MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins’ special teams performance has been unacceptable.
For years.
Just how bad has Miami Dolphins special teams been?
According to Pro Football Focus metrics, here’s where Miami has ranked in the past three seasons under Danny Crossman:
2024: 32nd
2023: 29th
2022: 32nd
It’s almost impossible to fathom.
After Miami’s defeat of New England, in which the team won despite a slew of special teams miscues, head coach Mike McDaniel was asked how he assesses special teams.
“Very critically,” McDaniel. “I think you have to assess the common denominators.”
Well, one common demoninator has been Crossman.
It’s hard to say it’s Crossman’s fault every time a field goal is missed or a snap is rolled or a punt is shanked.
But there have been way too many penalties. And way too many mistakes.
“It just wasn’t good enough,” snapper Blake Ferguson said after the Patriots game. “I think obviously it starts with the specialists. We have to be elite for our special teams unit to dominate. Starting with me, we were not good enough today. But I don’t know, I’d have to watch the tape to see what happened on the individual plays. But in the kicking game, it just wasn’t good enough today.”
Miami’s last game was distressing.
Jason Sanders connected on a 54-yard field goal in the first quarter. But then Sanders hit the left upright and missed on a 41-yard field goal.
Jake Bailey had a punt blocked in the second quarter. The punt was blocked by Brenden Schooler, who ran around the edge of Duke Riley.
Later, a false start moved a 46-yard field goal attempt to a 51-yard attempt. Then a bad snap by Ferguson rolled on the ground and Sanders was tackled.
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It’s not just Pro Football Focus that says Miami’s special teams have struggled for years.
Journalist Rick Gosselin has annually conducted a special teams ranking that is well-regarded.
In 2023, Miami was ranked 31st by Gosselin.
Miami was worst in the league in kickoff coverage and worst in opponent starting point.
And in 2022, Miami was ranked 27th.
Miami was worst in the league in kickoff coverage.
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For too long, the Dolphins have been poor in kickoff coverage, punt coverage, punting, kickoff returns and penalties.
Before this season, McDaniel was hopeful things would improve.
Asked why he brought Crossman back, McDaniel said, in part: “I determined that he was the appropriate guy to lead us to fix the things that haven’t been up to the standard.”
In five games this season, Miami has 10 special teams penalties, including five in one game.
This is all completely unacceptable.
Coaches like to say each of three phases is essential – offense, defense and special teams.
Miami’s special teams is not anywhere close to holding up its part of team success.
