Year: Junior Height: 6’6 Weight: 250 40 Time: 4.70 Stats: NCAA
BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07) – Rank: 23rd Mock Median: 21.0 (4 mocks) Lo: 17 Hi: 33 Most Frequent: 21 (Denver, 3 mocks)
BSMW SUMMARY (as of 3/19/07)
When the Patriots signed premier free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas, I automatically assumed Thomas would fill the edge spot first vacated by Willie McGinest, then Tully Banta Cain. That could still be the case, but Thomas’s versatility could be a factor as to why the Patriots have spent so much time this spring looking at players that match the prototype for a pass rushing 3-4 linebacker. Anthony Spencer of Purdue and Lawrence Timmons of Florida State are two such players the Patriots been eying, and Moss is a third. The profiles say Moss is a Kearse-like speedster that can be a pass-rushing threat due to his explosiveness and pass rush moves on the edge. But unless I’m reading this wrong, Moss doesn’t appear to be a well-balanced player that would also be a factor against the run. Appears to have thrived due to athletic ability more so than position skills. The profiles claim his size and lack of bulk will hold him back from contributing as anything other than a pass rush specialist, at least in the early stages of his career. If we can rely on the profiles at all, we can surmise that Moss would move to linebacker with the Patriots. If so, he’ll have to overcome inexperience (started only 13 of 26 college games), some health questions (missed a good bit of his early career as the result of a staph infection) and some character blips (was suspended last year for violating team rules). Still, the promise of an impact pass rusher has placed Moss squarely in the first round; the mock consensus is that he’s a good bet to go in the top 20. You have to wonder if the Pats interest in Moss may have cooled; after meeting with him at the Combine, there are no reports that team worked him out when they visited teammates Reggie Nelson, Marcus Thomas and Earl Everett earlier this month.
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John Murphy of Yahoo Sports rates Moss fifth among this year’s defensive ends
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