2011 NFL Draft: Can Dontay Moch Be New England's Answer to Their Pass Rush?

If the New England Patriots had a "wanted ad" posted somewhere, this is what it would look like: "Wanted: 6'5", 265 lbs. pass-rushing outside linebacker that has the ability to drop back into coverage."

Let's face it fans: An outside linebacker with those attributes are very rare and they will come with a huge price tag. 

The Patriots have had pass-rushing problems over the past few seasons, specifically when Bill Belichick parted ways with Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest and Richard Seymour.

Belichick may not be able to find his ideal guy who can play the "elephant" position, but Nevada's Dontay Moch could be a nice sub-package player who could definitely put major pressure on the quarterback.

Strengths

Moch is the perfect example of a "freak athlete."

At 6'1" and 250 lbs., Moch posted an amazing 4.44 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine this past February. Moch has elite speed and explosiveness that can beat most offensive tackles off of the ball. 

Another notable result from Moch at the combine was that he recorded an amazing 42.0 vertical jump—that's incredible.

Moch was a very productive player at the college level, where he tallied up 189 tackles in five seasons with the Wolf Pack and added in 62.5 tackles for a loss and 30 sacks.

The former Nevada linebacker may be fast, but he doesn't have a finesse playing style—Moch is a very physical player.

Weaknesses

If Moch gets engaged on a one-on-one block, he sometimes gets overpowered and taken out of the play. He will need to bulk up some more in order to excel at the next level. 

Despite being such a great force against the pass, he is a liability against the run—he has struggled due to his inability to get off of blocks and in pursuit of the ball. 

Essentially, Moch is a very raw player; he's got raw talent and a "freakish" athlete.

Conclusion

If any coach in the NFL can take Moch, who's got great raw talent and turn him into an elite pass rusher, it's Belichick. 

Moch is projected to in the second-to-third rounds and could potentially be a steal. 

The Patriots really struggled at getting pressure on the quarterback last season, especially in their loss against the New York Jets in the playoffs, and Moch would be an instant impact pass rusher in sub-packages. 

Belichick and company are always looking for players with the most "value" and who are the most athletic—Moch possesses both of those traits.

If Moch is selected by New England, the Patriots will have him immediately in the weight room as soon as the NFL lockout dissolves.

Moch likely appeals in several ways in Belichick's eyes and I'll bet on it that he's definitely on New England's radar.

This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @TonySantorsa.