The illusion That Is Detroit Lions Quarterback Kellen Moore
By Mike Payton
Il·lu·sion: A thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses, a false idea or belief.
Let me start by saying I like Kellen Moore. This is in no way a hate piece. This more of an awakening piece. The common misconception when talking about Kellen Moore is that he is a great NFL quarterback who in some minds should take over for Matthew Stafford.
Reader email compares Kellen Moore to Aaron Rodgers. Makes sense.
— Justin Rogers | Detroit News (@Justin_Rogers) August 12, 2014
The ideology behind this argument is that Kellen Moore is a winner. While that may have been so at Boise State, he has proven nothing in the NFL. Here are few reasons why Kellen Moore may not be what he appears to be:
Poor Mechanics
Aug 28, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Kellen Moore (17) throws a pass during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Kellen’s mechanics have been heavily scrutinized since his final year at Boise State. The comments usually range from needs work to the worst ever seen.
No hyperbole here, Kellen Moore has the worst arm + mechanics I've ever scouted. I think a lot of evaluators would agree.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 13, 2012
While I don’t believe Kellen to be the worst ever scouted, but there is certainly a reason Kellen was past up by 32 teams for 7 rounds in the 2012 NFL Draft. from my observations I’ve noticed that while Kellen appears to have his head on straight during games, he lacks the arm strength need to drive the ball into his receiver.
His throws tend to float rather than bullet. Moore does tend to excel when putting the ball where he believes the receiver will be, the problem is they are not always there. If the play isn’t there Kellen’s ability isn’t there as well. The kid is smart and has the intangibles to be in the league for a while but his mechanics will keep him from having a starting role.
Is Kellen Moore a winner?
In terms of college ball? absolutely! Kellen posted an incredible 50-3 record in his time at Boise State. That certainly is an impressive feat. But it is one that does not necessarily translate to the pro game. Guys like Heath Shuler, Matt Leinart, Tim Tebow, and the great Ryan Leaf were all “winners” in college but all wound up not having a role in the NFL. What makes Kellen any different?
Next: False Positves