Moore plans (touchdown) dance party

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This article was published 03/06/2015 (3773 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nick Moore says he has nothing to prove this CFL season. Fans of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might disagree.

The veteran slotback had an injury-plagued Bombers debut in 2014, missing nine of Winnipeg’s 18 games and not once finding the end zone for a team paying him big bucks to do exactly that.

It was not what the Bombers signed up for, to put it mildly, when they made Moore their big free-agent acquisition prior to the season, giving the 6-2 import a shiny new contract in February 2014 that placed him among the top-paid receivers in the league at $185,000 per season.

But what’s done is done. Flash forward to training camp this week and the club’s brain trust hopes the big gamble it made on Moore will finally pay off in 2015 — with a season the Bombers hope looks less like last year and a lot more like Moore’s breakout season for the B.C. Lions in 2013, when he finished third in CFL receiving yards (1,105) with six touchdowns on 73 catches.

Moore insisted Tuesday a string of injuries that sidelined him for half the season in 2014 were an anomaly and he has no doubt — and neither should anyone else — he can replicate the big numbers he put up in Vancouver.

“If the people think I have something to prove, then that’s on them, I guess,” said Moore.

“But I know my game, I know what I can do… I think when I’m out there playing, I’ve shown what I can do. And injuries — you can’t help that. And when you’re not in the game, you can’t really be productive.”

To Moore’s credit, he did put up big yards for Winnipeg in the half-season he did play.

His 553 yards in nine games was the same per-game average he accumulated with B.C. in 2013, only with much fewer games and no touchdowns.

What’s more — and perhaps most importantly — the Bombers were a winning team with Moore in the lineup. Winnipeg went 6-3 last season in the games in which Moore played, but just 1-8 in the ones in which he was sidelined.

His teammates noticed.

“When he was out there, I think our record was pretty good,” observed Bombers quarterback Drew Willy. “Obviously, you can tell how important he is to us. He played that (inside slot) very well for us and he’s made some big plays for us so far in camp.

“I know when he’s out there, he’s one of the best receivers in the league for sure.”

Teammate Clarence Denmark recorded his first 1,000-yard season in 2014, and credited the arrival of Moore with helping make him a better receiver.

“Nick is just a guy that helps out a lot and I think our relationship has gotten pretty close. I played his position a lot last season and I went to him a lot for advice and he helped me a lot,” Denmark said.

“But I think we’re both better when we’re both on the field.

‘If the people think I have something to prove, then that’s on them, I guess. But I know my game, I know what I can do… I think when I’m out there playing, I’ve shown what I can do. And injuries — you can’t help that. And when you’re not in the game, you can’t really be productive’

— Nick Moore

“It’s a double threat out there and they can’t key on just one guy.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said he sees the offensive threat he has in Moore and doesn’t think the four-year CFL veteran needs to prove anything to him or the Bombers.

“We know what Nick is — he’s one of the best receivers in the CFL,” said O’Shea.

“I’m not worried about Nick Moore. In my mind, I know what he is…. I think he was third in the league (last season) in yards receiving, average yards per game.”

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It’s touchdowns, however, that get recorded on the scoreboard and Moore made clear Tuesday getting his first one in Blue and Gold is his highest priority.

“It’s going to be great. There’s going to be a lot of dancing going on,” Moore said with a laugh.

And how long will Blue Bombers fans have to wait to finally see Moore’s touchdown dance?

“First game. Yep,” he predicted.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @PaulWiecek