New York Giants’ Damontre Moore Must Deliver

Damontre Moore is one of those rare kind of athletes that has humble beginnings and huge aspirations. The New York Giants’ defensive end made it into the NFL but so far, is on the bubble to remain a promising piece of the puzzle for years to come. Whether many believe it’s the lack of commitment from the organization or his defensive abilities, the general consensus is he needs to make the most of all opportunities coming his way now if he’s to stick around after this season.

Earlier this week on Monday Night Football, Moore actually was given many more reps to try and help keep quarterback Andrew Luck at bay. He got a season-high 25 snaps on the Giants’ defensive line and actually had a decent game despite the loss. He recorded five tackles and a quarterback hurry which he should hopefully continue to build upon as the season progresses.

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Growing up in Dallas, Texas wasn’t easy for Moore since he had a rough childhood. His mother, Detra Johnson, was one of the big reasons why he chose the path of playing professional football to get him out of trouble and focus on making a career out of it.

She made it her mission to keep him off the streets and not only play football but academically be able to pursue a career outside of it if necessary. It was around this time that Moore knew this was his calling and to give it everything he had to be in the NFL.

Once Moore was able to understand why his mom kept pushing him towards studying and playing football, it finally clicked in him that this was the best path to go towards success. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with but even as a college football player, he’s always been use to riding the bench. Regardless, he always maintained an upbeat mentality that his time will eventually come if he kept working towards it.

Sep 25, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball as New York Giants defensive end Damontre Moore (98) defends in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

His mom worked endlessly to make sure she had the monetary funds to pay for his football equipment, books and school supplies. She even got a second job to make sure they made ends meat ensuring Moore had everything he needed to succeed. Considering he always thinks about this on a daily basis, it must continue to light a fire under him to  keep making an impact for the Giants whenever he’s on the field.

In his mid-season conference report to the media, general manager Jerry Reese even showed his support for Moore. He made it clear that the coaching staff absolutely needed to put him in a position to succeed by having him on the field more than off it. It’s refreshing that since that report, the Giants listened and gave him more playing time this past week.

At 22 years old, he has the mind of a ten year veteran since he knows what is at stake with the increased playing time coming up ahead. Sure, the Giants lost three straight games but they still have a shot to make some noise in the NFC East if everyone delivers. Moore could be a difference-maker on defense the team needs if they plan to make a turnaround this year.

Hopefully he understands how serious everything is since so far in his tenure on the Giants, he’s been somewhat inconsistent. In his rookie year he showed a ton of potential since he had very nice speed and excelled in pass-rushing defensive schemes. Over time however, he started to miss a step and not stick to his assignments which initially caused him to be benched.

Sep 21, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end Damontre Moore (98) blocks a punt by Houston Texans punter Shane Lechler (9) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Combine that with the fact that he was dealing with a shoulder injury that limited his playing time, Moore has just eight games left in the season to make sure he’s part of the Giants plans for next year and beyond.

If he wants to really make a name for himself, he must play like there is no tomorrow since his tenure on the Giants most likely depends on what he does from here on out.

Overall, his journey into the league sure has been an interesting one but the next chapter of his career is in his own hands. With injuries, lack of playing time and the fact that many are writing him off to be a true starter, Moore has to deliver more so than ever before. He can do it though as long as he remembers why he’s here in the first place.