Oakland Raiders: Sio Moore Will Have a Lot to Prove with Bold Statement

Sep 29, 2012; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies linebacker Sio Moore (3) during the first half of a game against the Buffalo Bulls at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders are clearly in a rebuilding phase, and that is perhaps the biggest reason why the 2013 NFL Draft means so much to them.

This year’s draft has provided the Raiders with a plethora of opportunities to rebuild their current roster and to improve the ever-so-many holes that the team drags along with them.

Well, if you want to draft somebody to make a difference on your football team, make sure you draft somebody who is ready to do so, and somebody who has their mentality set on success. That is exactly what the Raiders found in the third round in outside linebacker Sio Moore.

Moore, the six-foot, 245-pound beast out of the University of Connecticut, is more than ready for the opportunity that the Raiders have provided with him.

Don’t believe me? Well, here’s what Moore had to say about the entire draft process.

"The thing with me is I was a guy that was overlooked and you know, I had to work my tail off each and every way in everything that I have to this day. Everything I do, I do with juice. I was glad [the Raiders] picked me up because I know that was the right fit. They know me and they didn’t need to do the interview process and all those things. Like I said from the beginning of this whole draft process, there’s going to be one team that’s going to fall in love and make the right pick and there’s going to be 31 other teams that are going to be pissed off. The Oakland Raiders got the best linebacker in the draft, I don’t care who went before."

Incredibly bold words from a third-round draft pick. Best linebacker in the draft? Well, Moore will have a lot to prove to the league and the Oakland Raiders during this upcoming season if he wants to back up his courageous words.

But that’s the perfect scenario for the Raiders. Bringing in a young guy who has a lot to prove to the NFL and the teams that passed up on him?

To me, that sounds like a guy who is going to come in and absolutely play his heart out and work for every chance he can get to receive playing time on the field.

Moore is a linebacker who covers a lot of ground very quickly for his size, and has the body frame and strength to take down players of any position. Stuffing backs behind the line of scrimmage will be nothing new for him, and he should be able to bring some excellent pass rush to Oakland.

All in all, with Moore looking to prove his doubters wrong, he will have the perfect opportunity to do so in Oakland. The Raiders need a big playmaker to help bolster their roster for years to come and Moore is looking to do just that.

Like most cases though, only time will tell, but I have a good feeling about this draft pick. It’s always good to see a young guy come into the league ready to play.