Raheem Mostert – December 17, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 17, 2023
Postgame – N.Y. Jets
Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert
Q. How does it feel to break a franchise record for touchdowns in a season?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: It feels amazing. It’s something that I didn’t necessarily think I would ever do, especially with a guy like Ricky Williams and the rushing touchdowns. I thought the world of him, because me being from Florida, you watch certain players, and he was definitely a player that caught my eye at an early age. To be able to break his record and then Mark Clayton’s record, as well, it speaks a lot, especially with this team. But I kind of feel bad, too, because I had like 14 rushes for like however many yards that kind of made me feel like I was doing a terrible job, and I wasn’t running the ball good enough. Yeah, there’s a lot of highs and lows right now for me, but I’m definitely happy.
Q. What mindset does it take to be an effective red zone running back?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: You get downhill. That’s the best I can explain. When you get the ball, don’t leave any yards out there, and you’ve just got to find little creases and try your best to hit it.
Q. The fact that you were able to do this with your entire offensive line hurt, what does that say about the guys that were in there?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Kudos to those guys. They got into the game plan, and they understood their assignments. We’re going to watch film and see what truly happened, of course, but all in all, those guys are doing their jobs and making sure that we get in the box.
Q. Basically you doubled some of your career totals for touchdowns, total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns. How is this happening? What’s coming together for you so well this year?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: I mean, it’s a collective group, especially with the offensive line and ‘Mikey’ (Mike McDaniel) calling the plays and getting guys in position to win. Not only myself but with ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill), with (Jaylen) Waddle, with ‘Ced’ (Cedrick Wilson Jr.), with De’Von (Achane), a lot of different guys on offense that are making this thing go and I’m just a key aspect in that, as well.
Q. How much does it mean to you given – I know you can cite all the teams that have cut you and the long road to get here, and coming with Head Coach Mike McDaniel, how much does that all mean to you knowing it’s come together?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: I mean, it means a lot. Early on in my career I didn’t have the best situations, but I made the most out of my opportunities. When I landed a spot out in San Fran the year before Mike (McDaniel) and them came, I just tried to make the most out of those opportunities, and then it just led on to even more opportunities. I look back at my journey, and I’m truly blessed and thankful that I went through those growing pains as I would call it, and I just try to learn each and every day as a player and as an individual so that way I can go out here and help this team achieve the ultimate goal, which is to play in February and play in Vegas and try to win that thing.
Q. One of those teams that cut you was the Miami Dolphins. Could you ever imagine in that moment that one day you would have this record?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: No, if you would have asked me when I was my younger self, I would have told you that you’re totally – you’re right. Like that’s probably not what I thought I would do. I was just trying to be – I was a young grasshopper just trying to learn and trying to figure out how I can achieve the ultimate goal of being a player. Miami was one of those teams that I had on my list, but all is forgiven. That’s all I can say. All is forgiven, and no hard feelings. It was a different time then, and I grew up from that moment and so did the organization apparently.
Q. As good as WR Tyreek Hill is, what does it say about all the other offensive players that y’all were able to put up 30 points with him unavailable?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, Tyreek, it sucks that we didn’t have him today because he’s a hell of a player, definitely a gold jacket guy, and I say that with full conviction. But when it comes to this offense, you just see the guys that step up, the guys that need to step up. Enough doesn’t get talked about, is what Waddle has done today. I know he’s been battling personally for himself because he feels like he’s not bringing enough to the table, and as you would expect, but for him to come out today with Tyreek out and handle business, I think he had, what, seven for like 143 or something like that and a touchdown, so that tells you the type of characters we have in this offense and on this team truthfully because the defensive side of the ball, they also stepped up. It’s hard to shut out a team, especially a divisional opponent like the Jets and we swept them this year. It just shows you the type of characters that we have in this locker room.
Q. Every game that you lose, you look for the bounce-back. Did this week feel different given what happened on Monday night, and how were you able to mentally get through that hurdle?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, I said it earlier in an interview right before the game. You have to have that 24-hour, 48-hour rule where you just flush the game out, and we of course had a quick turnaround. So we were able to do that. It’s tough when we lose that type of game in that fashion, but it’s on to the next. That’s all we can focus on and that’s all we can do. If you let a game linger on too long, that’s when your season is on the fringe, now we’re not going to be in a position that we’re supposed to be in. We’ve just got to keep it going, keep doing everything that we’re possibly doing, and keep believing in ourselves.
Q. In situations like that when you have a disappointing game as a team, the following week is it better to maintain routine and keep doing what you guys have been doing throughout the season, or is it better to maybe change little things, say we’ve got to meet longer, we have to work through…?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: No, you shouldn’t change your routine. I’m a big believer in routines, so I think with a loss like that last week against the Titans and it being a short week, of course we had some things change, but the routine still stays the same for us. Our mentalities just stay the same. We’re trying to get to a special place, and we’re trying to hold it down for this organization. Like I said, it was tough, but you’ve got to adjust. You’ve got to move past that.
Q. Some Fantasy Football players reached out to me on social media and wanted me to say thank you.
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Yeah, I know that Jake Bailey is going to be super happy. I helped him out with his fantasy. Each week this guy comes up to me, and he’s just like, ‘hey, I got you lined up today so you’d better not disappoint me,’ so I’m like, ‘I’ve got you, bro, don’t worry about it.’ I know the game plan and hopefully it helps you, but last week he was like, hey, I’ve got a bye week thanks to you. I’m like, that’s what I’m talking about. We’re in this together, brother. (laughter)But yeah, it was fun. It’s all love.
Q. And with the other punters –
RAHEEM MOSTERT: Truthfully, I don’t know. I’ve got to ask him about that because I’m curious who else he’s in the fantasy league with. Maybe I can chirp in those guys’ ears and tell them, hey, look, Jake has me, I’m going to make sure I cover them points.
Q. Did you always know you had this season in you?
RAHEEM MOSTERT: I mean, as a player, I feel like I’ve got more than just this season. Me personally, I’m always trying to chase a gold jacket. That’s always been my MO. I truly believe that I’m on the path. I know it doesn’t seem like that, but me personally, I’ve just got to continue to step up to the occasion and do what I have to do as a player and as an individual because my goals are set. My standard is high for myself, and if I don’t – like I said, I’m pissed off today about this run. I’m sorry, but it kind of got to – yeah, I’ve got the record and everything, both records, but I felt like I didn’t help my team enough in the run game, and that’s something that I’ve got to truly live with now. It’s just a standard that I’ve set for myself, and I’m just trying to climb that ladder.
