Everyone remembers last offseason the Dolphins spent a lot of time and resouces during free agency improving their special teams.
Keith Davis was signed to help on special teams. Charlie Anderson was signed to help on special teams. Reggie Torbor, we were told, would help on special teams. The Dolphins made a lot of elitist fans, people who think they know more about football than the average Mando, really happy because they were spending tons of time on their special teams.
Me? I want more points on offense and want the defense to yield fewer points. But I digress.
Earlier this week, a special teams study in the The Dallas Morning News showed which teams had great special teams play in 2008, and which did not. And, not surprisingly to anyone who watched the Dolphins throughout the season, Miami's special teams weren't really that special.
But the chart also shows something the elitists didn't expect: Special teams play is seriously overrated. That's right, spending undue time, effort and salary cap resources on special teams was something of a no-win proposition, at least in 2008.
If you study the overall chart, the worst special teams in the league belonged to the Indianapolis Colts, a team that won 12 games. The Dolphins were 30th and they won 11 games and the AFC East. The Arizona Cardinals were 28th and they won the NFC title and went to the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl champion Steelers were 20th, for goodness sake!
And the great special teams units, the ones that dominated the NFL? They didn't fare so well.
Take the Buffalo Bills.
They have the distinction of being the best special teams in the NFL for the third time in five years -- and they have not made the playoffs any of those seasons. In fact, the Bills haven't been in the playoffs since the dawn of the new century.
The Cleveland Browns had a great special teams, according to the rankings. They were No. 3 and they didn't make the playoffs. The Oakland Raiders were No. 5. and they were terrible overall. In all, seven of the NFL's top 10 special teams units spent the postseason in front of their TVs watching teams with poor special teams compete for a Super Bowl berth.
So next time you hear a team, specifically the Dolphins, talk of improving the special teams, your reaction should be: So?
marc in pink.
Posted by: cuban menace | February 14, 2009 at 08:06 AM
rex ryan is marc
Posted by: cuban menace | February 14, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Typical sportswriter bs. If you are so good, why aren't you coaching even pop warner, are you. If I remember correctly, you are one of those who does not believe the new Dolphins at the outset last year, tell me I'm wrong???
Posted by: bob tiburcio | February 14, 2009 at 09:15 AM
bob; you are right,mando thought dolphins were going to suck last season.any way most sport writers just go with what is hot at the moment .you don't need any talent today to write any thing .
Posted by: go phins | February 14, 2009 at 09:30 AM
CUBAN MENACE is imposter go phins, bob tiburcio and still a f'n no social life ,loser.social parasite.
Posted by: marc | February 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM
marc is go phins and imposter mr bungle and still with no social life,loser in pink,
Posted by: menace | February 14, 2009 at 12:41 PM
dear marc ;i would like to come to your garage picnic .what should bring with me? you friend .
Posted by: menace | February 14, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Wow, the phony Mr. Bungle has so much time on his hands that he not only posts as me 24/7 but he even has conversations with himself pretending to be other posters responding to him. Now that's someone with a lot going on in life.
Posted by: Mr. Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 01:08 PM
the phony mr bungle and marc please stop this joke about menace and go phins?
Posted by: Mr.Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 01:32 PM
mr jungle bungle;your writing is very creepy but what you think of cuban menace?
Posted by: go phins | February 14, 2009 at 01:34 PM
mr bungle is very creepy .he is talking to himslef.amazing
Posted by: micky | February 14, 2009 at 01:47 PM
MENACE,I know that's you pretending to be all these posters ,while talking to your loser self. MARC is right you are a social parasite.
Posted by: Mr Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 01:47 PM
mr bungle ;you are marc.every one knows
Posted by: monkey | February 14, 2009 at 01:49 PM
MENACE,I know that's you pretending to be all these posters,while talking to yourself.Marc is right you are a social parasite.
Posted by: Mr Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 01:55 PM
go phins, you're so obvious when you sometimes forget to capitalize my name when you post as me. It's no surprise that you replied to me almost instantly. You are responsible for half the posts in this blog posting as different people and talking to yourself. Don't you have a training session or something else to do? Your gig is getting pretty old don't you think?
Posted by: Mr. Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 01:57 PM
MR bungle ,it's the cuban menace .He sometimes uses caps,and always uses crappy grammar.Believe me!!
Posted by: marc | February 14, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Mr bungle,why would the imposter go phins ask how you feel about the cuban menace ,if it isn't the menace himself ? Get a clue.
Posted by: marc | February 14, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Mr bungle,why would the imposter go phins ask how you feel about the cuban menace ,if it isn't the menace himself ? Get a clue.
Posted by: marc | February 14, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Are you serious? He likes to make it seem that it's different people. Good job Sherlock! LOL
He's made Armando's blog his personal little game. The level of discussion on this blog is 3rd grade at best. It's too bad that Armando allows it.
Posted by: Mr. Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 02:31 PM
HI , my name is MR BUNGLE AND I'M A FAT,NO SOCIAL , LOSER who goes on blogs 24/7. THE SUN-SENTINAL has no new blogs today,so there's no one to talk to ( because I have no real FRIENDS).
Posted by: fan | February 14, 2009 at 02:34 PM
MR BUNGLE , I presume you were talking about that parasite, menace ?
Posted by: marc | February 14, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Its a game of inches.... so the difference of starting at the 30 or at the 20 is huge for the offense. The same if your punter can kick it inside the 10 huge for your defense.... its all about field position and the point in time in a game when your special teams do their job.... just ask the Cardinals about field position in the Super Bowl..... not very good and they lost!
Posted by: joeywatts | February 14, 2009 at 03:23 PM
marc is A nice boy.he loves football
Posted by: monkey | February 14, 2009 at 03:28 PM
we need a new live chat about S.TEAMS and get togather picnic.
Posted by: go phins | February 14, 2009 at 03:33 PM
you are a dick shut up
Posted by: cooper | February 14, 2009 at 03:39 PM
MR BUNGLE BOY;lets talk about you and marc.BTW you think BP will stay this year? please answer bungle boy.
Posted by: menace | February 14, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Joy 100 watts ; agree w/ you S.teams not important.
Posted by: Mr Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 03:43 PM
cooper is telling mr bungle to shut up .that's not nice thing to say to marc.
Posted by: monkeyy | February 14, 2009 at 03:48 PM
ww
Posted by: monkeyy | February 14, 2009 at 03:51 PM
I think we should trade wilford, courtney bryan, and tyrone culver for Ed reed . You're thoughts ?
Posted by: Mr Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Oops, I meant "your". Also throw in a 7th rounder.
Posted by: Mr Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 03:58 PM
ED reed will never come here . Willford and courtney and tyrone all should get 5 years contracts.are you smoking some thing bungle boy?
Posted by: cuban menace | February 14, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Oops,I meant also 2 Draft Pick.
Posted by: Mr Bungle | February 14, 2009 at 04:03 PM
mr bungle ;are you sure of 2 pick?
Posted by: monkey boy | February 14, 2009 at 04:05 PM
fins should trade the whole team for tom brady...
Posted by: go phins | February 14, 2009 at 04:12 PM
billy bob
Posted by: marc | February 14, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Hello boy's, Who ever is posting as me it"s not me. m@@c is right about this person, he has no life and blogs 24/7 ... to the rest of you i'll be popping in from time to time to make sure you know whats going on... and one more thing.....JETS,JETS JETS>>>>>
Posted by: cuban menace | February 14, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Now would all you boy's and girls like to hear a nite time story from the menace??
Posted by: cuban menace | February 14, 2009 at 07:12 PM
WOW , menace. You really need some help( or some friends ) !!!
Posted by: Mr Bungle and marc | February 14, 2009 at 09:15 PM
bungle and m@@c ,happy valentines day you two love birds. i knew you two would make a wonderful couple..
Posted by: cuban menace | February 14, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Remeber all,m@@c will be having his pic-nik next weekend where we'll be releaseing ted(feet of clay)ginn and randy crowder back into the wild..world wildlife fed. will be there and there will be a petting zoo where you can pet m@@c's momma, so bring the little ones...
Posted by: anti christ | February 14, 2009 at 10:09 PM
please menace tell us about marc and bungle as a couple
Posted by: monkey | February 14, 2009 at 11:17 PM
marc loves pink and yellow
Posted by: brown and mama | February 14, 2009 at 11:22 PM
menace please tell us a bed time story please please
Posted by: fan fins | February 14, 2009 at 11:26 PM
What happened to the return of the Sunday column? It last only one week?
Posted by: Cam Cameron | February 15, 2009 at 07:40 AM
it's coming next sunday.can you survive ?
Posted by: fan fins | February 15, 2009 at 08:10 AM
we need an article about enhanced drugs al A-rod in football and it's effect on games like in baseball.let us talke about that.
Posted by: doctor Z | February 15, 2009 at 08:17 AM