Colts: What’s going on with Kenny Moore after performance vs Rams?

It’s really difficult to fathom all that’s gone wrong with the Indianapolis Colts in the early going of the 2021 season.

Injuries have been a killer, but an underperforming offensive line, front seven AND secondary? That’s not Colts football.

Even more concerning? The remaining “healthy” stars who many believed would carry the team and help squeeze out a couple of unlikely wins have disappeared.

Perhaps there’s an excuse for linebacker Darius Leonard, who seems to be playing on an injured ankle. Same with Quenton Nelson, who still clearly needs time to recover from foot surgery as he looks to get back to his usual self.

Do we have any answers for cornerback Kenny Moore, though? Xavier Rhodes missing the first two games of the year has been detrimental, but Moore, who’s previously been dubbed the “best slot corner in the NFL,” has been a target for opposing offenses.

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1437974467809009671?s=20

In Week 1, DK Metcalf scored a touchdown with Moore in coverage (though he had good positioning on the play). OK … we can let that slide, especially given how psychically imposing Metcalf can be.

But what about against the Rams? Cooper Kupp is LA’s go-to slot guy and he absolutely had a field day.

What’s going on with Colts cornerback Kenny Moore?

Right after the Colts took the improbable lead with an inspiring special teams play that resulted in a touchdown, the defense coughed it up after just FOUR plays, with Kupp finishing off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown.

On the day, Kupp had eight receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns, which was very much the difference in the 27-24 loss for Indy. Moore was no doubt responsible for a chunk of those yards given his overall performance to start the year.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Eric/status/1439770255056904194?s=20

The week prior, the Seahawks had their way with the Colts secondary, with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf combining for 160 yards on eight receptions of their own. Though safety Khari Willis was the chief culprit in that loss, Moore missed a bunch of tackles that led to extra yards (22 to be exact). He also allowed three catches on three passing attempts for 53 total yards (and that Metcalf TD).

Week 2 was a bit different because the Colts seemed to be more zone-heavy after learning their lesson against the Seahawks, but that didn’t mean the results were better. Moore got completely deked on a handoff and missed the opportunity to help blow up a play that saw Darrell Henderson run for 15 yards. Additionally, Kupp burned him with ease on a 3rd and 10 and fooled him two plays later in zone coverage late in the second quarter. That led to a field goal.

It’s important to note that being in zone coverage doesn’t absolve Moore from further blame. Defenders still have to make the right read when in such a scheme. THREE times Moore let Kupp go assuming he had safety help over the top and … he either didn’t or it wasn’t adequate enough. Two of those plays led to touchdowns. Was it the the safeties’ fault? Perhaps. We might not know. But the fact it happened that many times and cost the team in crucial situations is enough to question what’s going on here.

Maybe it’s not Moore’s fault at all. It could be time to start using him in more man-to-man looks because he’s too talented to be wasted in shallow zone coverage. Either way, this is yet another concern the Colts have to deal with at the moment, and it surely doesn’t make any of the fans’ concerns dissipate.

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