Big-play Moss is latest challenge

Big-play Moss is latest challenge
Quality receivers have had Hawks backpedaling

By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER

RENTON -- Anquan Boldin. Larry Fitzgerald. Greg Jennings. Terrell Owens.

As if that's not enough, toss in Chris Cooley, Jason Witten, Antonio Bryant and Donald Driver.

The Seahawks have faced them all this season, which is one reason their pass defense ranks last in the NFL -- allowing an average of 265.2 yards per game -- and has yielded more touchdown passes (19) than all but three teams in the league.

In fact, of the 31 receivers in the league who have at least 50 receptions, the Seahawks have gone against 12.

Together, this even-dozen collection of big-play/clutch-catching wide receivers and tight ends has combined for 71 receptions and 984 receiving yards against the Seahawks' too-often overmatched secondary.

But one of the best is on tap this week: Randy Moss, who comes to Qwest Field on Sunday with the New England Patriots.

"Of course, Moss would rank in the top three," Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant said. "He's always been top three since he's been in the league. He's always been a big-time threat.

"That's how I have to approach this game. That's how the entire defense has to approach this game."

With the Patriots, however, it's not just Moss, who has 58 receptions and eight touchdown catches. It's also Wes Welker, the Mr. Inside to Moss' Mr. Outside who has 84 receptions; and running back Kevin Faulk, who has 43 catches and has developed into one of the better outlet receivers in the league.

"When you've got a good offensive team, you just can't focus on one guy," Trufant said. "You've got to try to cover the whole field."

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers provided the blueprint on how to defend the Patriots: They blitzed quarterback Matt Cassel, who was sacked five times and turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions in the second half.

Blitzing, however, has not exactly been a strength for the Seahawks this season.

When they blitz, they rarely get there (two of their 26 sacks have come from linebackers or safeties). When they don't blitz, well, everyone saw what quarterback Tony Romo did on the Cowboys' first four possessions in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

The Seahawks' best option is to have Trufant shadow Moss -- as he did against the Cowboys' Owens when the defense was in man-to-man coverage. Moss' size (6 feet 4, 210 pounds) and still-deceptive speed could present serious mismatches if the Seahawks try to defend him with Josh Wilson (who is 5-9) or Kelly Jennings (who weighs 180 pounds).

His teammates will take that matchup.

"Marcus is hands down our No. 1 guy, so you match strength with strength," free safety Brian Russell said. "A lot of accolades don't go to struggling teams, but Marcus deserves a lot of credit because he's a professional and he goes hard and plays well every week."

Besides, Trufant is the only one of the team's top three corners who has faced Moss. He caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks in 2004 while playing for the Minnesota Vikings; and six for 76 in 2006, while playing with the Oakland Raiders.

"He's still a big-time threat," Trufant said. "He can hurt you deep. He can hurt you all over the field."

When is Moss the most dangerous? On the deep throws? Or the short passes that become big plays because of his run-after-the-catch ability?

"It's a combination with him," Trufant said. "He can hurt you both ways. So you can never quit on a play, or you can never think the ball's not coming.

"You've always got to be on your toes."

UP NEXT: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

WHEN/WHERE: Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Qwest Field

PATRIOTS' RECORD: 7-5, after Sunday's 33-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers

WHERE THEY RANK: No. 9 on offense (ninth rushing, 11th passing); No. 13 on defense (14th rushing, 16th passing)

SERIES: Tied 7-7, but the Patriots won the last meeting (30-20 in 2004) to snap the Seahawks' five-game winning streak. The 2004 game was the first time the teams played since 1993.

STAR POWER: Randy Moss. Someone had to step into the void created when GQ QB Tom Brady went down in the season opener. While Wes Welker has more receptions (84 already), Moss is the Patriots' big-play wide receiver. He has eight touchdown receptions among his 58 catches, and his size (6 feet 4, 210 pounds) will create matchup problems for any Seahawks cornerback not named Marcus Trufant.

UNSUNG HERO: Kevin Faulk. Always a change-of-pace back in his first nine seasons with the Patriots, Faulk is the set-the-pace back this season because of injuries to Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan. Faulk leads the team in rushing (445 yards) and has 43 receptions. Faulk is one of only six players this decade with 2,000 rushing yards and 3,000 receiving yards -- a select group that includes Marshall Faulk, LaDainian Tomlinson, Tiki Barber, Brian Westbrook and Michael Pittman.

ON THE SPOT: Matt Cassel. The fourth-year QB, who threw 39 passes in his first three seasons with the Patriots, finally played like Brady's backup against the Steelers last week. After passing for 400-plus yards in his previous two games, Cassel was 19 of 39 for 169 yards. More importantly, he turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions in the second half.

BURNING QUESTION: Is this the season the Patriots' stranglehold on the AFC East ends? They have won the division title the past five years, which ties the Indianapolis Colts for the longest current streak in the NFL. But the Pats are a game behind the New York Jets for the division lead and would not even make the playoffs if the season ended today. The Seahawks, and they will not win a fifth consecutive NFC West title.

FAMILIAR FACES: Fullback Heath Evans played for the Seahawks (2001-04).

THE LAST WORD: "The best thing we can do is go out there and win. Right now, that is what we are working on for Seattle. We are not worried about anybody else but Seattle." -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick, when asked about his team needing a December sweep to ensure making the playoffs



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