Moore Than Asked For

PHILADELPHIA — In position meetings, Eagles safety Kenny Moore sits right by Drew Mukuba and Cooper DeJean, which the veteran newcomer attributes to helping fortify the communication process.

Moore, who described the communication as “tailored,” also pinpointed defensive passing game coordinator Joe Kasper for ensuring everyone in the room is on the same page and clearly conveying expectations.

The safety group, Moore says, spends a considerable amount of time together throughout the week, whether it’s individually, as a room or collectively with Kasper.

Moore, 31, joined the Eagles’ practice squad in late September following a decorated nine-year career with the Indianapolis Colts in which Moore was widely recognized among the game’s premier nickelbacks.

Less than a week after signing to the practice squad Moore was promoted to the Eagles’ 53-man roster.

Over a three-week span that included Moore acquitting himself well in 44 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London as he subbed for an injured Michael Carter II the veteran defensive back gained enough confidence from coaches to undertake a more prominent role.

In Sunday’s 25-14 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, Moore earned the nod opposite Mukuba in nickel personnel. He provided 48 snaps, with fellow safeties Marcus Epps and Cole Wisniewski solely relegated to special teams.

So, what sparked the change? Well, Fangio on Wednesday noted that Epps, who opened the season as a starter but missed the past two games with a groin injury, “hadn’t been playing” and Carter II is hurt.

The veteran coordinator also provided further insight into his decision to go with Moore.

“Kenny’s been doing a good job in practice and did a good job in the previous game when he was thrown in there without a whole lot of work, so I just decided to go with him,” he said. “He did a fine job.”

DB Kenny Moore is starting at safety just a few weeks into his Eagles career after a career at nickelback.

Through the team’s first five games, no one in the room emerged as a viable solution to serve as Mukuba’s running mate. DeJean wears multiple hats and is capable, though Fangio has stated he believes his value is best maximized as a nickel defender. Epps experienced some early season challenges, while Carter is currently sidelined with an abdomen injury.

While the lack of continuity beside him could certainly hamper a young player like Mukuba, especially when it comes to the communication piece, the team might have found stability in Moore, who has provided encouraging early returns.

Moore, whom Fangio lauded for “good instincts” and “football savviness,” appears to be settling into a position in which he hasn’t had much time on task throughout his previous nine seasons. But from his perspective, he remains a work in progress.

“I’m very hard on myself, ’cause one side of yourself you wanna play to the best of your ability to help this team come up with a win best as possible,” he explained following Sunday’s game. “You wanna put the ball in the offensive guys’ hands as much as possible. So, I’m very hard on myself to try to make a play and just trying to do my job to help the team win.

“But on the other side it’s like, you wanna give yourself some grace to get acclimated, just take the positive steps in the right direction, slowly but surely. And then I just wanna get the trust of the guys, playing with the guys in the back end. Being able to look Zach Baun in the eye, JC (Jalen Carter) JD (Jordan Davis) in the eye and just let them know that whenever I’m out here on the field I know what I’m doing.

“But those plays will be made, those plays will come down the road. Last week, obviously, number was called on when you’re not really expecting it, but you gotta always expect to be called on and be prepared. And I was prepared enough to be able to come out of that game healthy and, and execute at a high level. But just taking every day into account and just making sure that I maximize every single day.”

If Moore can put his stamp on the other safety spot, the continuity should only strengthen the backend dialogue as the season progresses. Strong communication and attention to detail — Moore is as sharp as a tack — are hallmarks of his game, intangibles that could positively influence Mukuba and DeJean.

While the offense works to find its footing, the excessive three-and-outs compiled have resulted in an uptick in snaps for the Eagles’ defense. For perspective, Fangio’s unit has racked up 70-plus snaps in all but one game this season.

Late in games, it’s the on-field chemistry and communication that can help eliminate any potential lapses. Moore, however, isn’t looking too far ahead, instead focusing on what he needs to do throughout the week from a preparation standpoint to ensure the standard is upheld when he’s on the field.

“Just making sure that I’m learning what I’m supposed to learn throughout the week to make sure that there is no drop-off,” he said. “Those guys are playing at a high level. I wanna make sure whenever 23 goes out there, it’s the same expectation. It’s the same standard. So, that’s my role and my job.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.