Miami Dolphins kicker and punter in the crosshairs | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Miami Dolphins kicker and punter in the crosshairs

DKphin

DKphin

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Tuesday was not a wonderful day at work for Miami Dolphins kicking specialists Caleb Sturgis and Brandon Fields. That's because their boss called them out for jobs not too well done so far this NFL season.

Coach Joe Philbin singled out Sturgis during a team meeting, in front of all the other players, for missing a field goal in Chicago last weekend.
The coach was also asked during his press conference about his punter Fields having a suprisingly poor season kicking the ball so far and Philbin didn't mask the fact something is wrong there.
It was eye-opening because the coach often covers for some players.
Not this time.
Sturgis is connecting on only 78.6 percent of his kicks so far this season. That's 28th in the NFL out of 32 kickers. From 30 yards on out, Sturgis is 6 of 9 (66.6) and that is also not a good mark.
Sturgis had a 32-yard attempt blocked in Chicago. But it was the missed 50-yarder that drew unwanted attention for Sturgis.


Fields has a long way to go to get back because his 43.3 gross average this year is 31st in the NFL out of 32 punters. His average is the worst he's had since his rookie year in 2007 and, amazingly, it is only one yard better than his 2013 net average of 42.4.
As for the net average this year?
It's 31.8. That is dead last in the NFL. That is so bad it is nearly four yards worse than the next worst net average. Oh, and it is the worst of Fields' career by four yards.
Click to expand...
 
Darn that Philbin guy. He's calling out certain players again.
 
What is up with Fields? You always knew that no matter what Fields would at least give the D some decent field position to work with. The whole team seems to be clicking better and now our punter is making it harder? Hope he gets it figured out.
 
Sturgis needs to be shown the door. Fields is an established guy who has always been dependable. I think I'd just chalk his issues up to him being in a slump, and give him some time to shake it off.
 
Sturgis has gone from the worst kicker last season to the 28th best kicker this season. Some will say that's progress. I'll say I am not convinced there is anyone any better available but at a minimum they need to try some kickers out and if that doesn't wake him up, bring in competition next season.
 
Fields was the last guy I was worried about going into the season...it's pretty surprising how bad of a season he's having and it's really hurting the defense by giving the opponent a short field and momentum since it results in a big return just about every time (teams are averaging 15.8 yards per punt return I think). I do miss the days when Fields used to pin an offense back deep and get us out of trouble on occasion, could have used that against Green Bay for sure.

I think Rizzi deserves some of the blame here. We've never had a kicker hit a high percentage of kicks here under him. Carpenter is in Buffalo making better than 90% of his kicks. Last time a kicker made better than 90% here was in 2007 and it was Jay Feely (91.3%)...before the Parcells regime purged the Dolphins. Rizzi wasn't the coach obviously.
 
I read the other blog post by Armando on Dion Jordan being "drug free." Armando makes an issue out of Dion not admitting that he went to rehab and then tells us he did.

It's none of Armando's business whether he got treatment. That's a medical issue and we have privacy for medical issues in this country. Dion answered that he resolved his issues, and whether he got treatment or not is a private matter. Dion will have to stand on his own going forward and hopefully won't have a relapse, and that outcome will stand or fall on its own. The fact of whether (or not) he has a relapse could invariably become public, but the medical treatments behind the scenes are not. Not one of Armando's finest moments.
 
I dont like this **** going public. Why is this information leaving the locker room?
 
I will honestly be beyond shocked if Sturgis finished the season as the Fins kicker.

I have zero confidence when he lines up for any kick over 45 yards.

Fields has had some bad kicks but also our punt coverage has been terrible (see the GB game final punt).
 
foozool13 said:
I dont like this **** going public. Why is this information leaving the locker room?
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My guess is Philbin thinks the whole....coach calling out player thing 'fires up' that player to prove him wrong (like Tannehill).

Fault is that players respond differently, and a kickers mental game is just as important as his leg. See Carp. Dude can kick with the best of them as we see now with the Bills, but in Miami the guy had zeo confidence and was dreading the Boo's from the home crowd.
 
Its public because Philbin said he called them out in front of the team.
 
We-are-Kickers.jpg

[video]http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/walter-payton-on-snl/W_XEXQqHCc9O1z2cZ7x7dw[/video]
 
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