Special Teams Elephant in the Room

[CBurrr93]

Can beat a dead horse on the offensive line or the defense, but this is and has been truly an inexcusable operation on special teams for many years here. There is no way this program can invest millions upon millions of dollars and somehow completely ignore special teams.

1. Miami being so lackluster in the return game shouldn’t be possible

2. There is a penalty if we even try to return a kick

3. We line up punt safe or field goal safe. Never even attempt to block a kick or alter a game with a special teams play.

I’m sorry but it’s unacceptable to treat a major aspect of the game so cavalier. I know it’s not going to change but it drives me insane. We can preach toughness and 1-0 and going to work but we can’t even pretend to bother having at least a below average special teams unit

 

[major kong]

Yes, seems like a glaring, gaping hole in Mario's priorities. Championship teams almost always have at least above average special teams.

 

[Canes Legacy]

Your points are valid but it’s not like special teams cost us a natty or anything like that…

 

[passitback]

There is absolutely no reason why we do not have a dedicated special teams coach.

 

[htownkidd]

Horrendous.

 

[firstandcanes]

When was the last time Miami returned a punt or kickoff? Has it happened under Mario?

 

[ssvir]

There is absolutely no reason why we do not have a dedicated special teams coach.

We do.

 

[SinisterCane]

Every previous Miami head coach who was successful here, treated special teams as equal to offense and defense

 

[cooks002]

Someone should ask about this.

 

[Go Canes!!]

We’ve excelled in FG kicking and punting for several years.

That’s what matters the most to me.

 

[Snoop]

When was the last time Miami returned a punt or kickoff? Has it happened under Mario?

Brashard Smith against A&M IIRC.

Mali obviously was inches away against A&M as well.

Wingo seems to be doing a decent job back there.

My bigger issue is 1) we never try to block a punt; and 2) not sure if we’ve run a fake under Mario ever (obviously not advocating for this all the time, just maybe once in 5 seasons to put it on film).

A couple of times vs. ND they were sending **** near 10 guys to try and block and only leaving the return man back.

 

[Torocane]

Fair criticism. Special team have been an issue for a while. Its not even about getting something positive out of it.....just dont have it cost you games.

 

[CaneandAbel]

We've been running punt safe every time since the Louisville game last year most of our starters are in. Not really going to get many returns outside a few line drive kicks.

 

[Firesite]

When was the last time Miami returned a punt or kickoff? Has it happened under Mario?

Texas A&M 2023 my guess?

 

[canesigep23]

even the dudes we have in punt coverage just look unathletic...like a bunch of walk-ons.

 

[JgDaCane]

Someone should ask about this.

THIS!!

 

[Canegetright]

The days of Hester seems like forever ago.

 

[McGahee2TheHouse]

We’ve excelled in FG kicking and punting for several years.

That’s what matters the most to me.

Good grief. How do people stick their head in the sand to this degree?

 

[jackedaround]

We are 38th in special teams.

Under Mario from 2023 to 2025: 75, 99 and 95th.

It is a complaint but we have improved this year.

 

[MiamisMoperiestMopes]

I don’t care that we don’t try to block kicks, risk is greater than the reward especially in 4th and short situations. Jumping or lining up offsides, running into the kicker is far more likely to happen than getting the block. And with this our current defensive situation, you take the win.