As the regular-season opener approaches, it’s changing into extra obvious that Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel could certainly be prepared to make use of a few of his prime, most dear offensive and defensive gamers within the return sport.
“Special teams plays, they account for yards and points and can change the game as much as any offensive and defensive play,” McDaniel stated on Wednesday because it stays mysterious who will truly be dealing with these kick and punt returns in Sunday’s opener towards the New England Patriots.
“That being said, the plan is to be very strategic with regard to the flow of the game, how much wind people have, where the ball’s at, the score. But I plan on using — and I know [special teams coach Danny] Crossman feels the same — I plan on using our best players in the best situations for the team.”
The Dolphins presently checklist star receiver Tyreek Hill because the first-team punt returner and speedy 30-year-old operating again Raheem Mostert as the highest kick returner on the depth chart. Standout second-year wideout Jaylen Waddle is second at each spots. Safety Jevon Holland is the third punt returner, and operating again Chase Edmonds and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene are additionally listed as kick return choices.
At Wednesday’s observe, Hill and Holland had been amongst these seen fielding punts throughout a short media viewing portion of observe. Holland muffed one punt that got here his means with dwell punt protection coming at him.
“Hey, this just in: Every single play, people are trying to tackle you,” McDaniel replied, forward of Wednesday’s drills, to a query about weighing harm danger for star gamers. “Why are special teams any different from throwing a screen?”
It seems McDaniel could resolve to rotate returners based mostly on what will likely be required of them elsewhere within the sport plan.
“You also have to weigh, on both sides, how they’re being used the upcoming series or the series that we just had, and you have to be mindful of all of that,” he stated. “But, if I sat and apprehensive, if I made selections based mostly upon security in soccer, that may be a course of the place I’m going to fail, I really feel like. Every time they’re on the sector, it’s a danger. If there’s conditions the place now perhaps there’s a punt staff that could be very, very, very laborious to dam and makes a ton of performs in punt protection, that’s a distinct story.
“Every single play, every single snap, there’s a huge risk for injury. That’s the nature of the beast.”
McDaniel additionally mirrored on the beginning of his NFL assistant teaching profession when former University of Miami standout Devin Hester took the league by storm together with his influence within the return sport.
“Devin Hester took over the playoffs and then had all that buildup going into the Super Bowl and made a huge impact on a team’s entire journey,” McDaniel stated. “And I don’t think there’s an asterisk that it was special teams, so we’ll be very strategic with that. … We’re fortunate to have some highly skilled players that we’ll use when appropriate and accordingly.”
Waddle sleeve-less
Dolphins large receiver Jaylen Waddle, who was formally listed as restricted with a quad harm on the staff’s first harm report Wednesday, shed the compression sleeve he had been sporting on his proper leg for weeks when seen at Wednesday’s observe.
“I mean, he is limited, but my confidence hasn’t changed.” McDaniel stated of Waddle after beforehand saying “very” thrice forward of “confident” final time he spoke about his availability for the opener.
Miami, which will likely be with out beginning cornerback Byron Jones for the primary 4 weeks of the season whereas he’s on the physically-unable-to-perform checklist, had good attendance from the 53-man energetic roster on Wednesday.
Fullback Alec Ingold (restricted, hamstring) and cornerback Nik Needham (restricted, quad) had been seen understanding on the aspect in the course of the early portion of drills.
Other Dolphins listed as restricted as a result of harm had been operating backs Chase Edmonds (groin), Myles Gaskin (neck) and Salvon Ahmed (heel), security Eric Rowe (pectoral) and tight finish Tanner Conner (knee). Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel was stated to be restricted with an sickness. He returned this week from having his appendix eliminated. Tackle Terron Armstead and outdoors linebacker Melvin Ingram had been restricted, receiving a veteran relaxation day.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com