The addition of Buffalo Bills unrestricted free agent linebacker Arthur Moats by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday now gives them a player with great position flexibility.
Moats is a compact player out of James Madison that initially projected to be an outside linebacker in the NFL. During his career with the Bills, however, Moats bounced around outside and inside and generally played on the strong-side of their defensive formation.
One of Moats best qualities is his tackling ability. According to Pro Football Focus, Moats did not miss a tackle in 2013 in the 177 run snaps that he was on the field for. In addition, he also recorded 14 run stops.
In his four years at James Madison, Moats recorded 29 quarterback sacks with 22.5 of those coming in his final two years there as a defensive end.
While we will have to wait a while until we see where Moats will line up at in training camp, Moats’ ability to play both inside and outside should make him a valuable pickup for the Steelers. In addition, Moats should add value on special teams if he makes the final 53 man roster.
