Nice article on Moe, who should have been drafted:
Best in T.J. Moe won’t dog it
WR could be Pats next free agent discovery
By Karen Guregian
Almost every year, someone from the undrafted pool of free agents signed by the Patriots makes the team and has an impact.
We’ve seen it happen with running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He went from the undrafted ranks and morphed into a 1,000-yard rusher with the Pats.
We saw it with defensive lineman Justin Francis and running back Brandon Bolden last season. Who will be this year’s diamond in the rough?
Here’s a vote for T.J. Moe.
The University of Missouri wide receiver had a pro-day performance that prompted NFL draft guru Gil Brandt to utter the name Wes Welker by comparison.
Now, of course, the Pats have done their best to apply a tourniquet on that wound. They started with Danny Amendola, who was immediately signed in wake of Welker’s departure. But it’s hard to trust Amendola’s injury history. They also re-signed Julian Edelman. Ditto with his injury history.
Moe? He just might be an insurance policy, particularly the kind you can depend on. He’s another slot receiver who fits the Welker profile from the perspective of toughness, and getting up time and again after getting popped. He also fits from the standpoint of being incredibly quick. He zips in and out of cuts, much like Brady’s former go-to guy.
He also works well within the Patriots offense, according to Andy Hill, who was Moe’s receivers coach at Missouri the past few years.
“It’s a 100 percent fit for him, no doubt,†Hill said on Tuesday. “I know they have Amendola, and Edelman back. I know they drafted a couple of outside guys. But I think (their style of offense) gives him a great chance. What they’re going to find out, once they tell him to do something, he’s one-million percent coachable. He’s a special guy in a lot of ways. They’ll be able to see it fairly quickly. He’s going to be out there until they kick him off the field.â€
The only way he doesn’t resemble Welker is stature. Moe is 5-foot-11 and 204 pounds, so he’s bigger than both Welker and Amendola.
Moe was a team captain at Missouri. He had his best season as a sophomore with 92 catches for 1,045 yards and six touchdowns. That’s when Blaine Gabbert was at quarterback for the Tigers. His statistics weren’t anywhere near as good in his junior and senior seasons.
Hill explained the decline in Moe’s numbers was not due to anything lacking with the receiver, it was more because Missouri went to a running-style offense with Gabbert’s departure. Moe had just 40 catches for 399 yards this past season.
“He’s very talented football player. Athletically, he’s super quick. He’s real strong. He can block people, he can certainly hold up taking big hits,†Hill said. “He’s really good in space and he’s super smart. He tested well in Wonderlic. There’s a lot of positives. I don’t think the Patriots will be surprised. I know they do their homework. He’s very talented. With this opportunity, he’ll show up for sure.â€
He showed up at the NFL scouting combine and tested incredibly well in the drills the Pats are keen on for receivers.
While Moe isn’t a speed demon, clocking 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash, he had one of the best three-cone times (6.53), which provides teams a measure of a player’s change of direction skills. He also had 26 repetitions on the bench press, which was tops among receivers.
“He’s a special guy. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t make it,†said Hill.
“He’s been totally committed to football. He’s a great young man dedicated to being the best football player he can be. One of the nicest things you can say about him, every decision he made about his life (is based on), ‘Is this going to make me a better football player?’ He’s really dedicated to the game. He does a lot of extra things that make him great.â€
Moe is expected to arrive today and participate in rookie camp, which begins tomorrow and continues through the weekend.
http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/05/best_in_tj_moe_won_t_dog_it
Best in T.J. Moe won’t dog it
WR could be Pats next free agent discovery
By Karen Guregian
Almost every year, someone from the undrafted pool of free agents signed by the Patriots makes the team and has an impact.
We’ve seen it happen with running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He went from the undrafted ranks and morphed into a 1,000-yard rusher with the Pats.
We saw it with defensive lineman Justin Francis and running back Brandon Bolden last season. Who will be this year’s diamond in the rough?
Here’s a vote for T.J. Moe.
The University of Missouri wide receiver had a pro-day performance that prompted NFL draft guru Gil Brandt to utter the name Wes Welker by comparison.
Now, of course, the Pats have done their best to apply a tourniquet on that wound. They started with Danny Amendola, who was immediately signed in wake of Welker’s departure. But it’s hard to trust Amendola’s injury history. They also re-signed Julian Edelman. Ditto with his injury history.
Moe? He just might be an insurance policy, particularly the kind you can depend on. He’s another slot receiver who fits the Welker profile from the perspective of toughness, and getting up time and again after getting popped. He also fits from the standpoint of being incredibly quick. He zips in and out of cuts, much like Brady’s former go-to guy.
He also works well within the Patriots offense, according to Andy Hill, who was Moe’s receivers coach at Missouri the past few years.
“It’s a 100 percent fit for him, no doubt,†Hill said on Tuesday. “I know they have Amendola, and Edelman back. I know they drafted a couple of outside guys. But I think (their style of offense) gives him a great chance. What they’re going to find out, once they tell him to do something, he’s one-million percent coachable. He’s a special guy in a lot of ways. They’ll be able to see it fairly quickly. He’s going to be out there until they kick him off the field.â€
The only way he doesn’t resemble Welker is stature. Moe is 5-foot-11 and 204 pounds, so he’s bigger than both Welker and Amendola.
Moe was a team captain at Missouri. He had his best season as a sophomore with 92 catches for 1,045 yards and six touchdowns. That’s when Blaine Gabbert was at quarterback for the Tigers. His statistics weren’t anywhere near as good in his junior and senior seasons.
Hill explained the decline in Moe’s numbers was not due to anything lacking with the receiver, it was more because Missouri went to a running-style offense with Gabbert’s departure. Moe had just 40 catches for 399 yards this past season.
“He’s very talented football player. Athletically, he’s super quick. He’s real strong. He can block people, he can certainly hold up taking big hits,†Hill said. “He’s really good in space and he’s super smart. He tested well in Wonderlic. There’s a lot of positives. I don’t think the Patriots will be surprised. I know they do their homework. He’s very talented. With this opportunity, he’ll show up for sure.â€
He showed up at the NFL scouting combine and tested incredibly well in the drills the Pats are keen on for receivers.
While Moe isn’t a speed demon, clocking 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash, he had one of the best three-cone times (6.53), which provides teams a measure of a player’s change of direction skills. He also had 26 repetitions on the bench press, which was tops among receivers.
“He’s a special guy. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t make it,†said Hill.
“He’s been totally committed to football. He’s a great young man dedicated to being the best football player he can be. One of the nicest things you can say about him, every decision he made about his life (is based on), ‘Is this going to make me a better football player?’ He’s really dedicated to the game. He does a lot of extra things that make him great.â€
Moe is expected to arrive today and participate in rookie camp, which begins tomorrow and continues through the weekend.
http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/05/best_in_tj_moe_won_t_dog_it