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Flying under the Radar: NYG No. 91/Avery Moss

by Michael J. Basile @MdoubleJB

The 2018 Giants will already look drastically different from last year’s version.  A new GM, head coach, and revamped offensive line took the off-season headlines, but the defense will also be something we haven’t seen before.  New Coordinator James Bettcher will try to bring the success he had in Arizona and implement a new 3-4 attacking philosophy.  Of course, there’s the obvious talent like cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Landon Collins, D-end Olivier Vernon, and newly acquired linebacker Alec Ogletree, to name a few.  Someone to keep an eye on, however, is Avery Moss, as last year’s 5th round selection out of Youngstown State could be a contributor that nobody seems to be talking about.

A brief background on him: He went to high school in Arizona and was recruited by Nebraska to play football and basketball.  He played well in his sophomore season before an off-the-field incident led to his dismissal from the program.  He got a second chance at Youngstown State and played for 2 seasons before entering the NFL Draft.

During his time at YSU he played in 25 games(84 total tackles| 4 sacks |22 TFLs)  Between YSU and Nebraska he played in 40 games…had 124 total tackles and 19 sacks.

Character Issues:

NFL scouts had to make a decision on whether or not the ‘character’ of Moss was an issue, according to his draft report. Taking this into consideration, along with his weaknesses against the run, he was a 5th round pick.  His upside stems from his athleticism and pass rushing skills, which seems to be exactly what Bettcher likes.   The Giants can potentially find themselves with speed all over their new-look front seven.

With opposing offenses focusing heavily on Vernon, Snacks and Ogletree, Moss could see a lot of 1-on-1 matchups.  Look for this to materialize throughout the course of the season.  Moss could break out as a pass rushing specialist for Big Blue this season.