AFC East preview: Can the Dolphins’ special teams get back on track in 2022?

David Santiago/dsantiago@miamiherald.com

If the Miami Dolphins want to change their fortunes in 2022, it will have to start in the division.

The last time the team won the AFC East was the 2008 season when Tony Sparano was head coach and Chad Pennington was starting at quarterback. Since then, the Dolphins have made the playoffs just once and finished second in the division only four times.

The Dolphins, though, have assembled a talented and deep roster that is expected to have them in contention for a playoff spot after they have come one win short the past two seasons.

In the final segment of an eight-part series, the Miami Herald will rank and preview different positions for each team in the AFC East, from strongest to weakest. Part 8 is special teams.

1. New York Jets

▪ Projected depth chart: Eddy Pineiro/Greg Zuerlein (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Thomas Hennessy (long snapper).

▪ Skinny: The Jets, despite a 4-13 record, had one of the better special teams units in the NFL last season. New York’s special teams ranked second in Football Outsiders’ efficiency metric, which takes into account field goals/extra points, kickoffs, kick returns, punts and punt returns. Braxton Berrios, an All-Pro selection in 2021, led the Jets’ return game, averaging a league-best 30.4 yards per kick return. New York is holding a kicking competition this summer between incumbent Pineiro and Zuerlein, who was signed during free agency.

2. Buffalo Bills

▪ Projected depth chart: Tyler Bass (kicker), Matt Araiza (punter), Reid Ferguson (long snapper).

▪ Skinny: The Bills’ special teams unit was ranked 19th last season by Football Outsiders’ efficiency metric. Buffalo was among the best coverage teams in the league, allowing 18 yards per kick return (third-fewest in the NFL) and 5.6 yards per punt return (second-fewest). The Bills drafted Araiza, arguably the draft’s top punter, in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His strong leg should help Buffalo flip field position even in frigid conditions.

3. New England Patriots

▪ Projected depth chart: Nick Folk (kicker), Jake Bailey (punter), Joe Cardona (long snapper).

▪ Skinny: The Patriots’ special teams ranked 18th last season by Football Outsiders’ efficiency. New England is expected to return its top specialists from 2021, though Bailey could be pushed by undrafted rookie Jake Julien for punting duties.

4. Miami Dolphins

▪ Projected depth chart: Jason Sanders (kicker), Thomas Morstead (punter), Blake Ferguson (long snapper).

▪ Skinny: In 2020, the Dolphins had two All-Pro players on special teams and a top-10 unit, according to Football Outsiders. In 2021, the Dolphins had an uneven year with a new punter in Matt Palardy, their All-Pro kicker regressed and their All-Pro returner wasn’t on the roster by midseason. All that led to a decline in productivity; Football Outsiders ranked the Dolphins the 29th-best special teams unit last season.

The Dolphins are hoping Sanders, not far removed from the best season of his career, has a bounce-back year in 2022. The team added Morstead, who at 36 should still be an improvement from Palardy. While the Dolphins don’t have a clear-cut returner entering training camp, they have a number of dynamic players with experience, including receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The team, however, will have to find a replacement for Mack Hollins, who excelled as a gunner but signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.