Miami Dolphins: Another thing to cover (improving kick coverage)

[BAMAPHIN 22]

I started the interview by asking Dolphins special teams coach John Bonamego what area he most wanted to improve this offseason.

"Do you have all day?" he deadpanned.

Weak scribe laughter.

"Well, obviously, we were a unit last year that started off very rough," he said. "And statistically, in this league, when you don't get off to a fast start it takes you a while to dig out of the hole. We gave up way too many plays last year. But I think that toward the end, down the stretch, the last seven ballgames, six ballgames, we really improved a great deal."

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sport...-thing-to-cover-improving-kick-coverage-.html

 

[mikethewreck]

I think we are going to see a transformation in our Special Teams. I think we will be well positioned to take advantage of the abolition of the wedge that will benefit teams with WRs, TEs, and LBs who can cover the kicks. Hmmm, who's got a bunch of those? Just love it that our team is proactive!

 

[ckparrothead]

The guys that I believe will help us on kick coverage most are Patrick Cobbs, Lex Hilliard, Erik Walden, Cameron Wake, Orion Martin, Jason Allen, and Chris Clemons. That's my prediction.

 

[ArmyFin7]

I agree, I can see Wake and Clemons making a huge impact on ST.

 

[Orlando Fan]

I believe you will see a good improvement on kick coverage this year, the addition of the players listed above and the continual churning of the bottom of the roster, will provide a few more rough Jems to be found. We may not be at the top of league in this area but we will not be bottom feeders like last year.

 

[BenchFiedler]

The guys that I believe will help us on kick coverage most are Patrick Cobbs, Lex Hilliard, Erik Walden, Cameron Wake, Orion Martin, Jason Allen, and Chris Clemons. That's my prediction.

I don't think Lex Hilliard will make this team. If we are keeping 6 receivers, I doubt we will keep 4 Rb's..
We allready have : Brown, Williams, Cobbs + FB Polite

 

[So Be]

I agree, I can see Wake and Clemons making a huge impact on ST.

Normally, some of your top draft picks make a difference on ST's. Last year we did not have that luxury. Long, Henne, Merling, and Langford were not ST guys. :)

This season, we got Davis, Smith, Clemons, and Hartline. BIG DIFFERENCE!

As to Wake. I've read that he is getting down in coverage as fast as some DB's. Other players have said he is strong as hell. I've seen his pic, and he looks like a NASTY SOB.

I'm not trying to overhype the guy but, if I'm returning kicks, I'm gonna avoid him. NOT :crazy:

Side note-Come home safe.

 

[So Be]

The guys that I believe will help us on kick coverage most are Patrick Cobbs, Lex Hilliard, Erik Walden, Cameron Wake, Orion Martin, Jason Allen, and Chris Clemons. That's my prediction.

Last year, we sucked. This year, we got some headhunters who can block and tackle. I'm looking for a 1-15 to 11-5 improvement on ST's.

 

[PhinsRDbest]

How about getting more touchbacks Carpenter.

 

[So Be]

How about getting more touchbacks Carpenter.

I thought Carpenter had a VG year. Remember that Sporano had him making directional kicks, maybe because of our lack of coverage.

Also, Fields is booming punts consistantly. Perhaps Bond, who was cut, lit a fire. He was not bad last season, middle of the pack, but he has Pro Bowl talent. I look for him to be top five this season.

 

[patswho?]

Special teams is 1/3rd of the game

We can eliminate alot of mistakes if we give our offense good field position, and give the other offense mediocre field position

 

[AFLisbetter]

we have to be able to stop leon washington,roscoe parrish, leodis mckelvin, nad others in this division. man its gonna be tough

 

[DFJR88]

How about getting more touchbacks Carpenter.

I thought Carpenter had a VG year. Remember that Sporano had him making directional kicks, maybe because of our lack of coverage.

Also, Fields is booming punts consistantly. Perhaps Bond, who was cut, lit a fire. He was not bad last season, middle of the pack, but he has Pro Bowl talent. I look for him to be top five this season.

s-p-A-r-a-n-o

sparano

also, bond wasn't with us last season.

 

[SRM]

we have to be able to stop leon washington,roscoe parrish, leodis mckelvin, nad others in this division. man its gonna be tough

Not sure if it was Washington that Walden tackled but oooh man. In the last Jets game, Walden tackled the **** out of one of them on a kick return. I love this Walden guy, the dude is ferocious.

 

[GoonBoss]

I thought when we Signed Walden the coverage units improved almost right away.