Raheem Mostert – September 24, 2023 (Postgame)
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Postgame – Denver Broncos
Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert
Q. Have you ever been a part of something like this? Have you ever seen anything like this especially on the NFL level?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Absolutely not. To put 70 points on somebody is – I mean I’ve been a part of games where I was unfortunately getting scored on a lot, but to be able to do that, it just speaks volumes especially for our offense.
Q. Did you know that you guys were a field goal away from setting an NFL record?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: I found out when I was talking to Jalen Ramsey on the sideline. He was like – we were right there at the end and I was hoping that we kicked it, but unfortunately we didn’t. Honestly that’s respect just because you don’t for it like that and the way ‘Mikey’ handled it – ‘Mikey,’ I called him ‘Mikey’ but (Mike) McDaniel handled it – I think that it was very professional.
Q. The execution early in the game, particularly the plays that you came out and guys were running wide open, obviously the running game was working. What was working for you?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: The line of scrimmage. I harped on that from the jump. If we can establish the line of scrimmage, we’ll have a good chance of getting to that second, third level and even those home run plays. To be able to see the o-line — those guys don’t get enough credit and it’s sad because those guys really have gotten a lot better, especially from last year. They improved last year. We were able to do some things. But this year they’re on a whole other level. They understand the assignments a lot better. You’ve got Butch Barry who’s a phenomenal coach. I was with him in San Francisco and he’s going to bring that tenacity for the o-line, which you need, especially down in the trenches.
Q. We know preparation is so important in this league. Can you describe the preparation that went into the conga line?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, so the preparation itself, every guy has to take that initial step. This entire week we were definitely honing in on that craft. Denver is a good team. Don’t get that mistaken. They lost — prior to today, they lost two games within three points, and I know Russell Wilson; when it’s crunch time, that guy can be on point. You can’t take those guys lightly, so for this week, we were just honing in on our craft and what we’ve got to do, and like I told you, set that edge, set that line of scrimmage, and then it’s off to the races.
Q. Was there one of the celebrations that you liked the best between the conga line and the surfing? Was there one that stood out to you?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: I mean, any part of the group celebration, I think that’s a hit. We talked about it. It was funny because we actually practiced it on Friday and then we were undecided what we were going to do, and then we just decided to hit that, just to show a little culture, which is pretty awesome. But then of course you’ve got to celebrate — I’ve got to get De’Von (Achane) to do a celebration. He said he has one. I’m like, man, you scored four touchdowns, you’ve got to celebrate, do something, stand out. We’re going to work on that this week for sure.
Q. Speaking of RB De’Von Achane, to do this in his first significant NFL action, what can you say about that?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: The guy is, he’s a sponge, man. He comes in, he understands the assignments. He understands the play calling. He understands what he has to do. I give him crap here and there because he’s the rookie. I’ve got to do that. I’ve got to do my part. But all in all, I just can’t be more proud of him, both him and Chris Brooks. Chris Brooks, when he gets his opportunity, he’s going to flourish, too. I know he is. Those guys really take in coaching. I’m still trying to work on De’Von and using his speed in practice, but obviously something worked today, which is a plus. For him to come in and do the things he did, he had 208 — 203? Still, 200 is still a lot. To be able to come in as a rookie, to do that, it just speaks volumes on the type of character that he has.
Q. Was there anything different for you personally in these last two games, the performance, the best games of your career? Obviously the o-line was clicking.
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, for me last year I was coming off of a knee injury. I had surgery, so I was more dialed in on protecting my knee and strengthening it throughout the week. Then this year, I’m more so focused on the scheme of everything, how I can improve as a player, what I’ve got to do out of the backfield. I mentioned sometimes during training camp that I’ll try to work as much as I possibly can on the pass game, and so that’s some areas that I would like to improve on. Still a lot of ball left, still a lot of ability that I’ve got in myself, but all in all, I’m very happy with how I’m going thus far in the progression, especially given my age. I know that a lot of people throw that out there, but I keep telling you, I’m only 25 at heart, so y’all stay tuned.
Q. Is this personally gratifying are you, as much talk as there was this offseason about the position?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, when you have a lot of guys, a lot of people, a lot of naysayers out there, they want to continue to talk and continue to — oh, I wish this player was here, I wish that player — my whole thing is I’ve always been an underdog and that’s okay, but I’m going to show everybody, I’m going to prove everybody wrong because that’s what fuels me the most is proving somebody wrong. When I approach somebody, I tell them, hey, look, I’ve got receipts, just know that. To me, that’s the most satisfying thing is proving your haters or your doubters or anybody, your naysayers wrong. Like I said, I’ve been the underdog all my life and I’m always going to be that way.
Q. Something that sticks out to me is Head Coach Mike McDaniel always says you can’t carry over points from this game to the next. So those 70 points (indiscernible)
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, I mean, obviously it’s going to tell a statement now because it’s hard to score points in the league, especially anything above 50. I know the Giants a couple weeks ago lost 50 to Dallas. Like I said, it’s hard to score in this league, but to be able to put up 70 points, I think that’s going to put a lot of teams on notice that we’re nothing to play with. We definitely have — we’re that team, just to put it blunt. We’ve just got to hone in on our craft. We’re not worried about what everybody else thinks. We’re not worried about what everybody outside the building thinks. We’re going to focus in on what we’ve got to do and get the job done.
Q. You and De’Von combined for eight total touchdowns receiving and rushing. Just from the work in practice, training camp to this point in the season displayed on the field, what does that mean to you?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: I mean, it means a lot. Just in one game between the two of us, we had eight touchdowns. That speaks a lot of volume and a lot of character on our part, just because we don’t take anything lightly. We want to work and we want to score. We want to get the job done. To be able to do that, like I said, it just speaks on your character.
