WR Elijah Moore (12.15.23)
Are you looking forward to another week with it being Joe’s (Flacco) third start and just getting more with the timing and chemistry between you guys?
“Every single week is another opportunity. I’m feeling good.”
How is practice between you guys this week? Are you noticing the lights are coming on more when it comes to the connection?
“I feel like that’s what practice is for. I feel like every single week is getting better. We’re getting to see what he sees; he’s getting to see what we see.”
How has you and Joe’s (Flacco) relationship grown even further? It seems like you guys are so close, your lockers are right next to each other.
“I feel like I’m getting to see sides of him that I didn’t really have the opportunity to see in New York, especially with him being right next to me and then on the field. I said last week was probably the most emotion I’ve ever seen him express. So that was definitely good to see with also the finish that we had.”
How much fun are you having with this team? Injuries aside, the fact that you guys control your own playoff destiny. It’s the middle of December and every week you play it matters. And how much fun is that for you, considering the situation you came from in New York where you weren’t playing meaningful football at this time?
“I mean this year, being a part of this team, I tell my family all the time it’s been nothing short of a blessing. The camaraderie, the relationships that I have. I’ve never been a part of something like this in my entire life. So, I lean on these guys like I’ve never leaned on a human before. So, I’ve been able to get through things off the field that I maybe handled differently. And it’s a true testament to everybody in the locker room and the coaches and how they handle things here. It’s definitely night and day from every position, from college, from every single level of football that I’ve played. And I don’t think it’s because of certain people and maybe how I’m looking at it, I’m definitely blessed.”
Elijah, back-to-back weeks where Joe has hit eight receivers and two weeks ago he had nine different receivers. What is it about his game where he’s able to sort of see things more and sort of spread the ball out and give other guys opportunities that maybe weren’t having those opportunities earlier this season?
“Yeah, I feel like with Joe, you know he has an element to his game, obviously with being playing football for so long that I think he sees the bigger picture a little bit slower just because of the experience. I feel like he allows every single receiver to always have the mindset of every single route, everybody be ready. I feel like that only brings us closer as offense and especially as a receiver on quarterback tandem.”
Why do you think Joe has been able to step right in here and fit into the locker room just like he’s been here all season long and everybody’s gravitating towards him? What is it about him?
“Besides his play. Obviously, they see him completing passes, staying under control and handling his business and how he goes about it. His personality. Joe doesn’t really say too much, so you’re going to learn to respect that. And people who don’t say too much but speak at the right time, I feel you probably gain respect for faster. So, I feel like how he goes about it and the type of human that he is, it’s just easy to connect with him.”
I talked to Gary Kubiak, who coached him in Baltimore and he was saying, ask the guys what he’s like in the huddle in terms of competitive, how fiercely competitive. What is that like to be in the huddle? What is his competitiveness like?
“I would say it’s like controlled chaos. Like I said before, he’s real nonchalant, but it’s like a confidence to where you know he got it. You don’t ever have to question him. He’s not shaking when he’s saying it. He’s saying the play better than you. You know what I’m saying? And of course, the respect of him being here and have gone through all these trials and tribulations he’s already experienced throughout his career. So he’s definitely an adaptable person. So you got to respect that.”
We talked to your teammates this week about how happy they were to see David Bell get into the end zone there. What was your feeling watching him stroll into the end zone with that big smile?
“That was my favorite play of the entire game. For someone to…I think what people don’t understand about being in David Bell’s position is that you have to learn conceptually, for real. Like, you got to be the person that knows everything at all times because he is at moments used as the plug in for here. So, the respect level for him and what he has to know, rather than some people who only know one or two spots, he has to know all of them, including the tight end. You see what I’m saying? So he’s very smart. And to have that slight moment for it to pay off, it’s no nothing but hats off to him.”
Elijah, what does it say about the fact that you guys are sitting at 8-5 playing meaningful football in December, despite everything you guys have had to overcome?
“I feel like it just shows grit. Of course, every team hits obstacles and we don’t know how we’re going to bounce back from. The only thing we do know is to work. And I think that’s what coach harps on. And I feel like that’s exactly what we do. You can’t go wrong and you just put one foot in front of the other.”
Have you met any members of the (Joe) Flacco Flock? His five kids, just wondering what’s that like? To know that he has to go home and answer to his five kids. Just the whole dad kind of stuff.
“Yeah. Now, he’s definitely a family man. Definitely a great father from what I hear. And also see my couple of moments around him having the personal side. He definitely speaks about his kids a lot and to see the smile on their face and how they play and joke with him. Seeing him back out here, I know he’s happy about that.”
Is there anything you’ve learned? You said you learned something about Joe that you didn’t know before. Anything that you’ve learned that maybe most people don’t know about Joe?
“Actually, you know, he comes off as super quiet and he’s obviously in his own world, but you get to know Joe, he’s going to talk to you. It’s kind of just like Coop (Amari Cooper), too. He’s not going to say nothing to everybody in here because they’re in their own bubble and they’re at work, but you get to know them, they’re going to open up.”
He was the perfect guy to walk into the situation, try to help save it for you guys.
“Yeah, definitely. I’m definitely proud that they chose him.”
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