

The second featured a catch in traffic between Woodson and Wheaton around the Cowboys' 30-yard line. Once he split that pair, Moss completed a 56-yard play of routine vintage from Randall Cunningham. His best came last.

Moss split wide, took three steps forward and froze. Cunningham hit him with a quick dart. Charlie Williams, the sub for Sanders, rushed Moss with great vigor. The 6-4 Moss shrugged off his tackle, blared down the sideline, foot-faked Terry Billups into breaking stride while in high gear and left a vapor trail thereafter. This 56-yard romp made it 39-22 Minnesota and served as door-slammer.

Moss threw away the verbal key after the game.

"I've got nothin' to say, buddy," Moss told an approaching newsman. "I'm gonna shower and walk right out the door."

So he did, an act that enhanced Moss' pre-NFL reputation as a difficult character. Brilliance can afford to play the dummy when and where it chooses. So coaches and teammates were left to address the by-now-familiar subject of their rookie marvel from Marshall.

"He's one of a kind. There's no one like him," Vikings' Coach Dennis Green said.

Offensive coordinator Brian Billick was still dazzled by Moss turning a quick hitch into a 56-yard TD. The Cowboys actually had the play well-covered.

"Normally, you get 10 to 15 yards out of that ... at best," Billick said. "To see him take it 56 yards, well ... that's pretty good. How'd he get past those guys?"

FEELING HIS WAY

Former Cowboys' aide Hubbard Alexander, who moved to Minnesota last spring to coach receivers, works daily with Moss. He's as impressed with Moss in practice.

"He's got it all. He's the perfect specimen," Alexander said. "A big heart. He looks like all the great receivers ... Michael Irvin, Cris Carter, Jerry Rice ... only he's somebody real fast. He's has a great feel for the game."

Moss is setting secondaries afire through sheer instinct. He has not yet been around the NFL block, therefore has limited knowledge of individual defensive backs and their tendencies.

"He's a born receiver," Alexander concluded.

Minnesota owner Red McCombs, the San Antonio native, drew upon an NBA comparison in describing Moss. McCombs used to own the San Antonio Spurs, and memory returned a favorite player to mind.

"Randy is like George Gervin in basketball. As long as he played, you'd still see something you'd never seen before. Randy keeps showing you something else."

McCombs left the field chewing on a turkey leg. That was about all that was left. Moss had already swallowed the Cowboys secondary.

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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