blacksaint

N.O. receiver looks to eliminate mistakes

By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 18, 2007

As a punt from the Buffalo Bills sailed toward the sideline last Friday night, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore had only a split second to consider his options as he sprinted to where the ball was heading.

He could call for a fair catch, he could let the ball hit and watch it go out of bounds, or he could pull it in and try to make something happen.

In a move that’s typical of an eager youngster trying to make an impression on a coaching staff, Moore went for the third option and made the mistake of fielding a punt inside the 10 when he took it in at his 6.

Moore, who’s had a solid training camp this summer as a wide receiver and kick returner, compounded the problem by running back toward the middle of the field. After giving up more ground, he was tracked down and tackled by a couple of Bills defenders at his 2.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Moore returned to the sideline and was greeted by special teams coordinator John Bonamego, who pointed out the error of his ways. Then, he got an earful from coach Sean Payton.

“Bono was in my ear, but he just told me that I’m smarter than that,” Moore said. “Coach Payton was a little more animated. I can’t really repeat what he was saying.”

Moore, a second-year player from Toledo, will get a chance to redeem himself tonight when the Saints return to his home state to go against the Cincinnati Bengals in a preseason game at 6:30 p.m. in Paul Brown Stadium (CST and WJBO-AM, 1150).

Moore grew up in Columbus, about two hours from Cincinnati, and will have many family members and friends in the stands. Hopefully, they will help him remain calm after he got caught up in the moment when a wall of white jerseys closed in on him last week.

“I tried to kind of make something out of nothing,” he said. “It was just a bad decision. I shouldn’t have fielded the ball inside the 10-yard line, but I got a little excited. It shouldn’t happen again.”

Payton is counting on it. Moore, who had a 90-yard punt return in an exhibition game at Kansas City last year, was a dependable returner who also covered kicks in the first six regular-season games before former All-Pro Michael Lewis came off the injured list.

“Lance is smarter than that and he understands that,” Payton said of the botched punt return against Buffalo. “Usually when you get backed up, you dig your heels in at the 10 and you don’t go any further. We’ll correct that, but he’s done a good job of handling both the punt return and kick return duties — as well as his receiver duties.”

The 5-foot-9, 177-pound Moore is eager to do everything he can to make the 53-man roster and stick this time. When Lewis was released in June, Moore, who worked at a 7UP bottling plant coming out of high school, saw his opening and vowed to take advantage of it.

If he doesn’t make the cut this year, it won’t be because the Saints had to open a roster spot for someone coming off an injury. He said he understood why he was waived last season, which ended with him on the practice squad.

“Michael Lewis was a great player. He was a former Pro Bowl player and I realized when he came back somebody had to go,” said Moore, who was first signed to the Saints’ practice squad late in 2005. “I tried to do everything I could to make sure I wasn’t going to be the guy.

“But there were guys that did a little more on special teams than I did and I wasn’t a starter on offense. So it was just one of those things you can’t really help. You have to keep working and hope the chips fall your way next time.”

Using his size and speed, much like Lewis did in making the Saints’ roster as an unknown in 2001, Moore has made plays daily in the kicking game and on offense in training camp.

“I feel good and I think it’s just about confidence,” said Moore, who had five catches for 50 yards last week. “It’s my second year in this system, and I know the offense and I pretty much know the special teams scheme. It just allows me to go out and be able to play and not think about what I’m doing or where I’m going with my routes.”

Despite the tongue-lashing he delivered to Moore last week, Payton likes what the 23-year-old speedster brings to the table.

“He’s always had that drive. He’s a hard worker and I think he’s having a real good camp,” Payton said. “He’s done a great job with his body weight and strength. He’s a very committed player and he’s very intelligent.

“He brings some versatility to the table. He’s worked hard to put himself in this position. He’s got a little wiggle to him and he’s got strong hands. He’s going to be in the mix.”


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