Nick Moore gets another chance - Cam Tucker

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Lion ... story.html

By Cam Tucker, Vancouver SunJune 14, 2012 6:12 PM

VANCOUVER — Nick Moore has two options: one is to catch as many footballs thrown his way as he possibly can and turn tantalizing skill into a full-time career.

Or …

The second option is bleak. Go through yet another case of the dropsies, which, as a rookie with the B.C. Lions in 2011, he battled early and far too frequently. The latter would likely spell the end to his brief tenure in Vancouver.

Moore, who committed a trio of drops in last year’s season opener against the Montreal Alouettes, two of which were in the end zone and proved costly in a 30-26 loss, hopes to come back from those setbacks that eventually landed him a demotion to the practice roster after just seven games and could still go a long way in determining his immediate future with the Lions.

On Wednesday, he again gave fans, media and the Lions brass a glimpse of what he’s capable of, as B.C. opened the pre-season with a 44-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Place Stadium.

The small sample size included four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which came with Roughrider green and white draped all over him.

“It feels to get back out there, you know, with the guys and finally get to beat up on another team,” said Moore, the wide receiver who turns 26 on June 25.

In a halftime stroke of confidence, Moore boldly prophesied his second touchdown of the night was still on its way.

He put word into action, hooking up with quarterback Mike Reilly for a 30-yard strike that, convert included, put the defending Grey Cup champs up 34-3.

“I told a couple people that I wasn’t done yet and I felt like I was going to get another one,” said Moore, who spent this past off-season training in Tampa Bay, Columbus and New Orleans, where is older brother Lance plays for the NFL’s Saints.

“It’s kind of crazy because I was envisioning it today. I felt like I was going to get into the end zone today and it happened.”

Wednesday’s portion of the audition went well. More importantly, Moore made an impression on those forced to decide his fate.

“A lot of time, there’s a lot put on these guys and they need some time to mature, some time to get into the groove of what they do,” said head coach Mike Benevides.

“For Nick … he knows the system, he knows the people and all he’s doing is going out there playing the game at a high level. He played very fluid, very natural. He made some nice catches. What he’s doing is performing at the level of the expectations. Nick Moore is an outstanding player. He just needs to perform it on the field and today he did that.”

Despite his two touchdown performance Wednesday, cracking the Lions lineup is still a tough task. Becoming a regular target for Travis Lulay will be an even tougher task considering there is a legend (Geroy Simon), a hall of fame argument (Arland Bruce), and four younger veterans (Kierrie Johnson and non-imports Akeem Foster Shawn Gore and Marco Iannuzzi) ahead of him on the depth chart.

And there is little time to get comfortable, as training camp resumed in Kamloops on Thursday.

Moore isn’t afforded the subtle cushion of a dropped pass here or there, and look-the-other-way forgiveness from the coaching staff, or general manager Wally Buono.

“Nick Moore has been with us now off and on for two years,” said Buono. “I think it’s make or break it season for him. He’s had a good camp and he had a good game, so you’ve got to take note of that and we’ve always believed he had the ability.

“Last year, he got hurt and he struggled a little bit when he got into the games. Hopefully he’s grown from that and he can be what we want him to be.”

Moore offered a similar summation of the proverbial crossroads he’s arrived at.

“For me, I look at it as all-or-nothing thing,” he said. “Last year was last year. I’m just trying to come out this year and prove to the coaches that I want to be here.

“Like I said, it’s all about hard work. Being able to come out here and actually get some action and show them that I do want to be here, I think that proves a lot.”

[WestCoastJoe]

Moore, who committed a trio of drops in last year’s season opener against the Montreal Alouettes, two of which were in the end zone and proved costly in a 30-26 loss, hopes to come back from those setbacks that eventually landed him a demotion to the practice roster after just seven games and could still go a long way in determining his immediate future with the Lions.

On Wednesday, he again gave fans, media and the Lions brass a glimpse of what he’s capable of, as B.C. opened the pre-season with a 44-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Place Stadium.

The small sample size included four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which came with Roughrider green and white draped all over him.

“It feels to get back out there, you know, with the guys and finally get to beat up on another team,” said Moore, the wide receiver who turns 26 on June 25.

He has a knack of getting very open. That is not something that can be taught. IMO ...

In a halftime stroke of confidence, Moore boldly prophesied his second touchdown of the night was still on its way.

He put word into action, hooking up with quarterback Mike Reilly for a 30-yard strike that, convert included, put the defending Grey Cup champs up 34-3.

“I told a couple people that I wasn’t done yet and I felt like I was going to get another one,” said Moore, who spent this past off-season training in Tampa Bay, Columbus and New Orleans, where is older brother Lance plays for the NFL’s Saints.

He was feeling it.

“It’s kind of crazy because I was envisioning it today. I felt like I was going to get into the end zone today and it happened.”

There is the key. Envisioning it. For Nick and for all athletes.

“A lot of time, there’s a lot put on these guys and they need some time to mature, some time to get into the groove of what they do,” said head coach Mike Benevides.

“For Nick … he knows the system, he knows the people and all he’s doing is going out there playing the game at a high level. He played very fluid, very natural. He made some nice catches. What he’s doing is performing at the level of the expectations. Nick Moore is an outstanding player. He just needs to perform it on the field and today he did that.”

I like the things Benny has been saying. I thought his pregame words to his team were right on the money. He seems to have calmed down. His players have bought into what he brings.

“Nick Moore has been with us now off and on for two years,” said Buono. “I think it’s make or break it season for him. He’s had a good camp and he had a good game, so you’ve got to take note of that and we’ve always believed he had the ability.

“Last year, he got hurt and he struggled a little bit when he got into the games. Hopefully he’s grown from that and he can be what we want him to be.”

Yup. And I credit the coaches, Travis Moore, Jacques Chapdelaine, Mike Benevides, Wally Buono, and probably Travis Lulay for keeping him last year.

“For me, I look at it as all-or-nothing thing,” he said. “Last year was last year. I’m just trying to come out this year and prove to the coaches that I want to be here.

“Like I said, it’s all about hard work. Being able to come out here and actually get some action and show them that I do want to be here, I think that proves a lot.”

Some of us liked Nick Moore last year, and were disappointed when he dropped all those passes against the Alouettes. He gets open. Wide open. He is slippery, smooth and slick. He just needs to catch the ball.

There is so much talk about visualizing in sports these days. You have to envision it. If you don't do that, if you can't do that, you won't do it in the games.

[TheLionKing]

Although he acquitted himself well last night, Moore needs to continue doing what's he doing to stay.

[Reginaldo]

Correct me if I am wrong but he suffered a shoulder injury early in the Montreal game...and played with a partially separated shoulder...I am willing to cut him some slack this year...

[pennw]

Nice to see Moore perform so well . Felt bad for him last season as he looked like he may be a good one but had a rough start . Sometimes it's worth while being patient with a new player when they screw up . Give up to soon and you may have a very good one "fall through the cracks". Seems that's how how we get many good ones from NFL camps , like say , Cam Wake for example .
Another guy we had last year who got cut for the same reasons , seems like he is impressing this pre-season for the Eskies :

“Absolutely wonderful,” is how Reed described Dobson’s camp to this point.

“If we came in here absolutely blindfolded and took the blindfold off and there weren’t any names on the jersey, he probably would be in the top-two or three in terms of the receiving corps.”

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/C ... story.html

[DanoT]

I'm not sure, but I think Dobson might be faster than Moore and Kierre Johnson might be faster than both of them. And with Moore being the biggest of the three.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.cfl.ca/article/leaving-an-im ... -for-lions

The Canadian Press ...

"I didn't change anything too much,'' said Moore, who was a two-time all Midwest Athletic Conference all-star in college. "I just made sure I knew all my plays _ not only one position, but I tried to know all the positions. The more I can do, the better.''

Moore succeeded in making an impression on new coach Mike Benevides, who earned a win in his game on the sidelines as a field boss. Benevides said Moore did exactly what was expected of him.

"He's a good football player, he's a fluid football player, he runs wonderful routes, and he had a very good day for himself today,'' said Benevides. "He acquitted himself extremely well.

Slippery, smooth and slick = Nick Moore ... If he sticks, and if he starts to make a name for himself ... Slick Nick? LOL

"He's been around with us for a while. He has a good understanding of the offence. He knows the quarterbacks. So he performed at a high level, and I'm happy for him.''

"Nic Moore has been with us off and on for two years,'' said Buono. "I think it's a make-it-or-break-it season for him this year. He's had a good camp and he had a good game. (I'm) also impressed with Moore. So you've gotta take note of some of that.''

Buono said the Lions have always believed Moore had the ability to excel in the CFL. But last year he got hurt early in the season and struggled when he did get into games.

"Hopefully, he's grown from that and he can be what we want him to be,'' said Buono.

[Lions4ever]

The Midwest Athletic Conference?? Nic played at Toledo. That's in the Mid American Conference.