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Miami's Special Teams

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Category 6

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Sep 19, 2016
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It's not a **** subject but it's essentially a third of the game. Miami's special teams have not performed up to the talent level that Miami has access to (shown by the Miami standard over the years). I think this issue has gone under the radar because they haven't had major errors like blocked punts or kickoff return touchdowns made on them. Despite those glaring issues not coming up, Miami's special teams have been abysmal considering the skill level athletes Miami has access to on a yearly basis.

To support what our eyes have seen, Miami is currently 118 out of 130 teams on ESPN's special teams efficiencies. Since when are 15 yard Kickoff returns, a single punt block and no punt returns for touchdowns okay at Miami?

Year 2 for Hartley in this position, same sleepwalking result at Special Teams. I have no problem with Hartley as a TE coach, but this **** needs to be addressed for Miami to get better. We shouldn't need Devin Hester to have game breaking STs plays, this is Miami, we need a better approach for this segment of the team.
 
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Agree for kick and punt returns. JT and Berrios aren't getting much help on returns.

FGs are good.
Punts need more consistency from Feagles but that comes with age.
Kick and punt coverage- 72 players with a few getting shirts. Walton played on these so I expect to see this improve next year assuming a top 5 class and playing near 85.

I would like to see a little shake-up on the staff especially with a 10th guy coming soon. LB coach? ST coach?
 
Category 6 said:
It's not a **** subject but it's essentially a third of the game. Miami's special teams have not performed up to the talent level that Miami has access to (shown by the Miami standard over the years). I think this issue has gone under the radar because they haven't had major errors like blocked punts or kickoff return touchdowns made on them. Despite those glaring issues not coming up, Miami's special teams have been abysmal considering the skill level athletes Miami has access to on a yearly basis.

To support what our eyes have seen, Miami is currently 118 out of 130 teams on ESPN's special teams efficiencies. Since when are 15 yard Kickoff returns, a single punt block and no punt returns for touchdowns okay at Miami?

Year 2 for Hartley in this position, same sleepwalking result at Special Teams. I have no problem with Hartley as a TE coach, but this **** needs to be addressed for Miami to get better. We shouldn't need Devin Hester to have game breaking STs plays, this is Miami, we need a better approach for this segment of the team.
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Special teams are incredibly important (especially against Va Tech and ND). Va Tech prides themselves on exceptional Special Teams play. You're 100% right that we're typically not getting enough out of our returns. One exception was the Berrios return against FSU and it was a pivotal play (showing how critical special teams play is to determining both field position and the outcome of the game). While the returners are both ballers, neither one is Devin Hester (best all time). However, it is the blocking that's the primary factor in the lack of long returns. In bigger games, we should have more starters playing special teams (both covering & blocking on kicks) as it could be the ultimate determinant. Also, while Berrios is very consistent catching the ball and makes relatively few poor decisions (whether to catch the ball or not etc) I do think he is sometimes too conservative and calls for a fair catch when he could get some positive yards on the return. Ball security and controlling the ball is job #1 but I feel he sometimes passes on potential 5-6 yard+ returns.

I hope we go all out on Special Teams against Va Tech because it would be great to win the ACC Coastal and play in the ACCCG. While we will get back to competing annually for the MNC and setting that as the primary goal, it would be good to win at least the ACC Coastal this year.
 
Berrios is 6th in the nation in punt return avg. but ok. I guess fans will complain about anything.
 
Treat this like the FSU game and make 'em go 75 yards every drive and kneel it so we have to go 75 yards every drive. Our special team is just itching to lose us a game with the field position we give teams and the field position we get on returns don't even bother.
 
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HighSeas said:
Berrios is 6th in the nation in punt return avg. but ok. I guess fans will complain about anything.
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A misleading stat for a punt returner that fair catches everything but wide open runs.

Big fan of Berrios - love what he’s doing this year but you’re lying to yourself if that stat tells you we’re doing well on special teams.
 
HighSeas said:
Berrios is 6th in the nation in punt return avg. but ok. I guess fans will complain about anything.
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His return average is heavily skewed by the few long returns he's had. I said that he is a baller. However, he does often seem quite conservative and settle for fair catches when he could actually run a return. See Category 6's post which is right on the money. I'm happy we have him on the team. That doesn't mean he can't refine a couple things he does.
 
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