Riley Moss, a first-year starting cornerback, knows that quarterbacks will often target him instead of Denver Broncos star Patrick Surtain II during games.
“It’s fun playing opposite of Pat,” Moss said. “I’m getting the ball thrown to my side a bunch.” Instead of worrying about being picked on, Moss embraces the challenge.
“Yeah, I mean you’re not going to escape it. So, face it head on,” Moss said. “What are we scared about? It’s football. I get beat deep? OK. Come back the next play, get a pick or something. It’s not the end of the world. You don’t need to stress out about it. It’s just a game at the end of the day and I’m ready for it.”
This positive mindset has helped Moss impress this season after he struggled with a core muscle injury last year that limited his chances to show his skills as a rookie.
Vance Joseph, whose defense ranks among the top three in eight of the league’s 11 official categories, including third in points allowed per game (13.8) and first in fewest yards allowed per play (4.2), believes that playing alongside Surtain is helping Moss learn faster.
“You have to have a guy who’s resilient, who has a short memory, who’s a confident guy,” Joseph said. “Obviously the targets are going to go your way most of the time, especially because Pat’s matching their best guy. They have to try you to see if there’s something there.”
And there hasn’t been much success when they throw in Moss’s direction, either.
Moss was only flagged six times during his five years at Iowa, but he has already been called for three pass interferences this season, resulting in 76 yards. Joseph sees a silver lining in those penalties.
“Some of the penalties he’s getting are real. Some of those are I’m not so sure good,” Joseph said. “But being a young corner, first-time starter, right? No one’s seen him play. And everyone’s assuming that he’s probably cheating, you know?
But he’s not. He’s playing well and he’s been resilient through the penalties, through being attacked.”
Joseph pointed out that during the first two plays in Denver’s 10-9 win over the Jets last week, Moss faced double moves from Garrett Wilson and Tyler Conklin on the game’s opening snaps, and he managed to defend against both successfully.
“So, the things he’s doing really well sometimes go unnoticed, while some of the penalties get attention,” Joseph said. “But man, he’s athletic, he’s smart, he’s tough, he can tackle. He absorbs game plans really well during the week. So, I’ve been really proud of his development.
“He’s definitely a joy to coach and a joy to watch him get better every week.” Surtain, who signed a four-year, $96 million extension before the season, played at his usual high level in September, keeping opponents’ top wide receivers to just 77 yards on eight catches.
He held D.K. Metcalf to 29 yards on three catches, George Pickens to 16 yards on one catch, Mike Evans to 8 yards on one catch, and Garrett Wilson to 22 yards on three receptions.
No one appreciates Surtain’s dominance more than Moss, who knows he will keep getting chances to make plays when Surtain performs at his best.
“And Riley’s taken the challenge,” Joseph said. “It hasn’t been easy, but he is a headstrong, confident guy, and he’s playing good football.”
Coach Sean Payton agreed that playing alongside Surtain has helped Moss learn faster. He mentioned this to team owner Greg Penner and GM George Paton that morning.
“We were just sitting there talking, and I said, ‘Man, if you’re watching the film of this guy play right now, he’s playing at a high level.’
He’s long, he’s smart, and super competitive,” Payton said. “One of the traits you have to have at that position is you’re going to fail, and you have to dare to fail and get right back. I’m really pleased with his progress.”
