Moss contributing any way he can for Denver
Rookie Riley Moss took advantage of the moment.
As a gunner for Denver’s punting unit against the Lions, Moss didn’t allow Kalif Raymond to gain a single yard, as the Broncos rookie cornerback bolted down the field before he wrapped up Detroit’s returner by the ankles for a tackle in the first quarter.
For Moss, it’s been a grind to get playing time. The Iowa product missed all of training camp with a core muscle injury. He was inactive for the first two games of the season, and when Moss has played, he’s been limited to special teams work ( 204 snaps) and minimal appearances on defense ( 13 snaps).
But he has impressed the team with his attitude to learn and take advantage of any opportunity given to him no matter how big or small.
“Whatever ( his) snaps on the field looks like, ( Moss) wants to be great at it,” starting safety Justin Simmons said.
Simmons recalled his rookie season in 2016 when he was playing behind safeties T. J. Ward and Darian Stewart. Simmons said he had his dime and nickel packages, but since he wasn’t a Day One starter, he had to prove himself, even if that meant contributing on special teams.
“There’s only so many X’s and O’s in special teams. It’s just going out there and winning your one- on- one matchup,” Simmons said. “I think that speaks a lot, and it’s a testament to those guys that do it on a consistent basis.”
Special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica believes Moss, a third- round selection last spring, has the natural ability to excel in the gunner role because of his quickness. Moss was a track star in high school, and at the NFL Scouting Combine he completed the 40- yard dash in 4.45 seconds.
“He can make somebody miss at the line of scrimmage,” Kotwica said. “With him and ( cornerback) Tremon ( Smith), they have helped us be an effective unit, especially the last couple of weeks.”
Moss has been a sponge and soaked in the advice given to him by Simmons, safety P. J. Locke and Smith.
“Riley came in with the right head on his shoulders and he’s willing to learn,” Simmons said. “They’re encouraging him like ‘ This is how you get snaps.’ He’s doing a really good job of taking it all in and executing when he has the opportunity to.”