This is what Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera had to say at the combine regarding D.J. Moore and his status as a top option:
“How do you label a number one? Is it a vertical No. 1 threat, or is it a guy that works underneath the defense? For us, he has both skill sets, but the most important thing is getting the ball in his hands, more than anything else.”
We know, based on his quote and the fact that the Panthers drafted Moore in the first round last year, that the team is going to try to get a No. 1 receiver out of their Maryland product. But will it happen?
Judging by the coach's quote, yes, it will. But, a potential uptick in production isn't just because of a scheme. Instead, it's because, by all means, Moore is ready to be that No. 1 guy in a high-profile offense.
To the naked eye, Moore's rookie season was good, but not great. He finished the year catching 55 passes for 788 yards and two touchdowns. However, if you dive a bit deeper into his numbers, you see a second-half of the season blossoming.
When Moore got comfortable with the offense in the second half of the season, he looked the part of a star. The differences between his first and second half, statistically, are distinctive.
- First half: 26 catches, 297 yards, 1 TD
- Second half: 29 catches, 491 yards, 1 TD
Though he caught nearly the same amount of passes in the second half, he tallied a significantly larger yardage total. Moore's yards per average jumped from 11.4 to 16.9. This second half jump wasn't a fluke — Moore was inserted into a starting role as Devin Funchess earned a demotion.
Moore's promotion to the starting role was deserving, and an indication for what the future may hold. Although the wide receiver doesn't come in a prototypical build (5-foot-11, 210-pounds), his game and athletic profile signify a No. 1 receiver in every sense, but not in the way the position has been typically thought of.
Ten years ago, the No. 1 receiver was a team's X-receiver. These were outside receivers that typically hand one of a large catch radius, size, or speed. But, that's not how the game is played now. A No. 1 receiver is relied upon to be versatile in not only his route-tree but his game as well.
That's exactly what Moore is. He's not your grandpa's No. 1 receiver; he's the new age version of it.
Rivera noted that Moore can create vertically and underneath, and that's not an understatement. He brings speed to the table (4.42 second 40-yard-dash) and has a route-tree that is diverse and well-run to the point that both horizontal and vertical breaks are both strong-suits.
Observe the route-grid above. This was during a week 12 game, meaning Moore was starting to see more consistent, starter snaps. Notice that he's all over the field — he doesn't run the same route once, nor did he align in the same spot. Though this grid shows one game, he did the same thing and willed himself open from anywhere on the field on a weekly basis. That's true versatility.
But, Moore's versatility doesn't just stem from before the catch. It's shown during, and after it as well. During, his high 67.1% catch rate is a testament to his strong hands and consistency.
As for after the catch, Moore is already amongst the best in the league. Per Pro Football Focus, his YAC average stood at 7.81 in 2018, good for second in the NFL, while his 0.31 forced tackles per reception, and 427 yards after the catch were top in last year's rookie class.
By now, we know that Moore is versatile in his route-running, is consistent with his hands, and is a threat after the catch. We also know, based on his combine testing, that he's an athletically gifted player.
Furthermore, now, at least according to Rivera, we know that the Panthers intend to use that skillset often for the foreseeable future.
And that's a good thing, for both the Panthers and Moore's outlook as a No. 1 option. Although Christian McCaffrey and/or Curtis Samuel may take some targets away, Moore's versatile skill set should ascend him to No. 1 receiver territory.
Moore's frame and catch radius don't show the part of an X-receiver, and he isn't one. But, in today's NFL, a receiver doesn't have to be the X to be No. 1, he just has to get open and create after the catch. Luckily, Moore does both of those things very well. Because of this, I see Moore as comparable to the Vikings' Stefon Diggs — a genuinely versatile, modern No. 1 receiver in his own right.
But can the Panthers use Moore correctly? If OC Norv Turner sees the Diggs in him and puts him all of the field, yes, they will. But, if he continues to pull him in the red zone, and sticks him on the outside to stretch the field, probably not.
Either way, Moore has the game to produce like a No. 1 option, now we need to see it used to the max.
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