Nov 2, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Vic Beasley (3) is blocked by Virginia Cavaliers offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
There’s no way around saying it, but Morgan Moses is a massive man. Standing 6’6″ tall and weighing in at 314 pounds, he can seem like a giant among all the other players on the field. Heck, it almost looks like he’s playing against children sometimes just because of the contrast in size between him and some of the defensive ends and linebackers he took on as an offensive tackle at Virginia.
Moses’ sheer size alone makes him an attractive prospect for any team looking for an offensive tackle, but when you add in his patience when blocking and intelligence when knowing what kind of moves will be coming at him, he can look like a stone wall. Sadly, his size isn’t always a positive thing. He can struggle to get low enough to maintain a powerful center of gravity when blocking sometimes, especially near the end of a game when players tend to run out of gas.
Ideally, you’d want Moses as your tackle if you have an offense that isn’t designed for short gains and playing the time of possession game. He will excel in short possessions and possibly even be a potential All-Pro tackle with proper coaching and technique help.
Sep 28, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) prior to playing the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh defeated Virginia 14-3. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Strengths
- Size. The guy is a monster.
- Smart
- Quick off the snap
- Plays until the whistle
Weaknesses
- Keeping a low center of gravity
- Stamina on long drives
- Maintaining a healthy weight
Fit For The Vikings
Moses would be an excellent swing tackle or player to push Kalil or Loadholdt for a starting position.
My Take
While Moses is one heck of a player, Minnesota is best suited looking for help at other positions early in this year’s draft. With all the excellent offensive tackles available in this draft class, odds are that the Vikings will pick one up in the mid-to-late rounds.