News
Colts DT Moala Ready to Contribute
06 Jun 10
Fili Moala has had ample time to reflect on his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts.
He also had ample time during that rookie season.
The team’s 2009 second-round draft pick, a defensive tackle out of USC, was inactive for the first five games of the regular season and for the three-game postseason run. His first-year contributions: 17 tackles.
Rather than fulfilling the expectations of being the 56th overall pick in the draft and developing into an integral component in the defensive line rotation, too often he was little more than a frustrated spectator.
The idle time ate at Moala, whose lack of progress during practice kept him from doing anything about it.
“I’ve never sat on the bench in my life,’’ he said recently. “I don’t like being a spectator. I can’t speak for anyone else, but that does not sit well with me.
“I’ve never been that kind of guy. I’ve always felt like I had to carry my weight. I felt like a bum sitting on the sideline. It was not playing as well and kind of doubting yourself in terms of looking yourself in the mirror and thinking, ‘Man, this is not me.’ ”
So Moala’s sole objective as he enters his second season is to be more like the player who started his final 33 games at USC.
Being a virtual non-factor in ’09, he said, “lit a fire in my stomach. I don’t want to go through that again.”
It appears the Colts aren’t expecting a repeat performance. They resisted the urge to reinforce the defensive tackle spot with a high pick in the April draft. Instead of adding another young body to compete for playing time with returning starters Dan Muir and Antonio Johnson, they apparently are counting on Moala experiencing a significant jump in his second season.
“We really anticipate he’s going to be one of those guys that comes forward and is really going to be able to give us some help,” coach Jim Caldwell said.
Caldwell attributed Moala’s initial struggles to learning “how we do things from a technical standpoint, just in fundamentals and techniques, playing with leverage,” he said.
Often, the 6-4 Moala had trouble bending his knees and playing “low.”
“We just have to get him down … and use what God has given him in terms of his ability,” Caldwell said.
Muir has noticed a change in Moala during offseason work.
“You never can tell the future,” Muir said, “but one thing about Fili Moala is he works hard. He’s getting better every day. I think you definitely will see a huge change in him.”
Moala has been working alongside Muir in the starting lineup during the ongoing minicamp while Johnson has been held out of drills for unspecified injury-related issues.
Moala’s goal is to remain relevant when it matters.
“I expect a lot,” Moala said. “I expect to play a lot. I expect to make a lot of plays. I expect to go back to being myself and just being productive and feeling comfortable out there, feeling like and looking like my old self.”
The biggest impediment to his progress as a rookie was the overall transition from college to the pros.
“Two words: growing pains,” Moala said. “I’m not really sure why, but maybe it was the transition, coming to a new 8system, learning how to be a professional.”
There were flashes when he felt comfortable, “but for one reason or another I just couldn’t get into a groove,” Moala said. “But that’s last year. It’s over with. It’s a whole new year and I look forward to moving forward.
“No more excuses. I just have to get it done.”
“You never can tell the future,” Muir said, “but one thing about Fili Moala is he works hard. He’s getting better every day. I think you definitely will see a huge change in him.”
Moala has been working alongside Muir in the starting lineup during the ongoing minicamp while Johnson has been held out of drills for unspecified injury-related issues.
Moala’s goal is to remain relevant when it matters.
“I expect a lot,” Moala said. “I expect to play a lot. I expect to make a lot of plays. I expect to go back to being myself and just being productive and feeling comfortable out there, feeling like and looking like my old self.”
The biggest impediment to his progress as a rookie was the overall transition from college to the pros.
“Two words: growing pains,” Moala said. “I’m not really sure why, but maybe it was the transition, coming to a new 8system, learning how to be a professional.”
There were flashes when he felt comfortable, “but for one reason or another I just couldn’t get into a groove,” Moala said. “But that’s last year. It’s over with. It’s a whole new year and I look forward to moving forward.
“No more excuses. I just have to get it done.”
