Fili Moala Determined to Contribute

In an interview with Mike Chappell of the Indy Star, Fili Moala expressed dissatisfaction with sitting on the sidelines in 2009 and sounds determined to change that in the coming season.

“I’ve never sat on the bench in my life.  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.’”

Generally, a season-long dose of irritation for a man that is 6-foot 4-inches tall and weight 303 pounds can create a bit of a monster.  For Moala, it appears he used the experience last year to fuel his drive to make things happen in 2010.  A good sign for the development of the Colts defensive line.

“I expect a lot.  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.”

Fellow defensive lineman Daniel Muir has taken notice to his teammates development, “You never can tell the future, 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 attributes his inability to make an impact last season to, “growing pains.” “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.”

Coach Jim Caldwell and fellow player Muir have already taken notice.  Moala has the sound of a player determined to make a difference for the team this season.  Generally Bill Polian does not trade up to select a player if that player has not shown the kind of natural abilities that promise some NFL success.  It will be interesting to see if Moala can get back into the kind of groove that led Polian to make the decision to draft him in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.