WP: Kareem Moore making the most of his chance at free safety

[Oldskool]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/kareem-moore-making-the-most-o.html?wprss=redskinsinsider

Third-year free safety Kareem Moore had two interceptions in a span of three plays Monday during the morning session at Redskins Park.

Moore, who has worked with the first-team defense since organized team activities, first made a nice catch on a deep ball quarterback Donovan McNabb intended for wide receiver Joey Galloway. He then caught a ball McNabb threw to tight end Chris Cooley.

"Just trying to play the defense, to make plays," Moore said as he jogged off the field to lift weights. "Don't try to be too aggressive, man. Just when they come, just make them. You know?"

Considered the only true free safety on the roster, Moore, 25, impressed throughout the offseason program and is expected to start alongside strong safety LaRon Landry. The Redskins did not move Landry, who played free safety the past two seasons, to strong safety to open more playing time for Moore, but Moore is taking advantage of an opening, the Redskins say.

"Kareem is a true free safety," said safeties coach Steve Jackson, who is one of three holdovers from former head coach Jim Zorn's staff. "He was drafted to play free safety, and what happened was he was stuck behind LaRon. He's best suited for free, but he can play both. It was just hard to beat out LaRon."

As a rookie in 2008, Moore played in 14 games, starting one. He played in every game last season with one start. "He has tremendous range in the middle of the field and he has great ball skills," middle linebacker London Fletcher said. "He's a good interceptor of the football. Now, it's just a matter of him getting out there, getting comfortable in what we're doing and just making his calls. He has a lot talent. He's a great athlete."

[Oldskool]

Kareem Moore-DB-Redskins Aug. 2 - 4:00 pm et

Kareem Moore has moved ahead of Reed Doughty and Chris Horton and is expected to open the season as Washington's starting free safety.

Doughty and Horton are better suited as "in the box" strong safeties, a position that will be manned by converted FS LaRon Landry this year. After a great spring, Moore's ball skills and range in center field are being praised by coaches and teammates. He should help the Skins' already stout coverage.

Source: Washington Post

Related: Reed Doughty, Chris Horton

[Commander Adama]

Very very nice to hear!!

[Conn]

If DT and MK ever pan out at all (big if in some peoples' eyes, I know), the 2008 draft will actually be looking pretty damn good...

[Commander Adama]

But what's this have to do with Fat Albert not passing the test???

[Dukes and Skins]

Moore is starting to become that person we all thought could be something down the road for us we just didn't know what it would be and when. Now he's got his chance and it looks like he's making the most of opportunity

[CounterTrey]

IMO he's a pretty good hitter also. I think with laron and kareem starting and horton and doughty as backups we have a solid safety group.

[Hitman21ST]

This is looking better and better. From what I've read of him, he's a big hitter too. Dare I say it - a poor man's Sean Taylor?

[RandyHolt]

Why have we been banging our heads on the wall trying all our strongs at free? The arguments that Landry HAD to be at FS made by so many, never made sense to me. He was horrible at FS and never forced turnovers

So glad that Shanny moved him to SS and it opened up the doors for our only natural Free on the roster.

[Hitman21ST]

Why have we been banging our heads on the wall trying all our strongs at free? The arguments that Landry HAD to be at FS made by so many, never made sense to me. He was horrible at FS and never forced turnovers

So glad that Shanny moved him to SS and it opened up the doors for our only natural Free on the roster.

Not only. Anderson Russell was FS at Ohio State. Granted, it's probably a long shot he makes the roster, but as of today we still have him.

[onnie007]

Thank goodness! Finally, LL can move to his natural position and we have someone performing at free. Of course nobody will replace ST, we need someone with instincts and can make plays on the ball. HTTR

[Oldskool]

But what's this have to do with Fat Albert not passing the test???

Hey! That's MY joke!

[Stadium-Armory]

I wonder what Ls move to strong means for Reed and Horton. Do we keep 3 natural strong safeties?

[Hitman21ST]

Hey! That's MY joke!

Albert Haynesworth is EVERYONE'S joke right now...

[Est.1974]

Sure sounds like we'll have a traditional free/strong safety set up here. I recall reading alot about 2 interchangable safeties, but I don't get that impression here.

[DGREENHULK]

I just go back to the INT vs NO last year...sure he got stripped and that turned the game around but man that was a very athletic play to even get to that ball for the INT...kid has ball skills no doubt.

[gutlead74]

Moore does flash when he's in. Pretty good hitter as well! I would say Ryan Clark instead of poor man ST.

[The Tris]

I wonder what Ls move to strong means for Reed and Horton. Do we keep 3 natural strong safeties?

Reed and Horton are still the best backup FS we have. Last year on occasion we even played Doughty, Landry and Moore all at the same time.

I'm pretty sure we keep both Doughty Horton on as back ups.

[Commander Chaaarmnder]

I wonder what Ls move to strong means for Reed and Horton. Do we keep 3 natural strong safeties?

I think it happens. Both the predator and doughty play excellent special teams.

[Hitman21ST]

I think it happens. Both the predator and doughty play excellent special teams.

And it's not much of a drop off to go from Moore to Horton...

[mikemac9]

What does this say about our QB Play? 2 INT's in three plays... not so hot....

[Hitman21ST]

Sure sounds like we'll have a traditional free/strong safety set up here. I recall reading alot about 2 interchangable safeties' date=' but I don't get that impression here.[/quote']

Landry has the athleticism to play back in the traditional FS spot if need be, and Moore can lay the wood if he's in the box, as can Doughty and Horton. Horton can also step in at the FS spot if the situation dictates.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

On the one hand, if you are in print journalism at the moment, you should be thankful to have a paying job. On the other hand, cover NFL training camp might be the worst gig in the world. It's a million degrees, it's boring, and your editor expects a new story each day.

So, you write a variation of the same story every day.

Player X making his mark/traying to make his mark at Position Y.

[The Tris]

And it's not much of a drop off to go from Moore to Horton...

In terms of what? Moore clearly has far superior ability to play the ball when its in the air. I don't think its close in terms of who is a better FS.

IMO, Doughty would be first in line at FS behind Moore.

Horton has a lot to prove after his regression in late 2008 and pre-injury 2009.

[Hitman21ST]

In terms of what? Moore clearly has far superior ability to play the ball when its in the air. I don't think its close in terms of who is a better FS.

IMO, Doughty would be first in line at FS behind Moore.

Have you forgotten Horton's rookie campaign? Doughty doesn't have the range or speed to play FS. He's more of an in-the-box safety. Horton has the range to play center field.