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Buffalo Bills: Breaking down top plays of Zack Moss

By Matthew Hodowany

PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 6: Zack Moss #2 the Utah Utes is tackled by Bobby Okereke #20 of the Stanford Cardinal during an NCAA Pac-12 college football game on October 6, 2018 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 6: Zack Moss #2 the Utah Utes is tackled by Bobby Okereke #20 of the Stanford Cardinal during an NCAA Pac-12 college football game on October 6, 2018 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT- OCTOBER 20: Zack Moss #2 of the Utah Utes rushes against the USC Trojans during their game at Rice Eccles Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Salt Lake City , Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT- OCTOBER 20: Zack Moss #2 of the Utah Utes rushes against the USC Trojans during their game at Rice Eccles Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Salt Lake City , Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

Still has some shake

Though Moss has built a reputation as a physical back, he is still one that is extremely agile as shown in the play below during a blowout game against the University of California.

On a 2nd and 1 from the nine-yard line, Moss dips and darts around the Cal defense en route to a multi-touchdown game. After he collects the ball from quarterback Tyler Huntley, the Cal weakside linebacker comes down to the hole to meet Moss. Once Moss sees him, he drives his left foot into the turf, pushing his momentum back on his right, dodging him completely.

Once he has a few yards to build up speed, he is again met by more defensive players. This time, his leg is taken out during the play, sending him spinning towards the end zone. He is able to keep his head up, zeroing in on the end zone and stumbles his way in. This, all while keeping a firm grip on the ball as he extends it across the goal line to pad Utah’s lead late in the fourth quarter. Moss would go on to rack up a total of 115 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

This ability to make three-to-four players miss while falling into the end zone likely won’t resurface at the NFL level as defensive players are at a heightened level when it comes to tackling. That being said, it doesn’t mean that Moss still won’t be able to make defenders miss just like Marshawn Lynch has done in his career.

When thinking about how this trait could benefit the Buffalo Bills, immediately I think of short-yardage situations. Buffalo already has Devin Singletary, a back that is going to be more of a first and second-down back when you need yardage early in a series, but Moss will be able to dominate third downs as he stumbles his way through defensive fronts no route to a first down.

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