Second Year Makes All The Difference For Rahim Moore

Rahim Moore (26) reacts after the Broncos intercepted a pass against the San Diego Chargers during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. (Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE)

As the 13th pick in the 2nd round of the 2011 draft, a lot of high hopes surrounded safety Rahim Moore. People wanted immediate contribution, sure-fire tackling, and a strong safety net in the secondary.

In 15 games his rookie season, Moore had 31 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass deflection. He was removed from the starting lineup five games into his rookie year due to missed tackles and blown assignments.

Year No. 2 and a full off season has made all the difference for Moore. Through 9 games, he has 47 tackles, 1 interception, and 4 pass deflections.

“(He’s) more polished, more experienced,” Bailey said. “It sucked for him, a guy like that coming in and being thrown in the starting lineup right after the lockout. That had to be a tough situation for him. He’s grown up a lot. I think he’s starting to understand the game a lot better too. I think all that combined makes him a better player.”

“He’s worked hard to give himself an opportunity to play well,” defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio added.

Moore will certainly be busy in the Broncos’ secondary this week with all the receiving threats coming in.

As his maturity grows, his desire to make the big hits declines. That’s exactly what the Broncos wanted, and needed out of him.

Make sure to follow Predominantly Orange on Facebook and on Twitter.