Dolphins position review: How does Miami improve an inconsistent special teams unit?

For the second consecutive season, the Dolphins ranked among the NFL’s worst special teams units. Inconsistencies in several areas kept the group from making more of an impact. Despite the struggles, head coach Mike McDaniel retained special teams coordinator Danny Crossman.

“It never really crossed my mind, and that just comes as a result of daily evaluations of all coaching involved in the building,” McDaniel said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think that the Miami Dolphins fanbase, the players and Danny and myself would all agree that the desired results, we have more to achieve; but if I would have determined that that was solely his – if I thought that we couldn’t get to where we need to get to go with Danny Crossman, I would have made a move. I definitely didn’t feel that way and that just comes as a result of daily investment into the coaching staff and what he brings to the table.”

In the 11th and last of a series of position reviews, the Miami Herald will examine the Dolphins’ special teams situation.

2022 IN REVIEW

The Dolphins ranked 28th in Football Outsiders’ efficiency metrics, falling short in just about every category. Kicker Jason Sanders improved from the 2021 season but still failed to maintain his consistency on long-range attempts, going 2 of 6 on 50-plus kicks. Miami once again had no viable return game, ranking 32nd in punt return average and 31st in kick return average. Punter Thomas Morstead was an improvement from Michael Palardy but the Dolphins’ coverage unit allowed the greatest kick return average and seventh-most yards per punt return.

Depth chart

Jason Sanders

▪ Skinny: Sanders made 81.3 percent of his field-goal attempts, an improvement from the 74.2 percent mark in 2021, but his struggles on kicks of 50 or more yards made up four of his six misses.

▪ Contract: Sanders, who turns 28 in November, is entering the second year of a five-year extension he signed in 2021. He has a cap hit of $3,775,000.

Thomas Morstead

▪ Skinny: Morstead averaged 46.4 yards per punt, right in line with his 46.5-yard career average. 45.9 percent of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL.

▪ Contract: Morstead, 37, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Blake Ferguson

▪ Skinny: Ferguson completed his third season as the Dolphins’ long snapper.

▪ Contract: Ferguson, who turns 26 in April, is entering the final year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $1,010,000.

Raheem Mostert

▪ Skinny: Mostert was the Dolphins’ top kick returner and had a 20.1-yard average.

▪ Contract: Mostert, who turns 31 in April, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Cedrick Wilson Jr.

▪ Skinny: Wilson was the Dolphins’ top punt returner and had a 7.5-yard average.

▪ Contract: Wilson, who turns 28 in November, is entering the second year of a three-year contract. He has a cap hit of $8,000,000.

Justin Bethel

▪ Skinny: Bethel played a team-high 377 special teams snaps and was one of the Dolphins’ top gunners.

▪ Contract: Bethel, who turns 33, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Duke Riley

▪ Skinny: Riley’s 330 special teams snaps ranked second on the team.

▪ Contract: Riley, who turns 29 in August, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Andrew Van Ginkel

▪ Skinny: Van Ginkel’s 306 special teams snaps ranked third on the team and he led the Dolphins with 12 solo special teams tackles.

▪ Contract: Van Ginkel, who turns 28 in July, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Offseason questions

1. Are there changes among specialists?

Morstead is an unrestricted free agent but spoke highly about his first season in Miami and has expressed some interest in returning. The Dolphins signed him to a veteran minimum contract and bringing him back shouldn’t cost too much more.

Miami publicly backed Sanders throughout the season even as he went through bad stretches and has guaranteed $2.48 million of his $3.375 million base salary, which makes it more likely than not that he is on the team in 2023.

2. Is this the year the Dolphins get a legitimate returner?

The Dolphins opted not to use wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as full-time returners and didn’t get much from Mostert or Wilson. McDaniel has spoken about the value of special teams but Miami’s unit was unable to shift the field much in the return game.

3. How do the Dolphins replace key special teams contributors?

All of the Dolphins’ top-six players in special teams snaps this past season — Bethel, Riley, Van Ginkel, defensive back Elijah Campbell, linebacker Sam Eguavoen and safety Clayton Fejedelem, are entering some form of free agency this offseason. Miami on Wednesday placed a tender on Campbell, an exclusive rights free agent, but released tight end Cethan Carter, another core special teamer who missed all but one game because of a concussion.

Miami’s biggest moves will be adding impact players on offense or defense but general manager Chris Grier will have to keep in mind adding special teams contributors as he did with cornerback Keion Crossen and wide receiver Trent Sherfield last year.

Potential additions

If the Dolphins don’t re-sign Morstead, the Los Angeles Ram’s Riley Dixon is arguably the best punter available. Dixon averaged 48.4 yards per punt, which tied for 10th-most this past season.

The Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon is the top returner set to be a free agent. He was named an All-Pro after ranking second in kick return average (28.8) this past season. Nixon could provide depth in the secondary — in Green Bay, he played in a similar scheme as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s — and give Miami a spark in the return game.

DOLPHINS POSITION REVIEWS

S: Will Miami make a big addition at safety?

CB: What happens with Byron Jones and cornerback position?

OLB: ‘Great potential’ with Chubb, Phillips at outside linebacker

ILB: Trio of inside linebackers set to hit free agency

DL: Christian Wilkins set to lead defensive line again – with a new deal?

TE: Miami’s tight end room likely headed for shakeup

OL: Does Miami need to target another starting offensive lineman?

WR: The Hill-Waddle pairing was an explosive tandem in 2022

RB: Will Miami be in search of another upgrade at running back?

QB: Will Miami invest significant resources into Tagovailoa’s backup?