QBREES9

Moore, Graham shining

By Matt LeBlanc
Staff Writer

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Lance Moore and Jimmy Graham.

Moore is a known commodity for the New Orleans Saints, while Graham is just starting to make a name for himself.

But both are prime examples of why the Saints are defending Super Bowl champions and in position to reach the playoffs for a second-straight year, something that hasn't happened in New Orleans since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

In Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Moore caught a touchdown pass and Graham caught two touchdown passes.

Moore has now been in a starring role for the Saints for a few seasons, while Graham, a rookie tight end from the University of Miami (Fla.), is beginning to make a weekly impact on the field.

Both were unheralded coming out of college.

But having the previously unheralded produce for them has become the norm for the Saints lately.

Moore and running backs Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory were all undrafted players coming out of college.

Top wide receiver Marques Colston was a seventh-round pick out of Hofstra, and starting offensive linemen Jahri Evans and Jermon Bushrod were fourth-round picks from tiny Bloomsburg and Towson universities.

Graham's story has become well-known. A basketball player at Miami, Graham played football during his senior year and was selected in the third round of the draft by the Saints. This season, he has 25 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

Just another example of the Saints scouting department hitting a home run on players that are being overlooked by the rest of the NFL.

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

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