There is no way to sugar coat it, the special teams in 2017 were not very good. The kick off coverage, while they did not give up a touchdown, was far from ideal. The punting game was abysmal all year long, including the first punt I have ever seen that lost yards. Former kicker Michael Badgley, ironically the only Miami Hurricane to make the first team all ACC in 2017, was just 17 of 23 on kicks and also missed an extra point. One of the bright spots from 2017 was the consistency of Braxton Berrios as a punt returner, but Miami has to find a replacement for him in 2018. Perhaps the most amazing statistic from the 2017 season was nobody missed a kick against Miami, extra points included.
When it comes to the punting unit, Miami has sophomore Zach Feagles on scholarship as well as their backup punter/holder, walk-on junior Jack Spicer. Spicer, who previously transferred from Florida, had one punt last season and it came during the blowout loss in the ACC Championship Game. There will be three long snappers on the roster in Jordan Butler, Sam York, and Jacob Munoz. Miami has to hope that either Feagles or Spicer has taken a step forward over the past few months. Miami may also try out kicker Bubba Baxa at punter, but he does not arrive on campus until this summer.
Speaking of kickers, Miami will not have a scholarship kicker on the roster during spring football. When Miami runs kickoffs during the month of spring practice, they will have to rely on walk-on's junior Marco Baeza and freshman Turner Davidson or Feagles/Spicer to be the kicker. When Bubba Baxa arrives during the summer, he will need to get adjusted to Miami quickly because he will be relied upon from day one.
As far as the kick return unit goes, Miami did not have any kickoffs for touchdowns in 2017. That being said, Jeff Thomas was really coming into his own as a returner during the second half of the season. If Miami uses Thomas as a primary receiver, they may take him off the kick return team. Other players who could possibly return kicks are: Nigel Bethel and Mark Pope (who do not arrive until summer), Mike Harley, Gilbert Frierson, and Deejay Dallas.
Although not everybody liked how conservative Berrios was as a punt returner, his reliability will be missed. Miami will seek a replacement for Berrios, but it will be hard to find somebody as sure handed. Just like the kick returners, the possible punt returners include: Jeff Thomas, Deejay Dallas, Mike Harley, Mark Pope, Nigel Bethel, and Gilbert Frierson.
It is hard to think that the special teams can get worse than they were last season. The chance we see another negative punt or another year without opposing kickers missing a field goal is slim. The offense struggled at times in 2017, but having better starting field position will help change that for the upcoming season. If Feagles is able to pin opposing offenses deep in their own territory, the defense will be able to feast. All in all, special teams is an area where we could see the most improvement in 2018.
When it comes to the punting unit, Miami has sophomore Zach Feagles on scholarship as well as their backup punter/holder, walk-on junior Jack Spicer. Spicer, who previously transferred from Florida, had one punt last season and it came during the blowout loss in the ACC Championship Game. There will be three long snappers on the roster in Jordan Butler, Sam York, and Jacob Munoz. Miami has to hope that either Feagles or Spicer has taken a step forward over the past few months. Miami may also try out kicker Bubba Baxa at punter, but he does not arrive on campus until this summer.
Speaking of kickers, Miami will not have a scholarship kicker on the roster during spring football. When Miami runs kickoffs during the month of spring practice, they will have to rely on walk-on's junior Marco Baeza and freshman Turner Davidson or Feagles/Spicer to be the kicker. When Bubba Baxa arrives during the summer, he will need to get adjusted to Miami quickly because he will be relied upon from day one.
As far as the kick return unit goes, Miami did not have any kickoffs for touchdowns in 2017. That being said, Jeff Thomas was really coming into his own as a returner during the second half of the season. If Miami uses Thomas as a primary receiver, they may take him off the kick return team. Other players who could possibly return kicks are: Nigel Bethel and Mark Pope (who do not arrive until summer), Mike Harley, Gilbert Frierson, and Deejay Dallas.
Although not everybody liked how conservative Berrios was as a punt returner, his reliability will be missed. Miami will seek a replacement for Berrios, but it will be hard to find somebody as sure handed. Just like the kick returners, the possible punt returners include: Jeff Thomas, Deejay Dallas, Mike Harley, Mark Pope, Nigel Bethel, and Gilbert Frierson.
It is hard to think that the special teams can get worse than they were last season. The chance we see another negative punt or another year without opposing kickers missing a field goal is slim. The offense struggled at times in 2017, but having better starting field position will help change that for the upcoming season. If Feagles is able to pin opposing offenses deep in their own territory, the defense will be able to feast. All in all, special teams is an area where we could see the most improvement in 2018.
