Small Deadly Force

Sporting News, The, Dec 27, 1999 by John A. Montgomery

There's nothing visibly remarkable about 6-0, 215-pound Virginia Tech defensive end Corey Moore. Bid when he explodes Old of his stance, it's easy to see why he's the nation's best defensive player.

It's a Friday night in November, so Corey Moore must be on the phone.

Thoughts are racing through his mind about the game the next day. Does he know his assignments? Will the opponent try any funky blocking schemes? How will the weather affect the game? The expression on his face tells you he likes what he hears. Soon, a thin, fight smile appears. He's talking to his mother.

"I always call her the night before games," Moore says. "If I don't talk to her the night before, I will talk to her before game time. I always talk to her on a regular basis because our conversations are good, and she makes me feel good. I let her know that I'm thinking about her and love her. And if something happens beyond my control on the football field, I want her to know how I feel about her and that to be the last thing she remembers me telling her."

Moore figures to be in touch January 3, the day before the nation's best defensive player and his Virginia Tech teammates play Florida State in the Sugar Bowl for the national title.

"I think we have a good opportunity of winning a national championship," says Moore, who led the Big East with 17 sacks en route to winning league defensive player of the season for the second year in a row. "Everybody is talking about us being the new kid on the block, and I think that's a positive thing. There's no pressure on us. All the pressure is on those (FSU) guys."

Moore doesn't need his mother to tell him that. Florida State has been ranked No. 1 in most polls all season. Virginia Tech? The Hokies have quietly forged their way to the No. 2 spot. It's the most unlikely mn toward the national title since Georgia Tech claimed a share of the crown in 1990. It seems fitting an improbable national championship contender would be led by a player who breaks all images and stereotypes of how a big-time defender should be built.

Sizing up Moore, nothing stands out. He's a 6-0, 215-pound defensive end. That makes him a rare commodity. Players at that spot are supposed to be around 6-4 and weigh at least 250 pounds. What make Moore, who had 11 tackles for loss, good are technique, mastery of fundamentals and understanding the game. But what make him special are his intensity and speed. Especially his speed, which is in the 4.4 range.

That asset was never more prevalent than on the night of September 23, when Moore was introduced to the nation in a home game against Clemson televised by ESPN. With the bright lights turned on, Moore sacked Tigers quarterback Brandon Streeter twice and recorded three other tackles for loss. Moore sealed the game with less than three minutes to play with a jarring hit that caused Streeter to fumble. Moore picked it up and mn for a touchdown en route to a 31-11 victory.

Though many credit Tech's rise to prominence redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Vick, who has energized the offense and given the team a much-needed playmaker, the Moore-led defense has been the backbone of the Hokies' drive to an 11-0 record. The numbers speak loudly: No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense (75.9 yards per game); No. 7 in pass-efficiency defense; No. 3 in total defense (247.3); and No. 1 in scoring defense (10.5).

Those figures should concern Florida State. The Seminoles rank 83rd in the nation in rushing (122.8). It will be imperative for tailback Travis Minor to get running room to keep Moore and the Virginia Tech defense off balance. If Florida State gets one-dimensional, count on Moore and fellow end John Engelberger to tee off on Seminoles quarterback Chris Weinke, who lacks mobility.

"In our defensive scheme, we don't ask Corey to line up over the offensive tackle," says defensive line coach Charley Wiles. "We put Corey outside (he'll be near FSU redshirt freshman tackle Brett Williams) so he can use his speed and strength. He makes the offensive tackle operate in space."

In order to combat Moore's quickness, Weinke should avoid taking five-step drops. Instead, he should utilize a three-step drop and execute quick-hitting pass plays such as slants and outs to receiver Peter Warrick. A few screen passes, draw plays and counters also may prove effective against the attacking Tech defense. Minor must hit holes quickly, so his coaches may want to line him up closer to the quarterback to get him the ban quicker.

Another way for the Seminoles to neutralize Moore's speed may be to run right at him. Moore could get engulfed in a wrestling match instead of a race with the 6-6, 320-pound Williams, who may receive an assist from 255-pound fullback Dan Kendra. What advice would Clemson coach Tommy Bowden give to his father, Seminoles coach Bobby, to stop Moore?

"I'd either give the tackle some help or (instruct the quarterback to) sprint out to the other side or use a back as a (blocker)," he says. "Of course, Florida State's got plenty of All-Americans to block him. But Moore plays with great intensity. He's a special player."