Dolphins training camp: special teams third week update
The Dolphins are pretty much set in the main components on special teams however there are many supporting roles that will be hard to nail down all the way though training camp. What follows will be updates of participation with reports on which direction certain players may be heading.
The special teams kicker and punter have been performing at a top-notch level. Matt Darr is averaging over 40 yards per punt. Andrew Franks has not disappointed but this last game was mostly a punting affair, with the only points on offense coming from the first team at the start of the game (first half). Matt Moore was knocked out of the game early in the second half, Brandon Doughty was put in but looked unimpressive not lasting long, Zac Dysert came in with 6:07 left in the 3rd quarter for mop up duties in what had been a snooze fest with the Cowboys imposing their will scoring all of the 41 points for the game at least they were held to no further damage.
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Griff Whalen was being worked in for returns late in the last game however those efforts were mostly touchbacks he did look OK with a few punts he had, with a similar outcome for Jakeem Grant earlier in the game nothing spectacular. A.J. Cruz got 1 punt return with just under 2 minutes left in the game and came up lame although he should be alright.
Miami’s special teams snap counts per offensive player from game 2 Vs Cowboys.
Only double-digit snaps included here
MarQueis Gray, tight end
Special teams snap: 14 (47%)
Leonte Carroo, wide receiver
Special teams snap: 12 (40%)
Isaiah Pead, running back
Special teams snap: 12 (40%)
Thomas Duarte, tight end
Special teams snap: 10 (33%)
There is somewhat of a pattern here with a player getting no snaps one week than more than their counterparts the next. It happened with TE’s MarQueis Gray Vs Dominique Jones and also RB’s Isaiah Pead Vs Daniel Thomas. The above stats full credit to Kevin Nogle thephinsider.com
Miami’s special teams snap counts per defensive player from game 2 Vs Cowboys.
Only double-digit snaps included here
Jordan Lucas, safety
Special teams snap: 25 (83%)
James-Michael Johnson, linebacker
Special teams snap: 20 (67%)
Mike Hull, linebacker
Special teams snap: 20 (67%)
A.J. Hendy, safety
Special teams snap: 18 (60%)
Akil Blount, linebacker
Special teams snap: 17 (57%)
Lafayette Pitts, cornerback
Special teams snap: 12 (40%)
Jordan Williams, defensive end
Special teams snap: 11 (37%)
Chris Jones, defensive tackle
Special teams snap: 10 (33%)
The defensive players received the bulk of the double-digit snaps were they being punished for allowing the most points the Cowboys have scored in a preseason game going back 13 years? (joke) The above stats full credit to Kevin Nogle thephinsider.com
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This game is the so-called dress rehearsal and Kenny Stills had his coming out party last game with 2 TD’s. If he could keep his performance up to that level not many would care if he would don that attire.
Quotes and notes
Chris McCain got a bump-up in STs snaps last night compared w/ Giants game. That matters. They're seeing if they can make him active.
— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) August 20, 2016
Chris McCain looked to get more involvement with the special teams although he had been slowed by injury.
Pead also took 40% of the special teams snaps this week after taking none last week. Testing him. Damien Williams has taken 3 snaps on STs.
— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) August 20, 2016
Leading up to last weeks Cowboys game OC Clyde Christensen had good things to say for both Isaiah Pead and Daniel Thomas and that there would be a hard decision to make with ST playing a part. However Pead had no ST snaps to Thomas 10 ST snaps the game before. As I correctly ascertained in the last ST article Pead would be getting more ST snaps: those results are Pead with 12 snaps to Thomas with 7.
"“Thomas Duarte, who wants to block, cannot because he’s simply not strong enough and his technique is late-round-rookie-terrible”. –Armando Salguero miamiherald"
"“Thomas Duarte; tight end. Practice squad seems more likely for the seventh rounder, whose blocking error led to Matt Darr’s blocked punt Friday.”-Barry Jackson miamiherald"
It looks as though Thomas Duarte is deep in the dog house. Can he do better this game?
There wasn’t much going on this last game outside of a few extra points and a whole lot of punting. This next game may have more to offer but if reports are any indication it could be a defensive affair and if the Dolphins defense does not rise up for the battle it could become another blow out game.