As Kyle Moore waits to hear his name called during NFL Draft weekend, he'll
also be wondering how his new team will use his talents. Although he played
defensive end for USC, he could move to linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Fortunately
for Moore, he's got plenty of experience dropping back into pass coverage.
"I had two interceptions my junior year playing the Leo position like
Clay (Matthews) played this year," he told Scout.com. "But I
can also put my hand on the ground and put pressure on the quarterback. I can
also play the three-technique, so I can help a team in three aspects of their
defense."
At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Moore has good speed and quickness off
the edge. Those attributes helped him notch five sacks this season, tops among a
formidable USC defense that boasted plenty of talented athletes.
"I ran a 4.7 electronic time at my Pro Day and I'm pretty happy about
that," he said. "They were lucky I wasn't just 255, like some of those
linebackers who were also running 4.7 times," he said with a laugh.
"I'm not going to say any names, but I'm 270 and they're barely getting
past me."
But Moore also knows that playing his position isn't all about speed. It also
requires toughness.
"Playing defensive end is a lot of banging in the trenches. You have to
be strong and you have to be strong-minded, because you're going to get hit,
you're going to get punched, there's a lot of things going on in there," he
said.
Jeff Golden/Getty Images |
Over the past few months, Moore has had the opportunity to work out for teams
like the Miami Dolphins, and he just visited the Oakland Raiders last week.
There have been a few moments along the way that have left him a bit in awe of
the experience, but perhaps none more so than when he got the opportunity to
talk with Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini prior to his USC's Pro Day.
"I call him Eric Man-Genius," Moore said. "He's a detailed
guy, he knows his football. He knows what everybody's doing on offense and
defense. He has a great plan coming up for the Browns this year. It was a
blessing for him to move to a different team and start over again.
"He's a cool guy. Both he and Tony Sparano, the head coach of the
Dolphins, were really cool."
Sparano and one of Miami's linebacker coaches had dinner with Moore the
evening before he worked out for them.
"They like big linebackers and I'm a big guy," the former Trojan
said. "When they think of me, they think of Joey Porter, the defensive end
for the Dolphins. He led the league in sacks and they feel like I can help them
out. They told me I can also put my hand down as a defensive end, so I'll do
whatever they want me to do."
After going through the pre-draft gauntlet that included a Senior Bowl
appearance, the NFL Scouting Combine, a Pro Day and visits and workouts, Moore
enters NFL Draft weekend ready to enjoy the moment.
"I've done all I can do," he said. "I've shown them my pass
rushing, showed them that I can run, showed them that I can be athletic and that
I have great feet and hips. So all I can do now is wait and see what
happens."
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A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's player interviews and NFL features are published across the Scout.com network and at FOXSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Or contact him by email
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