Matt Moore – December 11, 2016 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
Postgame – Arizona
Miami Dolphins Quarterback Matt Moore (transcribed by Sara Perez)
(First of all, as close as you are to QB Ryan Tannehill – you hate to see any of your teammates go down, but somebody that you’re in a meeting room with every day and spend so much time with – how hard is it to see that happen to a guy like that?) – “My heart breaks. I know how much that guy puts his heart and soul into this and hard work. I just hope it’s nothing crazy. I wish him the best, but it’s hard to see. I just wish him the best, and hopefully it’s not terrible.”
(What was going through your mind as you were getting ready to warm up and go on the field for your first series? Weather had been miserable all day and was going to be that way throughout the rest of the game, and that’s what you were going to face) – “I was thinking, ‘I haven’t done this in a long time.’ The weather, obviously, was not great, but I just went in confident (and) wanting to move the ball. It was a close game at the time, and I wanted to finish strong and get the win. Execution and tempo and command and confidence – that’s what was going through my head.
(Can you take us through that last drive?) – “It’s funny, I only remember the passes. I know we were trying to run it there still, and we got a good call on the cross to Kenny (Stills). We caught them in man coverage, and Kenny did a nice job separating and hit that one. Later on, we had a heck of a call and caught them in a little crusher there and was able to throw it up to Kenny. Again, I didn’t see the finish, but (it was a) good catch and put us in the spot to win the game. Credit (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase, really putting us in good situations for the potential to have success.”
(Was any panic going through your mind when – I think it was RB Damien Williams running the ball – at the end and the clock was running down and you had to get a timeout?) – “It wasn’t a clean center-QB exchange. Then I got stepped on and then that whole thing goes on. Not the way you wanted that series to end. I knew we were at about 11 seconds, I think, when the ball was snapped. I know he was trying to go down. Thankfully he did, and we got the timeout. All eyes on the field goal then, and those guys executed, so it was good.”
(I saw you and QB Ryan Tannehill sharing an embrace in the locker room. Can you paraphrase…) – “I told him I loved him. I said, ‘This team – regardless of what your situation is – this team still needs you,’ and he agreed and said, ‘I’m there.’ He said, ‘Let’s go win one game at a time.’”
(Did QB Ryan Tannehill give you any indication either way?) – “No. I just knew he was shaken up. Again, I don’t know exactly what’s going on. Just looking at him, I knew he was upset, so I just tried to bring him up that why and still let him know that he’s a huge part of this team, and he will be moving forward.”
(Five years ago when you had the starting job – far different circumstances – the fact that if QB Ryan Tannehill is done for the year, at 8-5, real playoff chances, what is this opportunity like for you and this franchise?) – “It’s huge for both parties. It’s unbelievable. My focus right now is (to) get ready to go. If I have to go, then be ready to go, and that’s it. You talk about where we’re at as a team, you can’t ask for much more. The ball is in our court. We just have to execute and play one week at a time.”
(How much rust do you feel like you have to work off?) – “Time will tell. Time will tell, but I felt pretty good out there today. Obviously, the conditions weren’t great. I feel pretty good. Coach does a good job – (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase and Bo (Hardegree), our quarterback coach – they put me through the runner during the week, every week. I feel good, but clearly, there will be some. I haven’t done it in a while, but I don’t know … I’m going in confident and feeling good.”
(You’ve been doing this long enough to be confident in yourself, obviously. Was there anything in that fourth quarter from the team, coaching staff that made you feel reinforced that, “Okay they believe in me. They believe we can do this?”) – “A bunch of guys said some nice things, but they would say that to anybody in that situation. I’ve been here a while and these guys know my position on this team and my role, and I don’t think there was any doubt or hesitation. I believe that. I’m comfortable in there, and I think those guys are comfortable with me in there.”
(For the people who haven’t seen you in five years, can you tell them what your style is as quarterback?) – “That’s an interesting question. I’m obviously not shy. I’m not one to not throw it down the field. This will be the first time … Well, today really was the first time playing under Coach (Head Coach Adam) Gase. The preseason is what it is, but (this was) a real game, the style … My whole thing is to execute this offense. What is my style? I’m a pocket passer who likes to throw it down the field. That’s how I would put it, but that doesn’t matter. I think if you’re in there, you have to execute the plays called. At the end of the day, the ultimate deal is to get the win, so whatever style that is, that’s what I’ll be.”
(You were on the injury report this week with a shoulder. Was that something that happened during practice? How did that happen, and how long have you been dealing with it?) – “Shoulder – there’s always soreness. But something little happened this week at practice, and (I) just kind of worked through it and didn’t have any issues today.”
(Do you feel 100 percent? Football 100 percent?) – “Yes.”
(Does your practice week change from the standpoint of getting in an hour earlier or staying an hour later?) – “Probably not. Ryan (Tannehill) and I are there, and we’re doing our thing. I don’t think my schedule will change. Depending on what the deal is … Naturally, you say as a backup you’re ready to go, and you’re focused, but I would assume if he can’t go that the focus will be turned up a little more. It changes naturally for all the reasons you would think it would change, but as far as time goes, that won’t change at all.”
