Could Randy Moss have caught that PI ball? (1 Viewer)

[kOOk]

When I saw it the first time I thought to myself why didn't he try to catch the ball? But then I figured the camera angle might have given viewers a bad vantage point at which to decide. However, i was just watching Mike and Mike in the morning and they showed three different angles. From the endzone angle you can clearly see Randy's eyes on the ball so that's not an excuse. And the angle from above shows he wasn't far from the ball, it was within reach. But Randy still made no effort to catch a touchdown pass in a critical point in the ballgame. I don't get it.

I don't know if I've ever seen a play quite like that.

 

[Touchdown Syndrome]

As soon as PI occured and he knew a flag was being thrown, Randy slowed up. If he he had continued running with max effort (or even semi-max effort), I think the ball hits him right in the hands.

 

[Choke]

Try and recall the last time you ever saw Randy Moss give it up with his body and dive for a ball?

 

[CaptainHook]

he lost sight of it when he was geting raped and by the time he found it again it was too late

 

[Twilight]

he lost sight of it when he was geting raped and by the time he found it again it was too late

Definitely possible, but, like the OP said, it sure looks like he was continuing to follow the path of the ball after he got tripped up. To me, it just looks like a typical Moss quit. I'm not saying it would be an easy catch, but someone with the talent Moss has should have at least tried, instead of settling for the PI.

 

[renesauz]

The ball was both slightly behind and slightly to the side of him...while he had just regained his balance and had all of his momentum heading the other way. While it's easy to criticize and say "he should have at least tried", I don't think there's any realistic way he makes the catch. If we assume he knew he had already drawn the flag, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have NOT tried to make the almost impossible grab.

 

[Instinctive]

I think people forget what your firs instinct is when you get bumped like that mid-route.

The instinct is to stop. Period. That's the first thing your BODY tries to do. I assume a lot of us here at FBG play/played football at some point, and I know when I get hit like that, my legs tend to stop on me as the rest of my body makes sure I don't fall over.

 

[mr roboto]

IIRC he was kind of continuing his acting job to get the PI. If he was concentrating on getting to the ball and letting the flag work itself out I think he had a good chance.

 

[belljr]

At first I thought how does he not catch that, a minimal amount of effort and he catches it. I hate Moss for dogging it as much as anyone but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

I see it as he gets slowed up on the interference and lost sight of the ball OR figured there was no way he could get to the spot he needed to be but the ball ended up closer to him than he originally thought and by that time it was too late to make a catch.

If he stuck with it all the way from the start, yes he makes that catch with the PI but I wouldn't say he completely dogged it on this one.

 

[thatguythere]

That ball looked like it was coming straight down and who knows what the throw looked like other than that. It's easy to say he should have caught it, but if you don't see it in time you aren't catching it no matter how hard or fast you are running.

 

[2Squirrels1Nut]

The ball was both slightly behind and slightly to the side of him...while he had just regained his balance and had all of his momentum heading the other way. While it's easy to criticize and say "he should have at least tried", I don't think there's any realistic way he makes the catch. If we assume he knew he had already drawn the flag, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have NOT tried to make the almost impossible grab.

The ball was not behind him. It was slightly in front of him and to the side. A motivated player lays out for that, but I'm not even sure that Moss had to completely lay out for it, and moreover he certainly wouldn't have had to if he'd continued his route. This is classic, pouty Moss. Quit apologizing for him.

 

[renesauz]

The ball was both slightly behind and slightly to the side of him...while he had just regained his balance and had all of his momentum heading the other way. While it's easy to criticize and say "he should have at least tried", I don't think there's any realistic way he makes the catch. If we assume he knew he had already drawn the flag, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have NOT tried to make the almost impossible grab.

The ball was not behind him. It was slightly in front of him and to the side. A motivated player lays out for that, but I'm not even sure that Moss had to completely lay out for it, and moreover he certainly wouldn't have had to if he'd continued his route. This is classic, pouty Moss. Quit apologizing for him.

I'm not...can't stand the guy. I simply think that in this case he's catching flak based more on his reputation then on the reality of the play. And NOBODY can "lay out" in a direction other then the one his momentum is taking him, particularly after having JUST regained their balance.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Undoubtedly.

 

[massraider]

Can we pull out of the archives some old Randy Moss in Oakland discussion? Might save everyone some typing. Well, except the part where people explain to Raider fans that Moss only quit because he was playing for them.

 

[CaptainHook]

moss has never been accused of taking off the plays that are going to him. what you guys are attributing to him is not part of his personality.

 

[2Squirrels1Nut]

The ball was both slightly behind and slightly to the side of him...while he had just regained his balance and had all of his momentum heading the other way. While it's easy to criticize and say "he should have at least tried", I don't think there's any realistic way he makes the catch. If we assume he knew he had already drawn the flag, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have NOT tried to make the almost impossible grab.

The ball was not behind him. It was slightly in front of him and to the side. A motivated player lays out for that, but I'm not even sure that Moss had to completely lay out for it, and moreover he certainly wouldn't have had to if he'd continued his route. This is classic, pouty Moss. Quit apologizing for him.

I'm not...can't stand the guy. I simply think that in this case he's catching flak based more on his reputation then on the reality of the play. And NOBODY can "lay out" in a direction other then the one his momentum is taking him, particularly after having JUST regained their balance.

His momentum was already going back towards the post when the ball came down, and he was more than one step back into his route after regaining his balance. You can excuse this any way you want, but the video on this one simply doesn't lie and is very clear. I don't need to go off of reputation - I even have Moss on my dynasty roster so I certainly have a vested interest in his success, but this was entirely unacceptable.

 

[K8!]

A talented player who wants, really wants that ball, catches it easily. Hell, a highschooler of average talent who wants that ball catches it. It is all about desire.

 

[thatguythere]

A talented player who wants, really wants that ball, catches it easily. Hell, a highschooler of average talent who wants that ball catches it. It is all about desire.

 

[Goldfinger007]

The ball was both slightly behind and slightly to the side of him...while he had just regained his balance and had all of his momentum heading the other way. While it's easy to criticize and say "he should have at least tried", I don't think there's any realistic way he makes the catch. If we assume he knew he had already drawn the flag, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have NOT tried to make the almost impossible grab.

The ball was not behind him. It was slightly in front of him and to the side. A motivated player lays out for that, but I'm not even sure that Moss had to completely lay out for it, and moreover he certainly wouldn't have had to if he'd continued his route. This is classic, pouty Moss. Quit apologizing for him.

I'm not...can't stand the guy. I simply think that in this case he's catching flak based more on his reputation then on the reality of the play. And NOBODY can "lay out" in a direction other then the one his momentum is taking him, particularly after having JUST regained their balance.

His momentum was already going back towards the post when the ball came down, and he was more than one step back into his route after regaining his balance. You can excuse this any way you want, but the video on this one simply doesn't lie and is very clear. I don't need to go off of reputation - I even have Moss on my dynasty roster so I certainly have a vested interest in his success, but this was entirely unacceptable.

My sympathies. He's twice killed me in the fantasy playoffs. Last year I absolutely dominated my league throughout the regular season, only to lose in the playoffs by 2 pts when he had his infamous pout game. I'll never take him again.As for the original question, I think he could have made a play on it. When the ball is in the air, its yours, go get it! That's not a "professional's" effort IMO. Say what you want about the guy, but I bet you TO would have went after it...

 

[Ghost Rider]

Not only could he have caught it, he should have caught it. The PI was no excuse. He pulled up short like mad and the ball still landed right in front of him. Most other WRs in the NFL would have kept going and caught that ball for a touchdown? Pathetic effort by Moss, but not surprising.

 

[smackdaddies]

Moss bagged the season last week when he short armed the game winning catch against the packers.

The refusal to even look for the ball simply confirmed that he has no interest in playing football for the Queens

 

[kOOk]

That ball looked like it was coming straight down and who knows what the throw looked like other than that. It's easy to say he should have caught it, but if you don't see it in time you aren't catching it no matter how hard or fast you are running.

This is not true. They've shown an up-close shot from the endzone again and again in slo-mo and it's clear he locates the ball. And the other shot they show is from above. And the above shot shows him being so close as to not even needing to dive. Yet he makes no effort. The ball landed maybe a yard away.What do you mean about coming straight down? I've never heard a WR claim he couldn't catch a ball because it was coming "straight down".

And you say that he isn't catching it it no matter how hard or fast he is running. HUH? How hard and fast was he running, I'm curious.

 

[2Squirrels1Nut]

That ball looked like it was coming straight down and who knows what the throw looked like other than that. It's easy to say he should have caught it, but if you don't see it in time you aren't catching it no matter how hard or fast you are running.

This is not true. They've shown an up-close shot from the endzone again and again in slo-mo and it's clear he locates the ball. And the other shot they show is from above. And the above shot shows him being so close as to not even needing to dive. Yet he makes no effort. The ball landed maybe a yard away.What do you mean about coming straight down? I've never heard a WR claim he couldn't catch a ball because it was coming "straight down".

And you say that he isn't catching it it no matter how hard or fast he is running. HUH? How hard and fast was he running, I'm curious.

Yeah, plus Moss is known for having all sorts of trouble catching balls coming straight down, over his shoulder downfield. It's terrible how he struggles with that.

 

[sho nuff]

So 11 of you think the ball was not even catchable at all? That there is no way he could have even caught it?

Really?

 

[Goldfinger007]

So 11 of you think the ball was not even catchable at all? That there is no way he could have even caught it?Really?

No way that ball was catchable...at least not with that pathetic effort

 

[Papa Georgio]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

 

[Jason Wood]

I honestly can't fathom anyone saying he had no chance to catch that ball. I can understand him diving for it and not coming up with it, it wasn't an easy catch considering he had lost his momentum on the PI, but it was so close to him and he didn't even make an attempt for it. And ESPN showed the replays 20 different ways and he never lost sight of the ball.

 

[Goldfinger007]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

I would agree with that. Of course, why would anyone give Moss the benefit of the doubt? Its not like he doesn't have a very well established reputation for dogging it.

 

[habsfan]

The point isn't "could he or couldn't he?". The point is, we'll never know because he was more interested in shutting it down and/or selling the call than making a football play.

To me Moss is capable of amazing things but he's reached the point where in his mind, an entire set of conditions (that he defines) must come into allignment in order for it to happen. If they don't, he gives himself permission to go into "jog mode". He could go somewhere and make an okay QB look great but that's not his M.O. It's too bad really.

 

[Das Boot]

People are seriously defending Moss on that play?

I mean, it's not like he has a history we can look back on for such plays.

The ball landed a freakin' yard away from him.

I'm thinking maybe reach your arms out and lean that way a little at least?

 

[Phurfur]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

Bull! I could have made that catch but that would have been my goal all along. I've seen it done in HS many times.

 

[Judge Smails]

without question. Of course, he would have to a) show effort b) dive. So in Randy Moss terms, it wasn't catchable.

 

[K8!]

A talented player who wants, really wants that ball, catches it easily. Hell, a highschooler of average talent who wants that ball catches it. It is all about desire.

Opinions vary.

His top catches just recently with the Pats

I like his catch after drawing the flag, and his one hander between traffic in the end zone. the rest, well he just adjusts to the flight of the ball, which he did not do Sunday. It seemed very catchable to me. I think it was very catchable by the standards of Calvin Johnson. I think it was catchable by little Scottie Zimmerman, a ninth grader I saw play two weeks ago, and by Ed Mccaffery's kid who I saw play this past Friday night. (go Eagles, beat Ponderosa!)

Still, we are juswt talking opinions so yours is every bit as valid as mine. BTW I am over 50, have a hip and knee replacement and arthritic hands and I would have caught that ball from that position.

 

[Spike]

Try and recall the last time you ever saw Randy Moss give it up with his body and dive for a ball?

Or jump for one.I've been saying this since the end of 2008.

 

[ty247]

Not only did I think he could have caught the ball on that play..

I think he didn't even try for the ball on the play at the back of the end zone last week

 

[SWC]

I think everyone knows he could have caught it if he didn't blow up in exasperation and bad attitude technique following the obvious interference.

i don't think he missed it on purpose though i think he just got so caught up and overrun by his emotions which are clearly out of control that he didn't even think about the pass until as an afterthought because he was so worked up about being "disrespected" for being interfered with and then when he thought about catching it it was still possible but he froze up and of course because he is the magnificent randy Moss he wasn't gonig to try too hard or lay out for it.

And then it hit the ground and his fate was sealed.

He's the biggest waste of talent pssibly ever in the NFL because if he didn't take plays off, ran hard routes, cared about blocking and was a good influence in a locker room we'd be talking about him over rice take it to the bank but he basically shot it all to hell out of ego and pride and that's no way to make a living son.

 

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

He could have easily caught the ball. He even looked up, found it... and still just watched it drop well within' the amount of time needed to make a play on it.

 

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

I think everyone knows he could have caught it if he didn't blow up in exasperation and bad attitude technique following the obvious interference.i don't think he missed it on purpose though i think he just got so caught up and overrun by his emotions which are clearly out of control that he didn't even think about the pass until as an afterthought because he was so worked up about being "disrespected" for being interfered with and then when he thought about catching it it was still possible but he froze up and of course because he is the magnificent randy Moss he wasn't gonig to try too hard or lay out for it. And then it hit the ground and his fate was sealed.He's the biggest waste of talent pssibly ever in the NFL because if he didn't take plays off, ran hard routes, cared about blocking and was a good influence in a locker room we'd be talking about him over rice take it to the bank but he basically shot it all to hell out of ego and pride and that's no way to make a living son.

I don't think it's that complicated. He's just lazy.

 

[ang12]

Zapruder film in question

 

[delusional]

and TO gets the bad rap

 

[SWC]

I think everyone knows he could have caught it if he didn't blow up in exasperation and bad attitude technique following the obvious interference.i don't think he missed it on purpose though i think he just got so caught up and overrun by his emotions which are clearly out of control that he didn't even think about the pass until as an afterthought because he was so worked up about being "disrespected" for being interfered with and then when he thought about catching it it was still possible but he froze up and of course because he is the magnificent randy Moss he wasn't gonig to try too hard or lay out for it. And then it hit the ground and his fate was sealed.He's the biggest waste of talent pssibly ever in the NFL because if he didn't take plays off, ran hard routes, cared about blocking and was a good influence in a locker room we'd be talking about him over rice take it to the bank but he basically shot it all to hell out of ego and pride and that's no way to make a living son.

I don't think it's that complicated. He's just lazy.

I think there are a lot of issues with him that are more than just him "being lazy." I think there are anger issues and probbly stuff that goes back to things far before Lord Football ever got involved. Its a tragic tale really.

 

[Chairshot]

I get why people are bent out of shape on the play. It seems like it should be an easy catch. But after watching it a bunch of times, I'm not sure it is. Seems like Moss was just recovering his balance when the ball hit the ground. I see him looking up for the ball the whole way, but it doesn't really seem like he's tracking it.

The way it seems to me is that he got knocked pretty good off his route, had to struggle to keep his balance and lost sight of the ball. He was looking up for it but didn't find it until it was basically hitting the ground.

Plus, it doesn't really make sense to me that a glory hog like Moss would actually *want* to let a TD get away. He loves being the hero and making himself look good and he feels like being a TD machine justifies him taking other plays off. It kinda doesn't make sense that he would purposefully let a long TD get away.

Either way, the list of crap Moss has done wrong is really long. I'd think that this instance, given the real possibility that he might have simply lost the ball in flight as he was hit, would put it pretty far down on the list of things that he has done to get upset over.

 

[Ghost Rider]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

Because all of us have the football skills of Randy Moss?

 

[Papa Georgio]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

Bull! I could have made that catch but that would have been my goal all along. I've seen it done in HS many times.

Please tell me your combine numbers so I can adjust my rankings accordingly. Big difference between can and doing it as a routine play as so many are trying to make it sound. I bet I "could" make that catch too if you give me enough tries. My point is that because of his reputation it immediately becomes a bigger issue than it would with about 98% of all the other WR's out there.

 

[Papa Georgio]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

Because all of us have the football skills of Randy Moss?

Just trying to show the Joe arm chair guys out there the difficulty level not the skill level.

 

[babydemon90]

He probably saw the PI flag come out....

 

[Ghost Rider]

The only reason this is an issue is because it was Moss. If it had been any other WR it would be pretty clear that he had his speed changed, his direction changed and he was off balance. The pass could've been 2 feet closer and it still would've been a difficult catch. Go into your back yard have your yard gnome defend you on a 40 yard pass play and try to replicate. See how easy it is.

Because all of us have the football skills of Randy Moss?

Just trying to show the Joe arm chair guys out there the difficulty level not the skill level.

You do know that the difficulty level goes way down when someone has the skills of Randy Moss, as opposed to those of us who "waste" our time on this site, right?

 

[NinerFan49]

Zapruder film in question

Thanks for that video link. I just watched it 10 times and I counted six full steps after he was bumped. And it looks to me as if he could have made that catch if he had tried to go after that ball starting with his 4th or 5th step. It might have required that he lay out to try to make the catch... But it does look as if he could at least have gotten both hands on the ball had he done so... Though he might have hit the ground pretty hard and lost the ball before gaining full control of it... Which would have been eminently excusable... But he appeared to make no effort whatsoever to make it. Posters in this thread have made good points about how Moss is not known for dogging it when he has a chance to make a big catch, especially a TD, which is true... But others have made equally good points about Moss's "anger management" issues... And it is possible that was the reason he gave up on the play... whether he was angry about being bumped... or angry because the Vikings coaching staff didn't take his advice on how to adjust their game plan vs the Patriots (which was a salient topic in his post-game press conference diatribe) or both... or because he's too "soft" to lay out for a ball and risk a hard fall, or because he somehow honestly miscalculated his chances to make the catch, only he can say...

But I can say that it's clear that he gave up on making what appeared to be a catchable touchdown pass... And it's my guess that his giving up on that play had as much to do with Childress wanting to cut him from the team as his post-game remarks. It's hard to stomach a quitter... especially when he quits at such a critical point in the game...

 

[Football Critic]

So 11 of you think the ball was not even catchable at all? That there is no way he could have even caught it?Really?

Its 18 now, and to be honest tell me a more catchable pass? No one around, near the endzone, and a lob pass? pathetic Randy, you went from being a fav player of mine to the most hated in my book....and that stuff with the Lunch was down right out of line for a player and a man.

 

[az_prof]

The ball was both slightly behind and slightly to the side of him...while he had just regained his balance and had all of his momentum heading the other way. While it's easy to criticize and say "he should have at least tried", I don't think there's any realistic way he makes the catch. If we assume he knew he had already drawn the flag, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have NOT tried to make the almost impossible grab.

The ball was not behind him. It was slightly in front of him and to the side. A motivated player lays out for that, but I'm not even sure that Moss had to completely lay out for it, and moreover he certainly wouldn't have had to if he'd continued his route. This is classic, pouty Moss. Quit apologizing for him.

I'm not...can't stand the guy. I simply think that in this case he's catching flak based more on his reputation then on the reality of the play. And NOBODY can "lay out" in a direction other then the one his momentum is taking him, particularly after having JUST regained their balance.

Tired of how people just follow the mob mentality.