William Moore: Embracing Change of Philosophy

William Moore, the Atlanta Falcons starting strong safety, met with the media after today’s practice to discuss how he is embracing a new playing style under Head Coach Dan Quinn.

Moore said, “Going seven years into it, I’m approaching the game in a different aspect. Slowing everything down.  I know that I can be physical in there but I have to know my approach.”

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While the Atlanta Falcons defense struggled the last few seasons, William Moore when healthy has been one of the few bright spots in the Falcons defensive unit, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2012.  Moore is the veteran leader on the defense and I’m glad that he is embracing the change of philosophy emanating from Flowery Branch.

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“Anytime you try something different it’s exciting as a football player because you get to learn new things,” Moore added. “But at the end of the day, it’s the same game of football.”  William Moore acknowledged that part of Dan Quinn’s defensive philosophy for the secondary is to force more takeaways.  With several defensive backs that have shown a proclivity to ballhawk, I like the sound of that coming from Dan Quinn.

When asked about going up against the most recent Heisman Trophy Winner in Marcus Mariota Friday Night when the Tennessee Titans come to the Georgia Dome, William Moore answered it perfectly: “It’s all about us.”  Though he and the rest of the team respect what Mariota accomplished at the University of Oregon, this is a different beast.  This is the NFL.

It seems like Moore being a veteran leader on the Atlanta Falcons is looking at the four preseason games as to who will make the 53-man roster and what the team’s identity will become in the locker room.  Essentially who will rise up to join William Moore as vocal leader on the 2015 Atlanta Falcons defense.

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William Moore’s on-field presence as well as bringing in LBs Justin Durant and Brooks Reed in the offseason gives the young Falcons defense some veteran leadership that it has not had the last two seasons.  While I do expect Desmond Trufant to take a major step forward in 2015, I still see William Moore as the vocal leader of the Atlanta Falcons defensively.

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While Moore can certainly help his teammates off the field and behind the scenes, where he can do the most good for the Atlanta Falcons is by having a healthy season at strong safety.  He will have a rookie in the secondary in CB Jalen Collins out of LSU as well as second-year DB Ricardo Allen switching positions from corner to free safety in Dan Quinn’s scheme.

I hope that William Moore and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons defense can have a strong and healthy season this fall for Coach Q.  The first preseason game is on Friday.  Rise Up, Atlanta!

Next: Atlanta Falcons Should Improve in Red Zone in 2015

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