D.J. Moore has done a lot in the NFL. For seven years, he’s been one of the most successful receivers statistically. Every top 10 list usually features him somewhere. This has led to a perception that Moore carries himself as somebody with little left to prove. He knows he’s good. What other people think doesn’t matter. Well, new wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El disabused him of that mindset from the moment he arrived. He was asked how he’s gone about motivating an accomplished player like Moore. Randle El chose to hit the veteran where it hurts.
Start by consistently making the playoffs and playing at a high level. Use his knowledge as a top receiver to show others on the roster how it’s done. Don’t just be good at catching passes. Be a leader.
There is no doubt that such comments had to sting. For all Moore’s success individually, he hasn’t participated in a single playoff game in his career. In fact, he’s never been on a team with a winning record. That isn’t entirely his fault, but it is a stigma he can’t escape until something changes.
Antwaan Randle El again shows he’s willing to tell the truth.
That is something many coaches avoid, at least when it comes with the risk of upsetting players. Operating that way is ill-advised. If you’re unwilling to tell a guy what he needs to hear and only focus on what he wants to hear, that player will never reach his full potential. Antwaan Randle El learned in his days as a player that you can’t do that. Not if you want to be a champion. He learned that lesson in Pittsburgh with Bill Cowher and again in Washington with Joe Gibbs. Those two were Hall of Famers for a reason. Their ways of motivating players didn’t always involve pats on the shoulder pads. They didn’t shy away from speaking the truth. Moore is a terrific receiver, but there is still so much room for him to grow. Randle El’s job is to get him there.
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