After Moore’s Big Night, Who’s Next?
By John Helsley
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Tracy Moore’s big breakout against Louisiana-Lafayette (seven catches, 112 yards, one touchdown) offered no surprise to those who have witnessed the junior receiver’s recent maturation.
“Nothing we didn’t know he could do,” said fellow wideout Justin Blackmon. “He’s done it in practice. He made plays his freshman year. It’s not a surprise to me. That’s just Tracy showing that he can play ball.”
And don’t be surprised if next time, it’s Josh Cooper or Mike Harrison or Hubert Anyiam or somebody else cashing in on the opportunities opposite Blackmon, who demands extra attention from defenses.
“(Moore) just had the opportunities,” said OSU offensive coordinator Todd Monken. “It’s a stat position, to where unless you get a bunch of stats, everybody thinks you didn’t play well.
“Coop played really well. Hubert Anyiam played well. All our guys on the perimeter played well, they just didn’t get the same opportunities.”
And that, Monken said, is fluid.
“So last week, it happened to be Tracy. This week it could be Coop, Hubert, somebody else,” Monken said. “You never know. The defense dictates where the ball goes, to a certain extent.
“He made the most of his opportunities. We didn’t have a drop all night, so everybody made the most of his opportunities. They just didn’t get as many. That’s the main thing.”
With so many capable options, it’s up to Monken and Brandon Weeden to keep everybody involved.
And happy.
“It’s a good problem to have, but it takes some managing,” Monken said. “A lot of guys would like to have the ball, would like to be involved in the offense. The defense dictates where you go with the ball.
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