ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995 TAG: 9512060067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PONTIAC, MICH.
SOURCE: Associated Press
FORMER VIRGINIA STAR Herman Moore cements his position as one of the NFL's top wide receivers with a dominating Monday night game.
Conversations about the NFL's greatest receivers used to be little more than chats. There was Jerry Rice, and there was Michael Irvin. That was about it.
Not any more. Anyone who tuned in Detroit's past two games, both on national television, likely would agree Herman Moore must be added to the equation.
``If you talk about Rice and Irvin now, you're talking about Herman Moore,'' Lions coach Wayne Fontes said Tuesday. ``And right behind Herman is Brett Perriman.''
The numbers bear that out.
In the afterglow of Monday night's 27-7 thrashing of the Chicago Bears, Moore leads all NFL receivers in catches (101) and receiving yards (1,417). Irvin is second in both categories.
Detroit's Perriman is fourth in receptions with 91, one more than Rice. He is fifth in yardage, just behind Rice, with 1,176.
But because of his great size, strength and speed, Moore has caught the public's fancy. The former Virginia standout is 6-foot-3 and has high-jumped 7-3. Few defensive backs can compete with that type of athletic ability.
For years, the Lions' best player has been Barry Sanders, perhaps the niftiest running back in the NFL. But lately, Sanders has been overshadowed by Moore and a passing game that has Detroit's offense ranked No.1 in the league.
``You run out of things to say about our receivers,'' Fontes said. ``They're catching the ball. They're running well after the catch. They're blocking well. They're a great group.''
Moore set a club record with 14 catches for a career-high 183 yards against the Bears. In the process, he broke Pat Studstill's franchise record of 1,266 receiving yards that had stood since 1966. Moore has 1,417 yards with three games remaining in the regular season. The single-season record is 1,746 yards set in 1961 by Charlie Hennigan of the AFL's Houston Oilers.
Some of the credit for Moore's success goes to Scott Mitchell, who is becoming the quarterback Fontes felt he would when the Lions signed him as a free agent in 1994.
Some of the credit for Moore's success also has to go to Fontes. The coach takes a lot of flak from frustrated fans. But the Lions believe in him. Moore is no exception.
``Wayne played pro football,'' Moore said. ``He understands how difficult this game is to play.''
On the recommendation of his scouts, Fontes traveled to Virginia and worked out Moore personally in 1991. He came away so impressed he made Moore the Lions' top draft pick that spring.
As so often happens, however, the rookie found catching passes in the NFL tougher than catching passes in college.
``In his first game, he couldn't catch a cold,'' Fontes said. ``Somebody said we should check his eyes. I said we should check his hands.''
Indeed, the Lions did fit Moore with contact lenses. The improvement was almost immediate.
``I think he was just nervous,'' Fontes said. ``But we just kept throwing him the ball.''
That is the way Fontes does things. It is why he is considered a players' coach.
Moore needs three touchdown receptions to tie the team record of 15 by Cloyce Box in 1952. He needs 22 catches to break the NFL record of 122 set last season by Minnesota's Cris Carter.
During the off-season, Moore signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Lions through the 1999 season. But he doesn't rest on his bank account.
Moore worked with his wife, Angela, a former UVa track star, the past two summers. He credits those workouts with improving his speed, quickness and strength. He also feels the workouts have improved his durability.
``I just try to go out and do my best,'' Moore said. ``I know what I can do best as a receiver. I try to work within my abilities. I try not to get caught up in my stats.''
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Detroit wide receiver Herman Moore (left) set a teamby CNBrecord with 14 catches Monday night and leads the NFL with 101
catches and 1,417 yards receiving this season. color.