Open season on return spots in Miami

By Adam Sweeney  |   Monday, May 04, 2009  |  Comments( 3 )

Miami Dolphins
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Lost in the debate of where the Miami Dolphins would improve on offense and defense this offseason is their need to make a significant change on special teams. Miami ranked 30th in the NFL in kick return yardage at 20.2 yards a return last year, which seems nearly impossible when you consider a player like Ted Ginn Jr. is on its roster. That stat is the reason the Dolphins are holding an open audition for kick and punt returners. Can you blame them?

Ginn seems the logical guy to take the returns, but Miami has to be careful in how it uses him. His third season has to be the one where he breaks through as wide receiver, and he runs the risk of injury if he does both special teams and receiving -- especially now that the wedge has been banned in the NFL. If it comes down to Ginn blossoming at receiver or breaking off a few returns and suffering injuries, you have to tell him to stay away.

Davone Bess is a reliable player and stepped up in special teams and receiving last season, but he offers virtually no chance to score on special teams. That's an issue for sure because it's critical to win the field-position battle, and if you can get six cheap points, that's obviously a huge bonus. If you take Bess, you know that he will protect the ball, but you can't expect much else.

The X-factor is Pat White, the newly acquired West Virginia quarterback. Because the second-round pick won't be getting a ton of reps on offense, he should be a candidate to take some returns. It might be the best chance he has to make an immediate impact on the team, and he would do better than Bess while giving Ginn an opportunity to focus his attention on receiving. Of course, the choice of White as the third QB will have a factor in the decision. If White is Miami's choice to back up Chad Pennington and Chad Henne, coach Tony Sparano won't want to get him hurt.

Maybe Miami will stick with its combo of Ginn and Bess getting snaps at kick and punt returns, but it hasn't paid off in the past. Something has to change. The Dolphins know it and that's why they're ready to make moves.
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About Adam Sweeney

Adam Sweeney spent 4 years as an opinions and arts & entertainment columnist with the Lone Star Lutheran, also working with Sports Illustrated.com. Along with his work on Realfootball 365 he currently is a contributor for Film School Rejects, SLAM Online, Talkhoops.net, and C-Heads ...
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