Special eye needed to see Dolphins' plan

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-hyde14sbmar13,0,4922440.column

Special eye needed to see Dolphins' plan

Dave Hyde
Sports Columnist

March 13, 2008

Day after Groundhog Day, brick after anonymous brick, you can watch the foundation being laid to whatever the Dolphins become next season, if you have the patience.

Or you can just watch any YouTube video of Devin Hester's touchdown return against Detroit last September.

There's Hester, the Chicago Bear, waiting under the kickoff. There's Hester catching the football. There's Hester running upfield through a seam, making a Lion miss … then another! He's down the sideline! Another two misses! Then that burst of speed and …

"Hold your breath!" as one YouTube videographer keeps yelling.

What's this have to do with the Dolphins? Go back to the 15-yard line. There's one of the next possible bricks. There's Rashied Davis, one of two more special-teams specialists the Dolphins are considering, sealing off the left side with a clean block.

He's in the video just long enough for Hester to run by. About the same amount of time you see Nathan Jones, the latest ex-Cowboy being considered, in any of his plays. It's the same for seven bricks already signed to upgrade special teams.

These aren't headline names. They're not even noticeable, unless you're looking for them, or unless you working off a bigger picture, which the new Dolphins regime obviously is. Bill Parcells & New Co. decided they can't build up the offense and defense into first-rate units off free agency.

Too risky. Too expensive. Look at the New York Jets' $140 million gamble this off-season to offer the flip side to free agency.

Instead, the Dolphins are spending on second-tier names to build up the special teams. Keith Davis had 18 special-team tackles, more than any Dolphin. Tab Perry had 16, equal to the only Dolphin in double figures, Edmond Miles.

Reggie Torbor, "Boomer" Grigsby, Charlie Anderson, David Kircus — they all have made careers on special teams. The phone calls to Jones and Rashied Davis show the Dolphins might not be done, too.

Early 2008 marketing slogan: "We've put the kick-a-- in kickoffs!

Earliest 2008 prediction: Ted Ginn Jr. will have five touchdown returns.

That might be as many touchdowns as the Dolphins' offense scores all year, considering all the questions involving this offense right now. But let's deal with the remodeling that's done. Let's consider how it changes the horizon.

Last summer in training camp, even with Ginn as the top pick, then-special teams coach Keith Armstrong was privately warning team insiders the special teams were in trouble. All his specialists were let go, he said. David Bowens. Sammie Morris. Travis Minor. Go down the list.

This isn't a slap at the previous regime. They had too much heavy lifting in a depleted roster. Even when they did find an answer, like Jesse Chatman chaperoning Ginn on kickoffs, injuries forced changes to the point new coach Tony Sparano said last month that in watching special-teams film, "At times there is a different [player] running down there every game."

No wonder the Dolphins finished last in kickoff coverage. No wonder, even with Ginn, they finished 15th on kickoff returns.

No wonder, too, the Dolphins are mining this route. That Ginn had a return touchdown on those special teams (plus two more called back by penalty) shows the kind of impact he can have with a supporting cast. Now he has one, too.

The price tags tell what the investment is. The Dolphins wanted linebacker Calvin Pace, but not at the $22 million guaranteed the Jets are paying him. They obviously need help on the offensive line, but not at the $21 million the Jets guaranteed guard Alan Faneca.

Instead, a relatively expensive buy is Torbor, the former Giants linebacker who started the last nine games including the Super Bowl but made his name on special teams. Tobor got a $4 million signing bonus and $1 million this season.

The Parcells Era will rise or fall on the quarterback. Everyone knows that. But the glimpse of this era's opening weeks is a throwback to Jimmy Johnson's thinking: Stars will be found in the draft or not at all.

Free agency is being used to add bricks and mortar. Every day, another special-teams guy is on the radar. Every day, a Rashied Davis or Nathan Jones is being discussed.

Individually, they don't draw notice. Collectively, they signal the new regime's blueprint: Watch the YouTube video and substitute Ginn for Hester.

[Loyal Fin]

great article

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Hyde always tells it like it is.  Good way to look at things

[TonyB0D]

too optimistic - i'll wait until i see some results on the field.  the 5 returns i can see - Ginn had 1 and almost broke a few more, and had like 2 called back....if he gets some good special teamers, watch out!