Breaking Down: Dontay Moch

In this edition of “Breaking Down” it’s time to discuss Bengals 3rd round pick and former Nevada Wolf Pack member, linebacker Dontay Moch. Moch is coming out of Nevada being a 5th year year (23 yrs old by the start of the season). Moch is a 3 time letterman and for the majority of his Nevada tenure he was “the man” on defense. In the draft process he was looked at as a hybrid 4-3 DE/OLB and was seen as an early round talent. Most “draft gurus” listed him as a 3rd round talent, making him the perfect value.

Official Combine Stats:
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 248
40 Yrd Dash:4.40
20 Yrd Dash: 2.53
10 Yrd Dash: 1.57
Bench Press: 21
Vertical Jump: 42″
Broad Jump: 10’08″20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.38
3-Cone Drill: 7.09

Before I give you my analysis of this talent. Let me go ahead clear the air about this small school athlete and his great upside. Looking to bring in another perspective (being entirely neutral) here’s what Jeff Reynolds of the Sports Xchange wrote about Moch in his final post:

"Top linebacker prospects: 7. Dontay Moch, Nevada, 6-1, 248, 2-3 Yet another defensive end looking to make the conversion to rush linebacker, Moch can flat fly. He ran a 4.40 40 at the combine to validate the straight-line speed he displayed at Nevada the past four years. That included 2009 WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors with 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks, and another 22.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a senior. He has speed and quickness to spare. The question is whether Moch can develop a secondary pass-rush move, prove he can hold his own against the run and handle coverage assignments as a linebacker. If not, he’ll be a stiff-hipped athlete who will struggle much the same as former Jets first-round pick Vernon Gholston."

When watching Moch there’s a lot to get excited about. Though I will say this now, the Vernon Gholston comparison has came up many times in my mind. But at the same time when I watch his film I see another “FREAK” athlete. A guy named Jevon Kearse. Now before you guys tell me about the different in size and and Moch is going to play LB not DE just wait. I see Kearse in this kid, because I see a player with a limitless upside and a so much natural talent. When you notice how much natural ability he has you can see the similarity, but just as Kearse the key negative coming out of college is the lack of technique. This kid is relentless and plays 100 miles per hour. I love the passion he shows and his ability to come from anywhere on any given play. At Nevada, he was the heart of their defense. They had one creative DC who used all of Moch’s potential, having him with his hand down of the edge on one play, then blitzing from depth on the next. And even in some cases covering the pass from the LB position.

Moch is the perfect fit for the Bengals Sam position because this is the “hybrid” backer that Marvin has been wanting for years. They’ve been trying to do what Moch did in college with Michael Johnson  for a year now. With the addition of Moch it allows MJ to stay at the DE position and that experiment can officially be closed. Check out the highlight and see the amount of different stunts and ways he attacks an offense.

Dontay will be wearing the No. 52 during his tenure as a Bengal. The most iconic Bengal to ever wear this number would be Center Dave Rimington for a short stint from 1984-85 (He also wore 50 and 64). Since Rimington, the number hasn’t exactly be good to the wearer The longest stint someone has had with the Bengals while wearing #52 since Rimington was only 3 seasons with Abdul Hodge. But let’s all hope that Moch has one of the best careers under that number.