#77 - 3rd Round - Philadelphia, Ryan Moats, RB, Louisiana Tech

[Hostile]

From Kansas City

Eagles select...Ryan Moats, TB, Louisiana Tech

[Shotgun Dave]

We'll be seeing Ryan Moats in Dallas!

At least once every year anyway!

Dammit!

[InmanRoshi]

God, why couldn't they have traded for Henry? Just what Philly needs, two RB's who are a threat to take it to the house every time they touch the ball.

[Juke99]

Ryan Moats, TB, Louisiana Tech
Height: 5:08.2 Weight: 210

Overview: Moats is a jitterbug type of runner with excellent quickness through the rush lanes. The Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year comes from a football family, as brothers Jason (Harding University), Edward (Texas Tech) and Brandon (Texas A&M, Commerce) all suited up and were on the football field last year. Moats was a three-time letter winner at Bishop Lynch High School, helping to lead the team to the district title in 2001. He was named the Dave Campbell Texas Private School 2001 Player of the Year. Moats added first-team All-State (private school) honors and received the Dominic Award for demonstrating leadership abilities. He ran for 2,646 yards, 33 touchdowns and 9.2 yards per carry as a senior. Moats closed out his career as Bishop Lynch's all-time leading rusher with 4,782 yards and 56 touchdowns. He also ran track. Moats appeared in every game for Louisiana Tech as a true freshman in 2002. He appeared mostly on special teams, returning a blocked punt four yards and four kickoffs for 75 yards. In limited carries on offense, he totaled 38 yards on 12 runs and caught six passes for 74 yards while serving as caddy for All-WAC tailback Joe Smith. With Smith having graduated, Moats took over the starting job in 2003 and responded with 1,364 yards and ten touchdowns on 199 carries (6.5 avg). His 1,364 yards rank third on the school's season-record list. He also snatched 27 passes for 251 yards (9.3 avg) and a score to earn All-WAC first-team honors. The WAC Player of the Year had a banner season in 2004. He led the conference and ranked seventh in the nation in rushing, despite missing all but three plays of the Auburn contest with a right ankle sprain. Moats set school season-records with 288 carries for 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns, topping the previous marks of 281 attempts by Derrick Douglas (1989), 1,351 yards by Jason Davis (1991) and 17 scores by Arry Moody (1976). His 1,890 all-purpose yards set another Tech record, as he added 116 yards and a score on 15 catches. In 34 games with the Bulldogs, Moats started 22 times. He finished with 499 carries for 3,176 yards (6.4 avg) and 28 touchdowns. His 499 runs rank seventh on the school's all-time record list. Only Jason Cooper (3,342 yards, 1991-94) gained more yards rushing in a career at Tech. His 28 scoring runs are surpassed only by Moody (36) and Charles McDaniel (52, 1971-74). He also caught 48 passes for 441 yards (9.2 avg) and two scores, adding four yards on a blocked punt and 75 yards on four kickoff returns. Moats totaled 3,696 all-purpose yards as a Bulldog.

Analysis: Positives... Has a stout build, with broad shoulders, thick thighs and smooth skin. ... Shows suddenness coming out of his stance. ... Has a quick initial burst and suddenness to gain advantage. ... Accelerates through the holes, doing a nice job of keeping his feet while working through traffic. ... Picks and slides with ease in the hole, displaying a proper feel for the cutback. ... Doesn't create much on his own, but makes good adjustments on the move. ... Has the speed to reach the corner and the acceleration to go the distance with the ball. ... Picks his feet up through the trash and has the speed to elude once he gets into the secondary. ... Adequate pass catcher who is used mostly on flares, flats and seams. ... Has a good work ethic in the weight room. ... Even though he is undersized, he has enough leg drive to break tackles and shows fluid lateral agility to elude once he gets into the open. ... His excellent short burst will usually see the initial tackler miss. ... Has very good success turning the corner, showing the second gear to easily elude linebackers and safeties.

Negatives... Not an inside power runner, but compensates with his ability to pick and slide through the trash. ... Not a vocal leader, but lets his actions talk for him (good team player). ... Needs to do a better job squaring up, mirroring and exploding into defenders. ... Has decent hands, but struggles maintaining concentration going for the pass (hears defenders' footsteps). ... Can extend and pluck the ball at its high point, but prefers to cradle and double catch, resulting in easy drops. ... Runs with the ball too low and exposed, which has resulted in a very high amount of fumbles (16) and turnovers (8) in the last two years.

Agility tests: COMBINE: 4.49 in the 40-yard dash...2.63 20-yard dash...1.59 10-yard dash...4.10 20-yard shuttle...11.13 60-yard shuttle...7.22 three-cone drill...36-inch vertical jump...9'9" broad jump...Bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times...31 -inch arm length...8 7/8-inch hands...18 Wonderlic score.

High school: Attended Bishop Lynch (Dallas, Tex.) High School, playing football for coach Gary Oliver... Three-time letter winner, helping to lead the team to the district title in 2001...Named the Dave Campbell Texas Private School 2001 Player of the Year...Added first-team All-State (private school) honors and received the Dominic Award for demonstrating leadership abilities...Ran for 2,646 yards, 33 touchdowns and 9.2 yards per carry as a senior...Closed out his career as Bishop Lynch's all-time leading rusher with 4,782 yards and 56 touchdowns...Also ran track.

Personal: Basic and Career Studies major...Son of Rolinda Moats and Richard Jones...Has three brothers that play college football...Jason plays for Harding University, Edward plays for Texas Tech and Brandon plays for Texas A&M Commerce...Born 12/17/82 in Dallas, Texas.

Information provided by NFLDraftscout.com, powered by The Sports Xchange

[jterrell]

dangit!
he was the perfect 3rd down guy for us
he has to hate philly too. what a big suck.

[Shotgun Dave]

Philly has had an OUTSTANDING draft, my Cowboy fan friends. Patterson, Reggie Brown and Ryan Moats were all EXCELLENT value.

The rich get richer.

[Qwickdraw]

oh man, I wanted Moats.