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RD 3, Pick 86: RB Zach Moss, University of Utah


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I was a bit concerned about his injury history (knee) - but he came back from that with a vengeance garnering 3rd team AP All American honors. I think the Bills have likely looked into the inury and feel comfortable. Without that injury concern, this is guy is a borderline first round talent!! I thought he may come out last year itself - but he had to defer because of the injury.

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2 minutes ago, Mickey said:

guy is like a bowling ball fired from a cannon, his jersey should have a warning sign: "tackle at your own risk"

Weird analogy.  Wouldn't a...you know...cannonball fired from a cannon be more effective?

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Good down hill runner, just enough shake and bake to make you miss. 
 

I do wish we had some more speed in the backfield. Don’t love having 2 mid 4.6 guys as your 1,2,

Edited by Mango
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Per Dane Brugrler (The Athletic)

 

STRENGTHS: Elite run balance to squirm out of tackle attempts, keeping his feet through contact…punishing finisher…doesn’t admit defeat as a runner and bursts into contact, delivering a little extra into defenders and bouncing off hits like they’re an evening breeze…built with a solid core and powerful hips…agile runner with lateral cut-and-go skills to keep defenders off balance…allows blocks to develop and quickly clears holes…patient, but decisive as an upfield decision-maker, sensing defenders around him…admirable run toughness, using a strong stiff arm…competitive in pass protection, squaring up and slowing rushers…productive when targeted as a pass catcher…put several explosive plays on his film (accounted for 16 plays of 25+ yards in 2019)…plays through pain and wasn’t healthy for most of his junior (ankle) and senior (shoulder) seasons…productive career, becoming the first player with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. 
 
WEAKNESSES: Only average start/stop acceleration…can be caught from behind and won’t erase pursuit angles…needs to keep a consistent weight, bouncing between 205 and 220 pounds while at Utah…durability is a red flag – missed the final five games as a junior after he aggravated a pre-existing issue and his knee “locked up” while getting into bed (November 2018); played through a right ankle injury for much of his junior season (September 2018); diagnosed with a grade two AC sprain in his left shoulder, missing one game (September 2019), but requiring injections down the stretch to finish the season. 
 
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Utah, Moss lined up primarily in the shotgun in one-back sets for the Utes, producing in both gap and zone looks. He leaves Utah with the school records for career rushing yards (4,067), career rushing touchdowns (38) and 100-yard rushing games (19). Moss displays instinctive run qualities and forces missed tackles with his striking combination of body control, nimble feet and finishing mentality. With the way he attacks contact and plays through pain, there is no questioning his toughness, but his injury history makes durability a strong concern. Overall, Moss’ contact balance, smooth cutting skills and competitive play personality allow him to consistently create yardage, projecting as an NFL starter with every-down potential if the medicals stay clean. 
 
GRADE: 3rd Round

 

 

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2 minutes ago, Dont Stop Billeiving said:

Yeah stood out to me as well. Major flashbacks to Gilmore which still irks me...IDK hopefully just bad timing with the camera and most people love Buffalo once they get there! 

 

 

When they cut to him he already had the Bills hat on.  They already knew.  

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3 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

I like Moss as a player, but come on man don’t be an ungrateful person. Buffalo isn’t perfect but show some excitement. 

I guess when you are located in Cali, the idea of coming to buffalo isn’t all that exciting...but he will see

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Needed this....as we see.,..EVERY year someone would go down in either RB or WR and we would be left signing guys off the street or PS guys you had but did you really WANT TO HAVE TO start them vs top opponents??happened for years now even when we had Shady.....now at least you have a shot to have at least 1 HEALTHY GOOD RB aka a non PS or street FA healthy...

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Third on the team in receptions last year.

 

16 plays of 25 yards or more!

 

Pac-12 offensive player of the year!

 

A north-south runner with catching and big play ability.

 

Frank Gore jr, or as my autocorrect called him: Thor Fire jr.

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Per Matt Waldman:

 

5. Zack Moss, Utah (5-9, 223)  
 
Depth of Talent Score: 83.9 = Rotational Starter: Executes at a starter level in a role playing to their strengths. 
 
There are better backs above Moss on this list and there are backs that could easily have better careers listed below him. Regardless of talent, we all have our personal favorites. Moss is one of mine because I like smart, physical running backs.  


If there’s a player who can challenge Jonathan Taylor as the most physically imposing runner in this class, Moss is on the short list and is the most compelling. Moss’s game is a mix of Travis Henry and Ricky Williams. 

 

Like Chris Carson, Derrick Henry, Leonard Fournette, and Ezekiel Elliott, Moss is the type of back who, with enough work, will transform opposing cornerbacks and safeties into artful dodgers at the end of games. Moss brings it hard on every play and it’s why by the fourth quarter defensive backs hope they can tackle a power back like Moss without completely selling out their bodies to do so and that leads to long runs.   


We forget that football is a contest of will and, as wellconditioned as these athletes are, when one team imposes its will on another, even the top percentile of athletes will physically or emotionally quit. They don’t usually admit it until their careers are over but it happens weekly.  


Moss has this kind of will-breaking physicality. His stiff arm has the weight to drop linebackers to the turf, ward off reaches to his frame, or deflect glancing shots that set up his spin. He breaks multiple tackles during carries, including low and high hits and wraps.  


Because Moss has flexibility as an athlete, he has the pad level to hammer down low hits and float over the top or to work underneath contact and extend. He’s a short yardage hammer who knows he’s a hammer. When Moss doesn’t hit a crease hard, there’s logic behind the decision and space to make the decision a successful one.  

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1 minute ago, Big Blitz said:

 

 

When they cut to him he already had the Bills hat on.  They already knew.  

Hope that was it. They all kinda looked shocked and bummed out...FLorida guy who lives in Cali. Was probably hoping for warm weather and not the Buff. He did weather Utah, so maybe it isn't so big a thing...

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