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Healthy William Moore Key For Atlanta Falcons' Defense


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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- If the Atlanta Falcons hope to play at a high level on defense this season, William Moore has to be a significant part of the equation.

Moore, the veteran strong safety, sets a tone with a physical play. Plus he vowed to be more vocal since he's the most experienced member of a young secondary.

But above all, Moore has to remain healthy coming off a season during which he suffered two significant right shoulder injuries. The second resulted in major surgery this past winter. Moore, who played in just seven games last season, was limited through the offseason as he continued the recovery process.

He started to look like his old self by the end of last week's minicamp.

``I feel excellent, man,'' Moore said. ``No. 1, I love the chemistry around here of where we're at. ... The coach [Dan Quinn] has this team fired up, and I love it, man. The whole environment, it's great.''

Moore should have no problem adjusting to Quinn's fast-and-physical style of defense, which allows players to just react rather than think so much. Quinn likes to rely on Cover 3, with the single-high safety and the cornerbacks using press-man coverage technique in a zone scheme. It gives Moore a chance to play like a true in-the-box safety.

The biggest obstacle for Moore, if there is one at all, might be getting accustomed to another starting free safety next to him. It could be second-year player Ricardo Allen, who emerged as one of the stars of the offseason after being moved from cornerback.

``Not just Ricardo ... the entire group looked good,'' Moore said of the safeties. ``Kemal [ishmael], he's one heck of a player. He's proven himself last year. And [Charles] Godfrey, experience. We had a couple of rookies that came in right now, and they're picking up the playbook, No. 1. [Coach Marquand] Manuel, he's doing an excellent job of getting everybody fired up.''

Quinn is fired up about having Moore back to normal. Moore already has taken the initiative to drop some weight in order to fly around in the scheme. He currently weighs 219 pounds after playing at 232 last season.

``Well, he looks great, I will say that,'' Quinn said of Moore. ``His weight is down. He's always been a great hitter. ... One of the things is I want him to become a great tackler, too. The effort, the toughness that he brings, I can't wait to have him out there.''

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/171080/healthy-william-moore-key-for-atlanta-falcons-defense

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Guest King Jigsaw

I'm just going to say I disagree and leave it at that. It would be nice for him to play a full and productive season, but we aren't hanging our season's hopes on it.

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Tough to say with a new coach, new defensive coordinator/scheme, and a ton of new faces on that side of the ball but I thought Moore being out was pretty big the last two seasons with all the games missed. People love to harp on JJ and his contract but to me I always pointed to bad contracts or contracts that weren't panning out due to injury and Moore was one of them. Really hasn't had the impact you'd have hoped for after he got the deal after the 2012 season.

Hope he stays healthy and gets back to 2010 form.

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``I feel excellent, man,'' Moore said. ``No. 1, I love the chemistry around here of where we're at. ... The coach [Dan Quinn] has this team fired up, and I love it, man. The whole environment, it's great.''

:lol:

On a serious note, a healthy William Moore is hard to believe. Well at least believe for long.

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Where was the run defense last year? Moore is definitely needed for this defense to grow. He has to be at his best. If he has trimmed down, that will bode well for his quickness and overall speed when trying to run with TEs. If you think Kemel is even near what Moore can do....you are dilusional. Moore is very much needed in a huge way. Kemel is a good backup plan

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So Moore was a bit on the heavy side. I thought he looked larger and slower. Moore has the right mentality (physical hitter), but like Quinn said he must be better at tackling. Additionally, I think he needs to improve his coverage skills when running with his back to the QB (he rarely looks back to play the ball). I hope he gets back his better years when was more of a ball hawk--even though in this scheme he'll probably have more SS (in-the-box)/LB responsibilities.

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Guest facelessman07

Last year at training camp Willy Mo did look fat and slow to me and honestly Roddy White looked a little heavy as well. I sure hope these guys slim down as both are important to the success of the falcons.

We had to get "BIGGER" and "STRONGER" since we used to be so "SOFT"

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If you think Kemel is even near what Moore can do....you are dilusional.

Near what Moore can do? What do you mean, like...actually stay healthy? Then we agree, Ishmael is nowhere near what Moore can do, since he can stay healthy.

If you mean ability to play, then we'll agree to disagree. Ishmael is the future. This is probably Moore's last season in Atlanta. But I do hope he goes out in style with a solid season.

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Near what Moore can do? What do you mean, like...actually stay healthy? Then we agree, Ishmael is nowhere near what Moore can do, since he can stay healthy.

If you mean ability to play, then we'll agree to disagree. Ishmael is the future. This is probably Moore's last season in Atlanta. But I do hope he goes out in style with a solid season.

Ishmael got dinged up a bit last year as well. I wouldn't call him titanium just yet.

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If nothing else, Willy Mo always ready to set the attitude on defense. At least he gets everyone pumped up.

to be a W.A.R. (williemo always recovering) video, sure was a lot of highlights of OTHER players making plays. Hard to get many high lights on film when you're on the trainers table I guess...........

for the record, I am a fan, I've just grown weary of him not playing a full season, how long has it been? how many has it been since he was drafted?

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i think Willie Mo can be a big part of the reason why are successful on D.... I wouldnt say he is key but he could be important .... That enforcer role is big ....Thats his role and he can cause turnovers.

Again can he stay healthy and be fully in sahpe

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to be a W.A.R. (williemo always recovering) video, sure was a lot of highlights of OTHER players making plays. Hard to get many high lights on film when you're on the trainers table I guess...........

for the record, I am a fan, I've just grown weary of him not playing a full season, how long has it been? how many has it been since he was drafted?

2010 and 2013 are the only seasons he's played all 16 games

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