How much will Moore's slow 40 time hurt his draft stock?
If the Dolphins do decide to pass on taking a cornerback on round one, then that will mean they will almost definitely take one in round two. Among some of the potential round two corners is Vanderbilt's D.J. Moore.
So to tell us more about Moore, I've enlisted the help of David Wunderlich from Team Speed Kills - SBN's SEC blog. Below are some of Moore's numbers from the Combine followed by David's take on the corner from Vandy.
D.J. Moore
Height: 5'8 7/8"" / Weight: 192
40: 4.56 / Arm: 30 1/2"" / Vertical: 39.5"
D.J. Moore is a likeable guy by all accounts, the kind a coach likes to use as an example for the younger guys on a team. He’s the sort of player that even rivals respected–not grudgingly, but genuinely.
Coming out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, he somehow ended up at Vanderbilt instead of the in-state football crazed schools of South Carolina and Clemson. After a pretty good first year, one in which he was named to the all-SEC freshman team, he had a breakout sophomore year as a corner and kick returner.
Last season, he was a do-it-all dynamo for the Commodores. He ended up playing just about any position that a fast, athletic guy of his size can play by the end. His stellar play at corner and as a returner continued, but he also gave the otherwise anemic Vandy offense a shot of play-making ability late in the season as a receiver. He nearly won Vanderbilt’s bowl-clinching sixth win single-handedly, hauling in two touchdown receptions to go with two interceptions.
Despite moonlighting with the Vandy offense, Moore projects as an NFL corner all the way. He’s not quite as big as some would prefer, but many scouts say he "plays bigger than his size." In other words, it’s not that big an issue.
His instincts are good, and, especially in 2008, his technique improved to match it. Some have become concerned about his relatively slow 40 time (for a corner) at the combine, but what he lacks in track speed he makes up for in football speed. Plus, his vertical was 39.5 inches, an excellent mark for a defensive back.
Wherever his pro career ends up taking him, D.J. Moore is a guy who will be a professional both on and off the field. He did everything the Vanderbilt coaches asked of him and more, and remember, he was the main catalyst for finally getting the Commodores to their first bowl since 1982.
He’s going to have a long NFL career. If he ends up in a place that fits, he could even make some Pro Bowls.
I want to thank David for taking some time to share his thoughts on D.J. Moore. Clearly, Moore has two big knocks on him - his size and his speed. Theoretically, those are two of the most important physical traits for a cornerback. But Moore makes up for it, it seems. And it'll be interesting to see where exactly Moore is selected on draft day.