http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2009/08/14/0815dolphins_specialteams.html/ Yeah, our ST were really bad in 2007 as well: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...fl/stories/021008dnsponflspecial.34df4b9.html Were were 24th in the NFL, this with Ginn being named a pro bowl alternate and Jay Feely setting a club record for accuracy. Of all the teams in the playoffs, we had the worst unit: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...ries/020809dnspospecialteamslede.38f0fd2.html We ranked 30th. Last season, the only unit that regressed was the Special Teams, but we also were playing the easier schedule, this season we play teams with equal to, or greater talent position by position and Special Teams performance then becomes more important as our margin for error becomes smaller and smaller.
Exactly, look at it this way, the opponent scores on field goal with 3 minutes left and we are now down by 1, they kick off deep and we field the ball, if the returner can make it to the 40 yd line we only need 25 yds or so, and the additional 10 yds on the return put us ten yds closer to field goal range. 10 yds is one series for a first down, not bad for "free" yards. That is why imho we need a designated kick returner who can excel at it.
There was definite improvement in the coverage teams as the year progressed in 2008. I'm hoping we have a solid group of gunners who can really excess in the open field and make the big hit. It does no good to get to the returner and then whiff. We gotta box him in, and smash the ever-loving crap out of him. Ellis Hobbs is a dead man!!!!
its better to have a weak return unit than a weak coverage unit. If our offense can move the ball, then we will score. But if we give up huge returns all day, our defense has no chance, and our offense is forced to do even better. It does work both ways; but I'd rather be great at stopping returns than getting returns if push came to shove. Although both would be awesome.
One of the problems over the past two seasons has been: 1. in 2007 the pats raided us for Sammy Morris, we lost Bowens to the Jets and Travis Minor went to Denver 2. in 2008, the roster was churned over constantly, and heading into 2009 our best all around St player, Erik Walden, is on the roster bubble. and HC Sparano's philosophy is not exactly conducive to big plays in ST: The ST unit is the step child, imho that is a mistake.
Friend Gish:six of one, half dozen of the other the game works this way: 1/3 offense + 1/3 defense + 1/3 special teams need to win two of the three (or superior % combination of the three) to consistently win games should be noted very few players are exclusively special teams relegating (in some minds) the Special Team Unit to a step-child status in reality it is as important as the offense or defense within the context of any given game there are play books & special packages/plays for kick-offs & coverage & a seperate coaching cadre however they draw their talent almost exclusively from the offense & defense. Want to upgrade the Special teams? everyone is potentially a special teams component. think about it. where are the best players for ST going to come from on that roster of 53. you play your best. you play to win. can't play any other way.
Why can't it be both? Returns and coverage? During the Wanny Era, and the Nicktator era, we had a sort of magic coach theory for the Oline, Houck could take scrubs and make them into decent starters and it never worked out, imho Sparano is sort of doing the same thing with ST Coach Bonamego, he has to make do instead of having a good core of ST players who eat up roster spots.
I can assure you there will be a major shake up on both returns & coverage. We will use the best fit to produce a competitive special teams unit. I expect to see a number of our first team utilized in the reconstruction of our horrendous SpecialTeam Unit in 2009. We simply have to upgrade.
Like Sparano said;if you keep changing out your players,how can you get continuity on ST? We did alot of that last year trying to get better players at the bottom of the roster. I see a big step forward this time around.Bigger,stronger,faster with a renewed confidence to get the job done. Everyone's job is on the line.If you can't cut it on ST,there's no need to put on that Dolphins' jersey.You won't be here much longer.
my sentiments exactly. could have said it better myself. kudos Friend 54Fins! "I see a big step forward this time around.Bigger,stronger,faster with a renewed confidence to get the job done. Everyone's job is on the line.If you can't cut it on ST,there's no need to put on that Dolphins' jersey.You won't be here much longer."
Really? I sort of don't see that much of an improvement moving forward, Sparano won't use roster spots for the Best ST guys, they have to be the "right" ST guys, meaning if Brandon London isn't seen as a guy who can play Wr at a high level, he won't be here.
Simple & only solution to the problem: Special Teams draw their talent almost exclusively from the offense & defense. Want to upgrade the Special teams? everyone is potentially a special teams component. think about it. where are the best players for ST going to come from on that roster of 53. you play your best. you play to win. can't play any other way. every farmers wife knows: can't make a silk purse out of a sows' ear got to have the material to work with to get the job done. Run GinnJr Run!
Until they un brain cramp themselves and let Ginn return kickoffs full time like he was born to do, the Special Teams coach is about as much use as a baseball mitt. Ginn could be one of the best in the game if he got the touches. Biggest WTF??? ever if you ask me. EDIT: OK maybe not as big a WTF??? as a Jamar Fletcher or "who the @#$% is Eddie F.N. Moore?" or Cullpepper? instead of Brees? but still WHY ISN'T TED GINN RETURNING KICKOFFS?!?!???
ST's was hurt big last year by the incredible turnover or churning of the bottom of the roster. This year there will be a lot more continuity, yes we will still churn the bottom of the roster when an upgrade becomes available, but we have a LOT more talent on the roster this year so expect less turnover in ST's. This should help us to get to where ST's was the last 6 games last season, much earlier this season.
I just don't understand why you think that the only way to have a good STs unit is to have a roster spot set aside for a STs ace. Or that if you don't have that designated roster spot you therefore don't care about STs.
Because you cannot demand performance then dispose of the ST players who do perform, that puts ST Coach Bonaemgo in the situation of retraining ST fillins over and over again during the season, and their performance is unknown until the ball is kicked off.
Well...sort of, it was more of mixed bag, we allowed that long return (with Fields being held) and Chris Williams muffed that led to a TD, but we also recovered a fumble on a punt and defended a busted FG play. And Bryan should have hung onto the first fumbled punt...
I said it elsewhere and I'll repeat it here with a solid ST core (PLEASE somebody let Ginn return kick offs) we are Super Bowl bound. If we get the same old same old then we'll make the play offs but not make it past the second round!! JM2C
Most of your STs will be made up of players who do something else. That's the reality of roster limits. How those players play together is what will determine if your STs excel or not. It will not be because you saved a roster spot for a STs ace. The one exception would be an outstanding returner.
I'm drinking the kool-aid on a Super Bowl run. I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm b/c I know the odds are against every single team, but I'm doing a poor job of it.
better do something because this is not a competitive unit they will cost us dearly, if not fixed immediately the fix: use your best on SpecialTeams every one's expectations should include playing SpecialTeams can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear got to use the right material
Bonamego had a strong track record before coming to Miami. In his 6 seasons prior as a ST coordinator, his units finished top ten, 4 times. I have to believe he can turn our STs around.
Top ten is not really that exceptional though Mr. C, in a 32 team league...upper 30% is hardly worth mentioning. Will HC Sparano allow Bonamego to have guys who can get the ST job done but who are not very good prospects to play their native positions on the offense or defense? And you may and probably should laugh, but the thought of putting Jason Allen on kick return duties has crossed my mind, he is big and fast and dense enough to be fearless..
Padre you're very right about top ten by itself not being impressive, but I'd like to add I think if all your units were able to finish top ten you'd have a tough time not making the playoffs. It does mean something, though like you said not everything. I think more than that is how close to the best and how much better than those behind you.
Not worth mentioning? Jeez, would you rather have STs remain in the bottom third? I think having your combined STs ranking somewhere in the top 10 is very good, and would make a significant positive contribution to the team's overall success this season.
ST is the one squad that can go from 30th to 5th in a single season, that is the sort of dramatic improvement that we need out of that squad to have an impact this season.
I don't know that Bonamego shouldn't be able to do better than 30th this year, no matter whom we give him. If he's worth his salt, we should at LEAST be middle of the pack. If we are bottom 1/3rd of the league in ST's again, I'm sorry but Bonamego would need to go in that case. Maybe a good coach, but just not working out. On the other hand, if he can at least find enough consistency to not make STs a LIABILITY to us, then our O and D can win us games.
And our ST's coordinator's track record indicates he should be able to achieve that. THAT'S ALL I WAS FOOKING SAYING. Then you tell me, oh well, top ten STs isn't worth getting excited about.
That's the real kicker padre, Tony has talked a good line concerning the import of ST but when it comes to walking the walk I'm somewhat concerned that ST is treated as the stepchild or else Why is Ginn not returning kick offs? He is only one of several I could point to!
