Niners’ Moore set to emerge from Carriker’s shadow

By Paul Eide  |   Wednesday, May 02, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Being overlooked is something Jay Moore is used to. Throughout his career as a defensive end at Nebraska, Moore was largely overshadowed by fellow DE Adam Carriker, a first-round pick by the Rams during last weekend's draft.

Playing opposite Carriker, Moore had a solid career; for whatever reason, though, he could never escape the shadow of his teammate. But when you crunch the numbers, the two are very similar, meaning the 49ers may have gotten a great bargain by selecting Moore in the fourth round.

In 2006, Carriker accumulated 52 tackles, led the team with seven sacks and ranked second with 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Moore finished with almost identical numbers: 45 tackles, finished second with six sacks and led the Cornhuskers with 17 stops for losses.

So if it wasn't the statistics, it had to be the individual workout numbers, right? Judging by that logic, the situation doesn't get any clearer.

Physically, the two players are nearly mirror images, except for slight variations in playing styles. Carriker (6-foot-6, 292 pounds) is more of an inside pass rusher who relies on his strength to get to the QB. Moore (6-5, 276) utilizes his speed on the outside to apply pressure.

Carriker's 40 time at the combine was 4.85; Moore's was 4.74. Carriker's bench max was 440 pounds; Moore's was 415. Carriker had a slight edge in arm length, and both players have the same size hands.

At January's Senior Bowl, the 49ers' coaching staff got a good look at Moore during the North's 27-0 shutout victory over the Mike Nolan-led South team. That day, Moore posted three sacks for minus-21 yards and forced a pair of fumbles.

"The Senior Bowl was a great time," said Moore. "Being able to get those sacks especially in such a star-studded game like that and just being able to make some big plays out there. It was just a special day for me."

In Nebraska's defense, the position Moore played on the left side is called the ''open'' defensive end, whereas Carriker played the "base" defensive end. In this role, Moore spent almost as much time defending the pass as he did the run.

"The open was more of the weak side end," said Moore. "I was more of the traditional 4-3 angle, I was out wider. I had a little more room to roam. I was a little more free than what Adam played. Adam, who we called the base end, was more like an end in a 3-4 defense where it's really tight. He was more like that defensive tackle position where I was a little wider and able to roam around a little more and get a better edge on the pass rush."

Moore's experience covering backs and tight ends should serve him well with the 49ers, for whom he could be used as both an outside linebacker and defensive end.

"I think my flexibility really helps me out overall--at defensive end or at a 3-4 outside linebacker. Our scheme with the defensive end was a little different," said Moore. "I can compare it to that Senior Bowl when we were in Tampa. We even had more free room to roam, they had us a lot wider and cocked at an angle, really focused on rushing the passer where at Nebraska we read run first and then rushed the passer. But at the Senior Bowl it was definitely more just jump the ball and make plays. I thought the defense at the Senior Bowl helped me play better."

Now that their college careers are complete, both Carriker and Moore enter the next level with a clean slate. Everything the two had done prior to the draft was largely forgotten once their names were called from the podium. Moore finally has the chance to prove that not only does he measure up to Carriker physically, but he has all the tools to potentially outperform him.

San Francisco can only hope so.

Questions? Comments? E-mail the writer at peide@realfootball365.com.
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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Mike Cortese		10:47 AM
05/02/2007
Moore wil have a good year...In the NFL drive and determination is everything...He reminds me of a Patrick Kearney...This player...
No.2
Rachie		11:21 AM
05/02/2007
If Moore turned out to be Patrick Kearney that would be great. I dont know why though when i saw this pick i thought of John...
No.3
Rob		01:00 PM
05/02/2007
Moore will play strongside OLB for the niners, not DE in a traditional 4-3, so he'll look nothing like Engelberger or Kearney....
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