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Pack football: Moch uses 'freakish talent' to reach opponents' offenses (with video)
By Chris Murray • [email protected] • August 8, 2010
NFL scouts didn't believe their stopwatches.
They were the ones who timed the run. They were the ones who saw it happen right in front of their faces. But they didn't believe it.
Nevada's Dontay Moch had just run a 4.18-second 40-yard dash. That time would be among the fastest ever recorded. In disbelief, they made him run again.
He clocked a 4.08 in his second try. That time is almost inhuman. So, they made him run again.
On his third and final try, he covered the 40 yards in 4.2 seconds. Maybe he was a little tired, but even that time is run by only the most nimble wide receivers and cornerbacks.
Imagine a 6-foot-1, 245-pound defensive end like Moch running it. Unthinkable.
"He has freakish talent," Wolf Pack defensive coordinator Andy Buh said. "Freakish talent. That would be my two words for Dontay Moch. When he puts his mind to it, he's unstoppable."
Moch smiles when asked about that junior pro day this summer when he awed the NFL scouts with his speed.
"They made me keep running it because the first two numbers were ridiculous to them," Moch said.
Also ridiculous has been Moch's productivity in his first three seasons at Nevada.
The former Arizona high school state champion in the 200-meter dash has become a defensive menace with the Wolf Pack.
He's set single-season school records in sacks (9.5 in 2008) and tackles for loss (20.5 in 2009) and needs only 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to set WAC career records.
"I think Dontay Moch is a special player," Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault said. "He's one of those guys who can be a difference-maker and has to be. That's the expectation of him."
Other stars in awe
Ask any of the WAC's top players about Moch and one thing comes to mind: speed.
Boise State's All-WAC safety, Jeron Johnson, was a little dubious when told of Moch's sub-4.2 40-yard dash time. But he did admit one thing.
"He looks fast," Johnson said. "He looks really fast out there. I can imagine it's a nightmare for our lineman to try and block him."
Those nightmares only come if the opposition's best lineman can get any sleep the night before facing Moch.
(2 of 3)
Louisiana Tech tackle Rob McGill has gone against Moch three times with limited success (Moch has two sacks in three games against the Bulldogs).
"I'll tell you this, I don't like going against him," said McGill, an All-WAC honoree last year. "He's a very good ballplayer. He's obviously a very quick player. He likes to get off the ball very fast. He likes to get on the edge and really plays well in space. He's one of those guys where he can sometimes blow right by you off the ball."
And the distressing thing for offensive linemen is that Moch, the reigning WAC defensive player of the year, is now tapping his potential.
He came to Nevada as a safety before shifting to linebacker and eventually to defensive end. He's still learning the nuances of the position and drilling in technical aspects that will make him a better player.
"He's reached maybe 60 percent of his talent," Buh said. "That's what we're trying to get across to him. How can you tell a guy who's the WAC player of the year that he's only tapped into 60 percent of his talent? But he's seeing that."
One of the best
Ault said that among all Wolf Pack defensive ends, only Charles Mann -- who went on to play 12 years in the NFL and make four Pro Bowls -- had as much talent as Moch.
The next step in Moch's development, Ault said, is to get stronger against the run. He's likely to face a few more double-teams this season after fellow Pack defensive end Kevin Basped left for the NFL after his junior season.
Moch said he's confident he'll improve against the run and be able to break through whatever double-teams he faces.
The 22-year-old last month was named the WAC's preseason defensive player of the year. Instead of resting on that laurel, he's using it as motivation.
"That puts a lot more flame underneath me," Moch said. "It makes me work harder. It makes me want to strive and show that they were right for picking me for that title."
Wolf Pack defensive ends coach Ken Wilson said Moch's work ethic has remained strong despite the accolades. Wilson said it's his job to make sure that doesn't change.
By Chris Murray • [email protected] • August 8, 2010
NFL scouts didn't believe their stopwatches.
They were the ones who timed the run. They were the ones who saw it happen right in front of their faces. But they didn't believe it.
Nevada's Dontay Moch had just run a 4.18-second 40-yard dash. That time would be among the fastest ever recorded. In disbelief, they made him run again.
He clocked a 4.08 in his second try. That time is almost inhuman. So, they made him run again.
On his third and final try, he covered the 40 yards in 4.2 seconds. Maybe he was a little tired, but even that time is run by only the most nimble wide receivers and cornerbacks.
Imagine a 6-foot-1, 245-pound defensive end like Moch running it. Unthinkable.
"He has freakish talent," Wolf Pack defensive coordinator Andy Buh said. "Freakish talent. That would be my two words for Dontay Moch. When he puts his mind to it, he's unstoppable."
Moch smiles when asked about that junior pro day this summer when he awed the NFL scouts with his speed.
"They made me keep running it because the first two numbers were ridiculous to them," Moch said.
Also ridiculous has been Moch's productivity in his first three seasons at Nevada.
The former Arizona high school state champion in the 200-meter dash has become a defensive menace with the Wolf Pack.
He's set single-season school records in sacks (9.5 in 2008) and tackles for loss (20.5 in 2009) and needs only 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to set WAC career records.
"I think Dontay Moch is a special player," Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault said. "He's one of those guys who can be a difference-maker and has to be. That's the expectation of him."
Other stars in awe
Ask any of the WAC's top players about Moch and one thing comes to mind: speed.
Boise State's All-WAC safety, Jeron Johnson, was a little dubious when told of Moch's sub-4.2 40-yard dash time. But he did admit one thing.
"He looks fast," Johnson said. "He looks really fast out there. I can imagine it's a nightmare for our lineman to try and block him."
Those nightmares only come if the opposition's best lineman can get any sleep the night before facing Moch.
(2 of 3)
Louisiana Tech tackle Rob McGill has gone against Moch three times with limited success (Moch has two sacks in three games against the Bulldogs).
"I'll tell you this, I don't like going against him," said McGill, an All-WAC honoree last year. "He's a very good ballplayer. He's obviously a very quick player. He likes to get off the ball very fast. He likes to get on the edge and really plays well in space. He's one of those guys where he can sometimes blow right by you off the ball."
And the distressing thing for offensive linemen is that Moch, the reigning WAC defensive player of the year, is now tapping his potential.
He came to Nevada as a safety before shifting to linebacker and eventually to defensive end. He's still learning the nuances of the position and drilling in technical aspects that will make him a better player.
"He's reached maybe 60 percent of his talent," Buh said. "That's what we're trying to get across to him. How can you tell a guy who's the WAC player of the year that he's only tapped into 60 percent of his talent? But he's seeing that."
One of the best
Ault said that among all Wolf Pack defensive ends, only Charles Mann -- who went on to play 12 years in the NFL and make four Pro Bowls -- had as much talent as Moch.
The next step in Moch's development, Ault said, is to get stronger against the run. He's likely to face a few more double-teams this season after fellow Pack defensive end Kevin Basped left for the NFL after his junior season.
Moch said he's confident he'll improve against the run and be able to break through whatever double-teams he faces.
The 22-year-old last month was named the WAC's preseason defensive player of the year. Instead of resting on that laurel, he's using it as motivation.
"That puts a lot more flame underneath me," Moch said. "It makes me work harder. It makes me want to strive and show that they were right for picking me for that title."
Wolf Pack defensive ends coach Ken Wilson said Moch's work ethic has remained strong despite the accolades. Wilson said it's his job to make sure that doesn't change.
DAL @ GB
