Rookie In-season Profile: Sio Moore

Sio Moore(55) celebrates his 6 tackle, 1.5 sack performance in week 8 with safety Usama Young.

Going into the 2013 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders knew they needed help at a range of positions.  One of those positions was outside linebacker.  They needed a versatile athlete who could not only pass-rush but also move into coverage, jam the line, and contain the offense in a 4-3 system.

Enter Sio Moore.

Sio Moore finished his collegiate career with 44 tackles for
loss, 4th most in school history.

Born in Liberia, his family moved to Connecticut early in his life.  He excelled in his college career at the University of Connecticut, enough to earn All-Big East first-team honors his senior year.  He shined throughout all major phases of the draft process, from the East-West Shrine game, to the combine, to his pro day.  Moore's draft stock soared, and he was finally picked up by the Raiders with the 4th pick in the 3rd round(66th overall); a steal according to most draft experts.

At 6'1", 240lbs., Moore is now a starting OLB for the Raiders, a dark horse candidate for defensive rookie of the year, and is tied for 4th of all rookies with 3.5 sacks.  That's impressive considering most of the rookies around him in that stat- Ezekiel Ansah, Barkevious Mingo, Sheldon Richardson- were drafted in the 1st round.  He is a solid tackler, with a good mix of agility and strength, and has an instinctive knack for getting in the backfield and attacking the ball.  In addition to his outstanding physical skills, Moore has a nearly unrivaled work ethic, something coaches yearn for in future franchise linebackers.

In 2013 Sio Moore has helped lead a rebuilt Raiders defense, which has jumped from 31st in sacks a year ago to 16th, the 4th biggest jump of any team in that span, behind the Bills, Chiefs, and Saints.  Those three teams also just happen to be one, two, and three in that stat category.  As the AFC West is quickly becoming a powerhouse division, the Raiders will fight to become worthy of that notation, with the help of young leaders like Sio Moore.