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STARTING OVER
He hasn't picked up that distinct Minnesota accent - yet.
Maybe that's because Dan Mozes has been too busy trying to learn the Minnesota offense. And geez, it's been pretty tough, ya know.
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The Washington native, a three-year starter at Wash High and four-year starter at West Virginia University, finds himself starting over once again as he has immersed himself in the Minnesota Vikings' offense.
"The playbook has been challenging," said Mozes, who recently returned home for a few weeks before reporting back to Minnesota for training camp July 25.
"The vets know all the plays. But we were putting in five, six, seven new plays per day. And that was just for the offensive line. The quarterbacks were learning even more than that."
And that has been just one of the challenges facing Mozes after signing with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie free agent following April's NFL draft.
A two-time All-America center and 2006 Rimington Award winner as the nation's best player at that position, Mozes spent much of his month working out with the team playing both center and guard.
"I was running with the (second unit) at guard and centering the (third team)," said Mozes, who started at guard for West Virginia in his first two seasons. "I'm just fighting to show I can do both. The more I can do, the better. They only keep seven or eight offensive linemen on the active roster, so I have to show I can handle playing guard as well."
That's not the only challenge, either.
Mozes has had to adjust to a more pass-oriented scheme after playing in run-heavy offenses at both Washington and West Virginia.
"What we're doing is totally different," Mozes said, who is currently behind five-time Pro Bowler Matt Birk and Norm Katnik on the Vikings' center depth chart. Katnik is a former USC center who spent 2006 on the Vikings' practice squad.
"At West Virginia, we were a zone blocking scheme. Everything was run-first there and at Wash High too. We didn't pass very much. I never really learned how to do it right. That's been an adjustment."
By all accounts, it's been one the 6-3, 300-pound Mozes has made well. But he also realizes that he still has a lot to learn.
"I'm going against guys who are 30 to 35 years old who have a lot of experience," he said. "I mean, (Minnesota All-Pro defensive tackle) Pat Williams can make you look really stupid if you make one mistake in your technique. In the NFL, if you make one mistake, you get beat."
If Mozes has proven one thing throughout his football career, however, it's that he's a quick learner. He's also proven to be something of an overachiever - something that could help him stick on Minnesota's roster.
Mozes quickly got over the disappointment of not being selected in the draft, signing with the Vikings soon after at the behest of his agent.
"Before the draft was the most stressful time of my life," Mozes admitted. "You're working so hard to impress teams. And people were saying I could go anywhere from the fourth round to the seventh to going undrafted. Then I didn't get drafted and it was like, 'Oh well, it happens.' But now, I'm back to fighting for everything again."
And Mozes wouldn't want it any other way. He's been doing it all his life.
"When I was at Wash High, the only real offers I had were from West Virginia and Wake Forest," he said. "They were the only schools that liked me. I felt like I had a lot to prove. Now, I still do."
It will be something to think about when he makes the 900-mile drive to Mankato, Minn., the site of the Vikings' training camp at Minnesota State University. That's right, drive.
He plans on staying there a while, too, though ice fishing may be out at this point.
"I'm packing all of my coats, long sleeve shirts, sweat pants, everything warm," Mozes said. "I'm not taking too many shorts. You've got to stay warm up there."
