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Moe hoping to catch on with Rams
By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c8ad5075-6095-5f31-a931-fe6bbae1f619.html
T.J. Moe finds himself in a somewhat awkward position these days.
Moe, who starred at Fort Zumwalt West High and at the University of Missouri, is a free agent receiver trying to hook on with the Rams. But because of his candor and the relationship he has built with local reporters, Moe is among the team’s regular interview requests.
“I know some guys shy away (from the media), but I’ve always enjoyed it. I like dealing with you guys,’’ Moe said following a recent practice at Rams Park in Earth City. “I get it. I’m getting attention as the local guy, and that’s fine. But the thing is, I’ve done nothing here or in the NFL to be the center of attention. There are a lot of guys who deserve the attention, who’ve earned it with their play on the field. I need to be real careful about that; I have to make sure I do and say the right thing.’’
Moe, 23, is trying to make a name for himself as a receiver and special-teams player after seeing his rookie season wiped out by a torn Achilles tendon. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots, Moe was hurt during spring OTA practices and had surgery on June 3, 2013.
After clearing waivers, he spent the season on injured reserve.
“I did my rehab here and flew to New England once a month or so to give the doctors there a chance to see how I was doing,’’ Moe recalled.
In early March, Moe joined the other Patriots’ injured players for team physicals. On March 10, he was released.
“Not exactly sure what happened, except that they felt they needed the roster spot,’’ said Moe, whose size (5-foot-11, 204 pounds) and playing style draw comparisons to ex-Patriot and current Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker. “To be honest, I wasn’t there long enough to give them much to evaluate, but that’s how pro football works. In OTAs last year in New England, there seemed to be guys coming and going every couple of days.’’
Following his senior season at Mizzou, Moe attended a pre-draft local workout at Rams Park and was pursued by the Rams as an undrafted free agent. The team took another look at him this year and signed him May 5.
“When you’re hurt, most teams don’t want anything to do with you until you’re 100 percent, but at least the Rams had something to compare (my workout) to,’’ Moe said. “I came in and ran a few routes and I guess they like the way I was moving.’’
Moe’s No. 1 priority these days is getting as close to 100 percent as possible for training camp. That, and learning the playbook.
“I feel pretty good — it feels good to run around again — but I’m still working to get my strength back,’’ he said. “Whenever you’re hurt, you need to build up the muscles around the injury and that’s what I’m focused on. The quickness is starting to come back, but I’m not as powerful as I’d like to be.
“It feels good enough to be out here, but I know it can still get better.’’
But first, he needs to absorb the playbook.
“It’s a challenge because every team does things a little bit differently,’’ he said. “It’s like being a college freshman again, except that in college you know you’re going to be around to learn it. Here, there are no guarantees.’’
As a senior at Zumwalt West, Moe was named the Post-Dispatch offensive player of the year after throwing for 2,557 yards, rushing for 2,029 and accounting for 61 touchdowns. He was also the school’s Post-Dispatch scholar-athlete.
Originally recruited to Mizzou to play defense, Moe ended up as a three-year starter as a slot receiver. As a sophomore, he was the go-to receiver for Parkway West High product Blaine Gabbert, finishing with 92 catches for 1,045 yards, and he scored seven touchdowns. In 48 career games, Moe had 188 catches (fifth all-time for a Tiger) with 2,101 yards and 11 touchdowns. A team captain as a senior, he also excelled in the return game, averaging 23.3 yards on 38 kickoff returns.
“T.J.’s a guy who competes and make plays,’’ said cornerback and ex-Tiger E.J. Gaines, who was selected by the Rams in the sixth round of May’s draft. “I like to kid him that I know what he’s going to do because I’ve been covering him so long, but I think we both enjoy challenging one another in practice.’’
Like most positions, the competition at training camp at receiver will be intense. In addition to returning players Chris Givens, Austin Pettis, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, the Rams added veteran receiver Kenny Britt as a free agent.
“It’s a very talented group, and each guy has his own strengths,’’ Moe said. “You have to find what you’re good at and then really excel at it. For me, that’s using my quickness and strength.’’
By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c8ad5075-6095-5f31-a931-fe6bbae1f619.html
T.J. Moe finds himself in a somewhat awkward position these days.
Moe, who starred at Fort Zumwalt West High and at the University of Missouri, is a free agent receiver trying to hook on with the Rams. But because of his candor and the relationship he has built with local reporters, Moe is among the team’s regular interview requests.
“I know some guys shy away (from the media), but I’ve always enjoyed it. I like dealing with you guys,’’ Moe said following a recent practice at Rams Park in Earth City. “I get it. I’m getting attention as the local guy, and that’s fine. But the thing is, I’ve done nothing here or in the NFL to be the center of attention. There are a lot of guys who deserve the attention, who’ve earned it with their play on the field. I need to be real careful about that; I have to make sure I do and say the right thing.’’
Moe, 23, is trying to make a name for himself as a receiver and special-teams player after seeing his rookie season wiped out by a torn Achilles tendon. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots, Moe was hurt during spring OTA practices and had surgery on June 3, 2013.
After clearing waivers, he spent the season on injured reserve.
“I did my rehab here and flew to New England once a month or so to give the doctors there a chance to see how I was doing,’’ Moe recalled.
In early March, Moe joined the other Patriots’ injured players for team physicals. On March 10, he was released.
“Not exactly sure what happened, except that they felt they needed the roster spot,’’ said Moe, whose size (5-foot-11, 204 pounds) and playing style draw comparisons to ex-Patriot and current Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker. “To be honest, I wasn’t there long enough to give them much to evaluate, but that’s how pro football works. In OTAs last year in New England, there seemed to be guys coming and going every couple of days.’’
Following his senior season at Mizzou, Moe attended a pre-draft local workout at Rams Park and was pursued by the Rams as an undrafted free agent. The team took another look at him this year and signed him May 5.
“When you’re hurt, most teams don’t want anything to do with you until you’re 100 percent, but at least the Rams had something to compare (my workout) to,’’ Moe said. “I came in and ran a few routes and I guess they like the way I was moving.’’
Moe’s No. 1 priority these days is getting as close to 100 percent as possible for training camp. That, and learning the playbook.
“I feel pretty good — it feels good to run around again — but I’m still working to get my strength back,’’ he said. “Whenever you’re hurt, you need to build up the muscles around the injury and that’s what I’m focused on. The quickness is starting to come back, but I’m not as powerful as I’d like to be.
“It feels good enough to be out here, but I know it can still get better.’’
But first, he needs to absorb the playbook.
“It’s a challenge because every team does things a little bit differently,’’ he said. “It’s like being a college freshman again, except that in college you know you’re going to be around to learn it. Here, there are no guarantees.’’
As a senior at Zumwalt West, Moe was named the Post-Dispatch offensive player of the year after throwing for 2,557 yards, rushing for 2,029 and accounting for 61 touchdowns. He was also the school’s Post-Dispatch scholar-athlete.
Originally recruited to Mizzou to play defense, Moe ended up as a three-year starter as a slot receiver. As a sophomore, he was the go-to receiver for Parkway West High product Blaine Gabbert, finishing with 92 catches for 1,045 yards, and he scored seven touchdowns. In 48 career games, Moe had 188 catches (fifth all-time for a Tiger) with 2,101 yards and 11 touchdowns. A team captain as a senior, he also excelled in the return game, averaging 23.3 yards on 38 kickoff returns.
“T.J.’s a guy who competes and make plays,’’ said cornerback and ex-Tiger E.J. Gaines, who was selected by the Rams in the sixth round of May’s draft. “I like to kid him that I know what he’s going to do because I’ve been covering him so long, but I think we both enjoy challenging one another in practice.’’
Like most positions, the competition at training camp at receiver will be intense. In addition to returning players Chris Givens, Austin Pettis, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, the Rams added veteran receiver Kenny Britt as a free agent.
“It’s a very talented group, and each guy has his own strengths,’’ Moe said. “You have to find what you’re good at and then really excel at it. For me, that’s using my quickness and strength.’’
