Why Zack Moss Will Live Up To The Expectations
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
One of the more underrated moves of the 2024 NFL season involved the Cincinnati Bengals signing veteran running back Zack Moss to a two-year deal. The Bengals traded away Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans, and although Moss might not be as flashy of a name, he’s going to flourish in Cincinnati.
Moss has always been a serviceable backup in the league, but in 2023 he had a career year. After Jonathan Taylor had gone down with injury, Moss stepped in and kept the Indianapolis Colts running game afloat. In 14 games, Moss rushed 183 carries for 794 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Moss had a chance to return to the Colts, but decided he wanted to go to a team where he had a chance for more reps. Unless Taylor went down with another injury, it’s hard to imagine he was going to get that in Indianapolis.
With the Bengals, Moss will be competing with 2023 fifth-round pick Chase Brown for the Carries. Moss might not be getting 80 percent of the carries, but in the worst-case scenario for him, it could be a 50-50 split. Moss also appears to be fine with splitting carries with Brown as long as the team is winning games.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Moss said Tuesday after the team’s first OTA practice. “I love seeing what Chase is doing already. He has a chance to do a lot of good things in this league, and they’re gonna put him in great positions. My job is to help him as much as I can, and vice-versa, and try to be the best tandem we can be and win games. That’s really all that matters.”
Thinking about the Bengals offense heading into 2024, the running back room might be overlooked, and the hope is that opposing defenses will do the same. Joe Burrow appears to be healthy heading into the season, and he has weapons all over the field. Even though Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are holding out from OTAs, both are expected to return to the team. Chase and Higgins are a matchup nightmare for any team, especially with Burrow passing him the ball.
With all the attention going on the Bengals passing game, and Mixon not on the team, opponents may believe that they can relax on the Bengals running game. Moss already proved in 2023, with a less talented offense, that he can find success, and the success will only multiply in 2024.
“I’ve never been in this position before where you come in after a guy who’s had so much success and meant so much to the fan base,” Moss said. “I remember watching Joe when I was in college. It’s definitely big shoes to fill. But I have to just go out and do my job. And whatever my job looks like, that’s what I’m gonna try to do.”
Moss and Chase are different running backs, and will take different game plans to slow down.
“We’re definitely two different (types) of backs,” he said. “He’s crazy fast and explosive. That will play a good role in the offense. It keeps the defense on its heels.
Will Moss Have the best year of his career? I am not sure in terms of stats if Moss will have the best year of his career, but in terms of impact on winning, he will. He proved last season he can be an every-down back, and when given an opportunity, he can be one of the better backs in the league. Filling Joe Mixon shoes might not be easy, but the offense isn’t going to skip a beat without Mixon. It might say more about Burrow and the team’s wide receiving corps, but the offense will continue to hum with Moss. At the end of the 2024, the Bengals signing of Moss will look like the best move of the offseason.
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