Riley Moss is turning a Broncos challenge into a real defensive development story.
Denver wanted more from the cornerback, and through camp, Moss has answered it. He appears on track to hold onto his job, and defensive passing game coordinator Robert Livingston believes that kind of growth could push the Broncos secondary into elite territory, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic.
That matters because Denver is building something deeper than one standout corner. Livingston and defensive backs coach Doug Belk are reshaping the unit around a group that includes Moss, Pat Surtain II, Ja’Quan McMillian and Jahdae Barron. Barron already flashed in the preseason opener, taking an interception 97 yards for a touchdown in Denver’s 27-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Livingston said Moss is at a point where the game is starting to slow down.
“I think the game’s slowing down for him,” Livingston said. “Sometimes that happens in Year 2.
Sometimes that happens in Year 4. You’ve got a veteran player who has played a lot, who comes to work every day and wants to get better.”
Kosmider called Moss “solid” over his first two seasons as a starter in Denver, but playing across from Surtain also put him in the crosshairs more than any other outside cornerback in the NFL. That volume came with eight defensive pass interference penalties, a number the Broncos clearly needed him to clean up.
The early signs in camp say he has made a noticeable jump. Coaches and teammates have pointed to cleaner technique, and that has helped Moss handle the routine plays more consistently.
Moss was blunt about the lessons from last season’s flags.
“My parents have always told me this: I like to learn the hard way,” Moss said of the penalty issues last season. “It actually helps me out in those situations because, yes, they’re going to throw the flag because I’m being too aggressive or whatever, but even (Joseph) will tell me, ‘Keep going out there.
Keep playing aggressive.’ (The penalties) are in one ear and out the other.
It happens.
“I know I need to do better as a whole this season, and I have been. It’s been a big focus of this camp, but I’m still going to play aggressive and not shy away from it.”
Livingston also pointed to what he called Moss’s “freak” traist when the ball is in the air. During tape review, the Broncos found that Moss had chances to make plays on some throws, but often chose instead to focus on preventing the catch.
Moss said he isn’t trying to pile extra pressure on himself.
“I’m not going to put extra pressure on myself,” Moss said. “As we aren’t going to put extra pressure, as a team, on getting to where we want to get to. It’s day by day, be where your feet are at, compete, get better at one thing each day, and everything else will take care of itself.”
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