D.J. Moore won the starting nickelback spot on the Bears this season over veteran Corey Graham. Bears coaches seemed to have made the right decision because Moore made three big plays last week against the Cowboys.
Moore picked off Cowboys QB Tony Romo two times and was tackling WR Roy Williams when teammate Charles Tillman forced a key fumble to seal the win for the Bears.
Moore seems to be thriving in the nickelback role right now, he is playing to the speed of the defense. Moore reminds me a lot of Ricky Manning Jr. a couple years back. If Moore can get as many interceptions as Manning did in 2006 (5), then he could be a huge factor in this defense’s success.
This whole defense is much improved, having Brian Urlacher back is clearly a huge reason why, but players like D.J. Moore playing great helps a lot as well.
Look for Moore to keep playing well. Head coach Lovie Smith works with Moore during practice one on one, helping Moore understand the defense more and more. That tactic by Lovie Smith seems to be working, because Moore is making flashy plays.
Where did D.J. Moore come from?
When Moore came out for the draft in 2009 out of Vanderbilt, he was ranked as the sixth cornerback by scout.com. Moore was said to be too small to cover the big receivers. At 5’9″, Moore does seem small, but he plays big which helps him be aggressive. Moore was a solid punt returner at Vanderbilt and could be used this year if Devin Hester continues to struggle.
What should we expect from D.J Moore the rest of the season?
Expect solid play from Moore, he is thriving because the rest of the defense is flying around. Being in position will be key to Moore’s success and with Lovie Smith coaching him up one on one during practice that can only be positive. Look for Moore to get better as the season goes along.
Good luck D.J. Moore, keep up the solid play.
