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Moore Or Less

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By ROY CUMMINGS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 13, 2008

TAMPA - Every draft has at least one - a guy who can't get his production to match his off-the-chart measurability and who pays a heavy price.

Last year it was standout Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, a "sure" first-round pick who didn't hear his name called until the Cardinals took him in the second round. This year, it was Maryland defensive tackle Dre' Moore, a workout wonder with "top-15 overall" makeup who lasted until the Bucs called his name midway through the fourth round.

The Bucs actually traded up to get Moore, so they obviously believe his production numbers eventually will match his immense physical gifts.

This is a guy who, despite weighing 305 pounds, still runs a 4.8-second 40-yard dash. Throw in his prototypical strength (he benched 225 pounds 31 times at the NFL Combine) and you've got a pro scout's dream come true. That is, until you see him on the field, where he's developed a reputation for playing up to his ability on one play but well below it on the next.

Moore disputes the knock, saying scouts didn't always understand his role in the Terrapins defense. But even Bucs coach Jon Gruden has hinted at Moore's inconsistency, saying, "When he's on, he's really on."

The key for the Bucs will be to find Moore's on switch and to flip it so that it stays on. The answer to doing that may lie in using Moore occasionally rather than regularly.

Not only will that allow Moore to max out on all of his snaps, it may also allow the Bucs to throw a curve ball at opposing linemen as Moore gives them something they haven't always had at his position.

"He's what I call a power under tackle," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "We've had more of the quick type here, but there's nothing wrong with having a big powerful under tackle."

That's true, especially when you've got a quick under tackle such as Jovan Haye. Throwing Haye at a line on one down and Moore at it on the next could create a lot of confusion for that line.

That could result in an increase in sacks and run stuffs, and that's really what the Bucs desired when they decided to take a chance on Moore.

Though they improved markedly in that area last year, the Bucs still would like to harass quarterbacks more and keep running backs from breaking past the line. Moore, they believe, can help.

"He gives us a different dimension inside in terms of size," Gruden said. "He is a long, linear guy with power. He has a tremendous upside if we can get it all out of him."

There's that knock again. It figures to follow Moore for a while, possibly even through training camp, where the heat index pushes well past the century mark and taxes even the leanest of players.

At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Moore will be taxed more than most. That's why he left the Bucs' rookie minicamp last weekend vowing to return for training camp in late July in the best shape of his life.

"This sun will kill you, it will really wilt you and the coaches really push you; they keep it fast-paced and really test your conditioning, so it's definitely a factor," he said. "But now that I've been down here and been through rookie minicamp, I know what I have to do on my end to come back in training camp and present my best foot, put my best foot forward."

Moore's best foot is the first step in a bull rush that he calls the "little trick up his sleeve." Even with 4.8 speed, it's the bull rush that makes him special and gives him the chance to be the sack and tackle machine the Bucs think he can be.

"I'm definitely a power guy," he said. "When things aren't going well, I use the bull rush to establish myself and that helps me to set up other things like speed rushers and things like that, but I'm definitely a power rusher."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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