WR Elijah Moore (9.8.23)
Elijah, we’ve seen you do so many cool things throughout this whole training camp. How excited are you to unveil it all and get rolling on Sunday?
“I’m super excited. We’ve been counting down the days for a little minute now. I know everybody in the locker room is great just to finally play.”
And do you think that you will roll out at least some of the stuff that’s sort of unique and innovative that we have seen you do this summer?
“Well, that’s the plan. The only reason why we practice and do what we know so we can translate it to the game. I’m super excited.”
Elijah, did you know when you first got here that’s how they wanted to use you, or did that just develop over the course of the spring and the summer? How did that kind of work?
“Yeah, I mean, when I first got here, they kind of showed me an example of what they wanted me to do. And I guess as the time went on you get to show different things throughout practice, so it was just like a developing thing. The more I got to show it, the more I got to do.”
Chad O’Shea was telling us that a lot of that is mental. I mean, how much of a mental grind to be able to be so versatile?
“Yeah, I think it’s slept on. Like I said before, I think everyone thinks we’re just out there running around. I know you guys know, but most people think that we just pitch, catch. It’s a lot more that goes into route running and what we get to see and what we have to do.”
What did they use for an example to show you how they wanted to use you?
“Well, they give us a lot of resources. That’s kind of their job. Even my teammates, people who’ve been here, give me some of their examples of how something can be easier for me to do, to pick up and to translate to the field from the meeting room.”
Is it a certain player they show you or concept?
“It’s everybody on the team. Receiver group is very helpful, and even defense having different looks, playing in the league for a little bit. Gives me examples.”
Ja’Maar Chase, I don’t know if you heard any of his comments or anything like that. But he says he wants to call you the ‘elves’ about you guys and ‘Cleveland is Cleveland’, you know, what are your thoughts on him saying something like that?
“I don’t have any thoughts on that. He can say what he wants to say. I don’t care.”
Myles (Garrett) said on that point, he feels that other teams put you guys on a lower level than Steelers or Chiefs, whatever. How did you view the Browns before you got here?
“Well, I was at the (New York) Jets last year, and we beat them, so I was in my head, I was like – but then, obviously, being on team now, I knew they were a great team when we played them. I think they only didn’t get, like, one first down, so I knew it was very explosive. And then going against the DBs, I already knew some of them as well, so I knew it was a very explosive team. I was super excited. I can’t speak for anything else.”
I feel like the Jets have a similar feel to them. Like some teams around the league look down on the Jets. How do you guys feel about that in the locker room?
“I think we shouldn’t worry about how other people feel about us. I think we should just worry about how we feel about us and execute. That’s all we got to do. If we focus on us and execute, everybody’s going to be quiet.”
When you look at the Cincinnati defense, most of their guys are back, they’ve been together for a little bit. What challenges do they present you as you’re trying to find weaknesses in them to exploit?
“A very talented group. I guess they got some young people coming in too, but they’ve been playing with each other. I know they lost their safety, but besides that, they’re a group that’s established, so you got to respect them. We definitely got to come ready.”
You guys got three divisional opponents in the first four weeks here. I know it’s one week at a time here, but just how important is it for you guys to get off to a positive start?
“I think that’s everything. It builds momentum, and when you got good momentum, you get to really get it going. I feel like that’s only going to put us and propel us in the direction that we want to end up in, which is super.”
As a receiving core, how have you seen that grow? That chemistry grow with you guys and the connection you guys have developed and built in the offense?
“Feel like it’s day by day. We’re getting better. The more we’re around each other, it’s only gelling better. I know we’re just ready to play in a game.”
I know it’s not your side of the play, but I’m sure you hear Jim Schwartz a lot when you’re out there at practice. Do you see some of his personality kind of rubbing off on this defense?
“Yeah, he’s an explosive dude. He’s always screaming. And on defense, you got to be cut different to be hitting somebody every single play. So I think he has to be like that. It only fires them up. So, man, major respect to him and how he is. It cheers up the guys,”
When you go against this defense, how good do you think that group could be over there?
“I think it should be the best that we should see. If we’re versus the best, then in the game, it should only slow down and be easier. So I got respect for all my teammates, especially the defensive backs.”
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