It was clear which Indianapolis Colts had the biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball not only when they were on the field but also when they were injured. When the defense seems to crumble as certain players are unavailable, it quickly becomes obvious who some of the impact players are.
Cornerback Kenny Moore falls into that category. When he’s on the field, the bump he gives to the defense is noticeable. The talent around him seems to elevate and the production goes with it. But when he’s not on the field it is painfully obvious.
That’s one of the reasons Chris Ballard feels the collapse of the Colts defense during the final weeks of the season should be viewed with a grain of salt.
“I don’t want to underestimate the loss of Kenny Moore. I think you all know my thoughts on Kenny Moore,” Ballard said at his year-end presser. “I think he’s the best nickel in the league, for what he does. I think time will prove me right on that. I think he’s a real special player. We had a major drop off when we lost Kenny.”
Moore didn’t necessarily light up the stat sheet in 2019, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a weekly menace for opposing quarterbacks. He did grab two interceptions and recorded 2.5 sacks from the slot, but his play is noticeable when he’s not even getting targeted during games.
The Colts defense relies heavily on the pass rush getting home and while there was improvement in that area, there were also plenty of inconsistencies in 2019. That makes life hard for a cornerback. But Moore still made the most of it by clamping down on his receiver.
Whether he’s sitting in a zone or pressing his man off the line of scrimmage, Moore had a strong impact on the Colts defense for the second year in a row.
Missing the final four games of the season, Moore’s presence (or lack thereof) was certainly felt when he wasn’t able to get on the field.
It’s one of the biggest reasons why Ballard feels the third-year cornerback is the best at his position.