Familiar Face On Lockdown Duty
December 8th, 2016
Mike Evans will see a familiar foe on Sunday
Last year, Bucs fans got a taste of what it’s like to have a lockdown cornerback.
That’s no slight on Darrelle Revis or Ronde Barber. Joe’s only talking about last season. The Bucs’ secondary was brutal but there was glimmer of light.
It came when cornerback Sterling Moore locked down Dez Bryant, Julio Jones and Odell Beckham, Jr. in three consecutive games.
Yes, that really happened. With Moore covering them.
At 26-years-old, Moore is a wily, versatile veteran and beloved in New Orleans. The Saints signed him in September and he’s made eight starts with two interceptions after settling in. He was undrafted in 2011 and became a playoff star for the Belicheats.
Joe’s realistic here. Being a star of the Saints secondary is like being the best pass rusher on the 2011 Bucs. But Moore has great athleticism and has proven he can rise to major challenges. He also knows the Bucs offense and might be tasked with covering Mike Evans.
Speaking to the New Orleans media this week, Dirk Koetter even mentioned Moore in discussing how division foes can be so familiar with each other.
Just something to keep an eye on.
December 8th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
wishy washy; Evans is better than those 3
December 8th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Wish we had retained him
December 8th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Did we let him walk, or did he want to leave?
December 8th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
@al- go home you are drunk
December 8th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Pro Football Focus has Mike Evans as the highest rated WR in the NFL.
December 8th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
I believe we let him walk
December 8th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
I bet he picks Jameis off at least once in our two games. Guys always feel like they gotta get revenge agains their former team.
December 8th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Moore came here on a one year deal.
December 8th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
Let him walk without even attempting to make an offer. There had to be something going on behind the scenes there. I never understood that move.
December 8th, 2016 at 2:54 pm
When I have watched any Saints game this year Moore was getting burned quite a bit.
December 8th, 2016 at 2:59 pm
No one from the Bucs ever said it – but I kind of think the problem with Moore was character related and/or he was not a good teammate/locker room problem in some way.
Just guessing really other than having noted and read between the lines of a few comments from various knowledgeable sources last year that leaned in that direction.
To my eye, Moore was visibly our best CB when he finally got some playing time the 2nd half of last season – so really something like that would be the only logical explanation considering they kept Banks and Verner but apparently were not at all interested in even making an offer to Moore. They could have had Moore for about half what they paid Verner this year…
December 8th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Pickgrin, I hope that’s the case because everyone performed better than Banks.
December 8th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
he had skills, but just based on the general themes since DK took over i’ve got to wonder if he was one of those guys not invited back due to his attitude towards preparation. with all the buzz around the rising intensity of practice, you’ve got to wonder if the “culture problem” included a few too many guys in the building that were too focused on Sundays rather than the requisite preparation Wednesday through Saturday. We have gotten confirmation that ASJ was one of those guys, perhaps Moore was another
Moore will be prepared for mike evans, though – they practiced against each other for a year. however, i think mike will have a few new things to show him
December 8th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Moore left because of the way Lovie and his coaching staff continually disrespected the secondary on a weekly basis. Moore was benched shortly after shutting down those 3 WRs. Every week was a new line up and every week they were thrown under the bus by Lovie and his coaches. I don’t blame Moore for not wanting to come back. Last year was a shlt show on defense.
December 8th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
A player has to want to be re signed, to be re signed. I don’t think he had any motivation to return to the bucs after last season.
He wasn’t a really high character guy, it didn’t seem like he was a team first type of player either. But I’m sure the bucs would have tolerated his lack of leadership if he expressed interest in coming back.
I remember an article by Joe last season, it was an interview with Moore. One question pertained to Moore’s future. He didn’t give the politically correct, I hope to stay with the bucs. He had a more interesting answer, something along the lines of, where ever he plays he wants to compete and be on the field. It was a glimpse that he wasn’t committed to the bucs. He wasn’t planning on being a buc for very long. Playing for Lovie Smith will do that.
December 8th, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Ugh. Joe please don’t mention the 2011 Bucs. I was hoping I had bleached (drank) them from my memory forever.
December 8th, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Please… Moore is at best a third corner. Mike will take his lunch money this Sunday.
December 8th, 2016 at 7:06 pm
Good Luck Sterling………………….You SURE are gonna need it.
December 8th, 2016 at 7:10 pm
You might be ignoring the fact that Evans and Winston know Moore’s game too. It’s a two way street. I’d have to give the edge to Winston and Evans in this match-up. If Jameis doesn’t throw for at least 300-350 yards in this game I will be surprised.
December 8th, 2016 at 9:14 pm
I was always confused as to why we let Moore walk. One year deal and he played pretty damn good. Something we will never know about spoiled that relationship. I have a feeling he was pissed about the soft zone ceoverage they were playing all day every sunday…
December 9th, 2016 at 2:41 am
dont know why we ever let him walk!
December 9th, 2016 at 11:02 am
Evans just abused Richard Sherman. Sterling Moore is not going to be a problem.