John Bonamego's 2009 special teams unit had the largest jump upwards in improvement of all three units, it went from #31 to #10, this after Bonamego was on the hot seat for a poor performance out of the unit in 2008. Five questions: 1. Will Ted Ginn Jr be the full time kick returner? Ginn has shown that while he is not physical, he has big play capability on Special Teams the two seasons he was charged with returning kicks, in 2007 he ranked in the top 10 in all purpose yds, in 2009 he ranked 12th, but without returning punts and not returning kickoffs until week #5. 2. Will Devone Bess return punts this season? DBess surprisingly showed some fumbleitis in 2009 and was no threat to return a punt for a TD. 3. If the draft sees a new crop of Linebackers, will it set the Coverage units back in 2010? It took 2 seasons for Bonamego to craft a good unit, will the draft force a reshuffling? 4. Who replaces the departed Nate Jones on Special Teams? Quietly Jones led the Dolphins with 16 tackles on special teams. 5. Will a new return specialist be drafted or signed as a UDFA? The rumor and somewhat fact is Ireland is scouting prospects at Wr who also can return kickoffs, this ontop of Kory Sheets, Tristan Davis, Ryan Grice Mullens and Julius Pruitt currently being on the roster in some capacity, add in Pat Cobbs who will be coming back from an ACL injury that is 7 potential kick returners along with whomever they may draft or sign. Can Ted Ginn win that job outright or are his days as a Return Specialist, or even a Dolphin numbered? And one additional question, is Dan Carpenter in trouble because of short kickoffs with below average hangtime?
I just don't understand why teams don't teach a big guy to stand up there and kick the ball out of the back of the endzone every time we need it. I'm sure we have someone on the roster that can do it. Why not?
Alright, here is the problem with the Ginn/draft Lb's situation, we all know Ginn needs clear lanes to turn on the jets and produce a long return, and he will hit the deck rather than plow into tacklers. When you draft those college starters they hit the NFL with typically little to no experience on Special Teams, they don't know how to block well enough to create those lanes that Ginn needs. Basically, they are starting over at Step 1, Bonamego will have a new class of newbies to break into the NFL, looking ahead, it maybe/would be better to have a different style of returner, a quicker one that is not as fast as Ginn otherwise we will return to returns being stuffed inside the 20yd line. Ginn has his own set of issues as a returner, on punts it could be even worse, they couldn't block well last yr, how would a newbie group do any better when they have no experience doing that task?
Some teams do have that specialist, but it eats a roster spot and I don't see that happening with as anal as they are about the active roster, even down to that "3rd Qb rule" stuff.
1. Will Ted Ginn Jr be the full time kick returner? Ginn has shown that while he is not physical, he has big play capability on Special Teams the two seasons he was charged with returning kicks, in 2007 he ranked in the top 10 in all purpose yds, in 2009 he ranked 12th, but without returning punts and not returning kickoffs until week #5. As of today yes, but I have to think we're scouring the college ranks for guys who can return kicks ad punts, ideally both, to save a roster spot. I'd also like to think we're trading Ginn, but if Holmes went for a 5th rounder, Ginn might go for a 8th or 9th rounder. I mean uh..oh never mind... 2. Will Devone Bess return punts this season? DBess surprisingly showed some fumbleitis in 2009 and was no threat to return a punt for a TD. I agree on Bess. Emergency PR guy only, we need an upgrade. 3. If the draft sees a new crop of Linebackers, will it set the Coverage units back in 2010? It took 2 seasons for Bonamego to craft a good unit, will the draft force a reshuffling? Anderson is a starter as of today, so is Culver. Jones is gone, replaced by W Allen, who wont want to cover kicks. Clemons was horrible, scratch him. Hartline shouldnt be covering kicks anymore. Yeah I'd say there's gonna be some shuffling going on. 4. Who replaces the departed Nate Jones on Special Teams? Quietly Jones led the Dolphins with 16 tackles on special teams. Good question. Assuming W Allen is the nickel, he'd be in line for the duty, but I doubt he'd be too enthused about it. So its J Allen and Clemons (who is not a good ST guy IMO) or Sheets, or a rookie corner, maybe that Ogelsby guy, #41 IIRC. 5. Will a new return specialist be drafted or signed as a UDFA? The rumor and somewhat fact is Ireland is scouting prospects at Wr who also can return kickoffs, this ontop of Kory Sheets, Tristan Davis, Ryan Grice Mullens and Julius Pruitt currently being on the roster in some capacity, add in Pat Cobbs who will be coming back from an ACL injury that is 7 potential kick returners along with whomever they may draft or sign. Can Ted Ginn win that job outright or are his days as a Return Specialist, or even a Dolphin numbered? I think Ginn is safe until we get a decent offer and/or a number 1 WR. Those other guys I'll have to see in person before I can comment And one additional question, is Dan Carpenter in trouble because of short kickoffs with below average hangtime? A kickoff specialist would be nice. Who are we going to cut though. Maybe one of our linebackers. I hear Taylor can longsnap, lets cut Denney!!!
i will continue to believe Ginn's days as a PHIN are numbered (and not in years :-)) ... you would have to open a tractor trailer lane to get him to bust one up the middle. If he can't run to the sideline - he is done ... what a waste of talent. Hoping, since i don't have much else, that Mullen can become a solid return man (especially PR) with his quickness. We'll see what Sheets has to offer soon. i expect a better year out of Clemons this year .... and if W Allen wins back a starting job - it opens up another STer ..... i do believe between J Allen and Folsom, we'll have our ST standouts. With JT as a clear plan B ... we are moving on with OLB via the draft (unless the picks don't fall right). still believe we will pick one early and another mid ... and also an ILB mid ... a solid LB draft. These LBs will be better than our current lot -- mostly by just showing up.
