Mostert: Get Ready for McDaniel Shockers

No Miami Dolphins player knows head coach Mike McDaniel better than Raheem Mostert, who has spent his last six NFL seasons with him.

Mostert has seen McDaniel go from a run game coordinator to an offensive coordinator and now to a head coach, so he should know better than most what to expect from McDaniel in the long run.

And Mostert expects is for McDaniel to open some eyes in 2023 — even more than he did during his first season as an NFL head coach.

"You know, last year, being his first time giving the play calls, also being his first time being a head coach. there's some things that I noticed in regards to Mike and his personality with the whole scheme of football, but as of now, man, it's like, he's totally locked in," Mostert said during a Zoom media session Tuesday. "He got his feet wet. That's how every coach approaches it, being a first-time coach. He's just testing the waters a little bit.

"But now that he's settled down, I believe that he's gonna start making some moves in a way that's going to shock the world. It's not gonna be shocking for me because I know what he can do. That's why I'm along this journey with him. But, yeah, a lot of people going to be shocked about what he does."

Mostert likes, trusts and respects McDaniel enough that it was an easy call for him to re-up with the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, agreeing to terms on a new deal before the new league year even started.

Happy to announce that my client Raheem Mostert has agreed on a 2-yr deal to return to the Miami Dolphins. Led the team in rushing last season and had over 1,000 yards of total offense. https://t.co/UFGwBj8J7O
— Brett Tessler (@TesslerSports) March 14, 2023

GOOD FIRST MIAMI SEASON FOR MOSTERT, BUT MORE COULD BE COMING

By all accounts, Mostert was very productive in his first full season with the Dolphins — remember that he had a cup of coffee with the team way back in 2015 — as he led the team in rushing with 891 rushing yards with a healthy 4.9-yard average to go along with 31 catches.

The season ended disappointingly for Mostert, who had to watch the playoff game at Buffalo from the sideline because of a thumb injury he sustained in the regular season finale against the New York Jets.

Mostert figures to handle the lead running back role again in 2023 after the team brought back all four backs from last season before selected speedster Devon Achane in the third round of the draft.

McDaniel said at the owners' meetings one regret he had for last season was not sticking with the running game more in 2022, which Mostert also heard from his head coach during his exit interview after the end of the season.

"One thing that he was like very apologetic about was the fact that we didn't run enough and that he was going to do his his best to change that for the upcoming year," Mostert said. "So when when he talks like that, it just gets me fired up even more like, hey, I know I'm getting the ball a little bit more, the running back room is gonna get the ball a little bit more in regards to touches.

"So, yeah, I mean, it's a thriller, man. I'm excited. I truly can't wait for that opportunity when he calls out when we're getting the ball."