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http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/...omment_lan.htmlKnow what the best game of Lance Moore's NFL career guarantees him for tomorrow, when the New Orleans Saints play the Carolina Panthers at the Superdome?
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Lance Moore vs. Atlanta Falcons gallery (19 photos)
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Unquestionably, Moore was a star in New Orleans' 27-24 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The week preceding the game sometimes took on an apocalyptic tone after running back Reggie Bush went down with a broken fibula, with speculation bordering on panic as to who would receive Bush's touches and produce his yards. The sun came out last Sunday, in the form of Moore.
Six receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 80-yarder, and a 72-yard punt return, erased any doubt that Moore could do more than pick up slack.
But it didn't do anything toward making him a primary target for the Saints' offense.
New Orleans spreads the wealth as well as any team in the league. The guy who gets open is the guy who gets the ball, so Moore knows as well as anyone that a new hot hand could emerge tomorrow.
"That's kind of been the way that it has gone," he said. "Sometimes you have to wait your turn, and last week was my turn. We have the type of offense that any guy could be the breakout guy any given week. Who knows when it'll come around again? Hopefully it'll be this week, and if not, I'll be ready for whenever it comes.
"That's the good thing and the bad thing about it, I guess. You can't really predict who's going to be the guy that steps up and gets a lot of the plays. I think that's what makes this offense so difficult to stop, because we've got a bunch of guys that can make those plays."
Against the Falcons it was his turn, and he was up to the task.
That couldn't have been said about Moore much last season, when he was injured and played in just seven regular-season games.
He had just four fewer receiving yards (149) Sunday than he did all last season (153), and just as many touchdowns. Obviously, the hamstring and ankle injuries that sapped his effectiveness in 2009 were a huge letdown from the previous season, when Moore emerged as a reliable target for quarterback Drew Brees and caught 79 passes for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"It's been a while since I've been this healthy," he said. "I feel better than I felt all last year, pretty much. Just to be able to practice every day and playing all the games so far, that feels good, and I've got to do whatever I can to stay healthy."
We got a good look at what he can do when he is.
The 80-yard touchdown catch came on a busted coverage. Brees found Moore wide open down the right seam, and Moore didn't need to do much to outrun the chasing defenders. But he showed his speed on the perfectly executed punt return, sweeping from right to left while outracing potential tackles to reach an opening up the left sideline.
That return set up a touchdown, giving Moore a hand in all three scores (his second touchdown was on a 16-yard reception).
The punt return, especially, was a boon for the Saints. That role has been dominated by Bush since his arrival, and he has electrified and energized on several occasions.
Moore, considered more sure-handed than game-breaking, produced New Orleans' longest regular-season return since Michael Lewis scored on an 83-yard punt return in 2002.
"Punt returns have been something I've done since high school, little league, even," he said. "It was just a matter of getting opportunities here in the NFL. I knew I was capable of breaking one.
"The guys did a great job blocking for me. My job was pretty easy, compared to what they had to do. Next time we've just got to get in the end zone."
The failure to score on that pay and the loss, obviously, were the only blemishes on Moore's day. And certainly it was a needed offensive boost from a receiving corps that hasn't been all that fearsome so far.
Marques Colston hasn't gotten untracked. Devery Henderson had several critical drops against the Falcons. Robert Meachem doesn't quite look like he has recovered from offseason surgery on his toe.
Moore, who may have the best hands in the group, re-emerged as a threat and a security blanket for Brees.
"I think that's just a credit to the way we've worked here," he said. "I've been one of those guys that will come early to practice and stay late with (Brees) and run as many routes as he wants me to because I know that'll help get us on the same page. And hopefully that'll steal me a couple of extra touches on Sundays."
The extra work just might do that. More likely, though, it'll be the fact that he's healthy again and able to slice an opponent in a couple of ways.
But he knows, better than anyone, that none of that guarantees him anything.
John DeShazier can be reached at jdeshazier@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3410.
In response to John DeShazier's column on Lance Moore's standout game against the Falcons, nola.com reader D-88 wrote:
"Lance Moore is a flat out playmaker, was wondering where he'd got torecently, he's like our version of wes welker. He works the flats andthe seams, plus the coaching staff love to get him matched up againstan LB, especially on a jerk route. Lets get lance intregrated in theoffense "moore," he can do amazing things with the ball in his hands,just look at the Punt Return last week!"
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