This is the last of the Completing The Puzzle series. I "saved" it because, although kickers and returners are simple, PFF lists 1100 players on ST's and it's a pain to pick out the Phins. We may have added some help here in the draft in Gates, Clay and Wilson. Gates has very little experience as a returner, and did little in college when he did. He needs a lot of coaching for us to use his speed. I doubt Clay played STs in college. Blocking is his weakest link, and I don't know if he can tackle. Wilson may be a ST stud or not make the team. Kickers- Fields ranks 2nd in the NFL, and had a great year. Carp was #14, #3 on FG/EP, down the line on KOs but new rules will help him more than others. Returners- Bess and Carroll are average. They do not hurt the team or help a lot. ST'ers- PFF lists Games as in when a player did something (good or bad), Tackles, Assists, Missed Tackles, and Penalties. I list players as they did. A player may have made a good block or let another make a play, etc to raise or lower his rank. Punts & KOs included. Hilliard- 7 Games, 8 Tackles, 0 Assists, 1 Missed Tackle, 0 Penalties. Jones- 8 G, 8 T, 1 A, 2 MT, 1 P. Culver- 7 G, 10 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Alama-Francis- 4G, 1 T, 2 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Cobbs- 10 G, 6 T, 1 A, 2 MT, 0 P. Dobbins- 5 G, 4 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 1 P. Wallace- 5G, 7T, 0 A, 1 MT, 1P. Sapp- 6G, 3 T, 1 A, 0 MT, 1P. Spitler- 5 G, 4 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 1 P. Fields- 16 G, 2 T, 1 A, O MT, O P. Amaya- 8 G, 13 T, 0 A, 2 MT, 1 P. Davis- 4 G, 3 T, 0 A, 1 MT, 1 P. Denny- 4 G, 3 T, 0 A, 2 MT, 0 P. Carp- 15 G, 0 T, 0 A, 2 MT, 1 P. Moses- 4 G, 2 T, 0 A, 1 MT, 0 P. Carroll- 12 G, 3 T, 0 A, 2 MT, 0 P. Ness- 3 G, 3 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Hartline- 1 G, 1 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Polite- 1 G, 0 T, 1 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Dansby- 1 G, 0 T, 2 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Clemons- 1 G, 1 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Smith- 1 G, 1 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 1 P. Bobby Carpenter- 4 G, 4 T, 0 A, 0 MT, 0 P. Aside from Cobbs and Sapp, we likely keep most of the contributers here. However we need some help. I have nothing to compare with but, 17 missed tackles and 9 penalties does not sound good. On the returner side, Sproles could be a nice fit, Gates may surprise, an undrafted FA, or maybe we try to steal a Jet. I don't see anyone else out there. This puzzle still needs some work. 1
First thing that jumps out at me: Only the kickers and Cobbs are listed as contributing in 10 games or more. Second thing is, 13 Tackles led the team, I'd bet if you looked up Jason Allen he had more then that many tackles between TX and Miami which is why a name like Tim Shaw should be on our radar/ Third thing is, there normally is a PFF metric for Returners, with both Cobbs and Carroll handling KO's and Bess pretty much handling punts PFF should have a ranking on them. Fourth thing is, Ireland correctly identified Mike Mariani the AFC pro bowl KO return man, if they think Gates can handle the job there is a reason for believing they may know what they are talking about with him.
I see them as only listing games in which a player did something, good or bad. Cobbs was back on returns, as was Carroll who has 12 games. Kickers obviously are in kicking. Jason Allen is listed for Miami in weeks 8 and 9- 0 tackles, 0 assists, and 1 missed tackle. Houston- weeks 11, 13, and 17- 3 tackles, 1 assist, 0 missed tackles, and 1 penalty. Returners in 7 or more games has Bess at #16. His avg is within a yard of #11 and #22. Carroll is at #19. His avg is within a yard of # 14 and #26. With 32 teams, I just listed them as average, which is fair. No one is hoping more than me that Gates is better than Hester.
In 09 C Clemons had a great yr for us, and based on your list Jon Amaya had a solid yr for us in 2010. Sounds like spot duty for JA, in Miami he was a great gunner on coverages. If you then look at longest returns Bess had 1 good one and a whole slew of very average ones, over 10 ypa on punts is really good, but it is easily possible to avg that and to have more 20 and 30 yd or longer ones. Carroll sort of slumped as the yr went along, for a time he was ahead of Ted Ginn last yr, but TG wound up finishing ahead of him. My goal is always 2k all purpose yds, the only player to top that the last 3yrs is Sproiles, with Danny Armendola having 2 2k yrs back to back, otherwise that is sort of the bar, though Leon Washington when healthy tends to top it. If Gates managed 2k yds the ST unit, with 2 pro bowlers on it and with Fields on the cusp, would finally be an asset.
Amaya did have the 13 tackles but, the 2 MTs and 1 penalty dropped him down the list There were 28 punt returners last year with a 10 yard or better avg. Of those, 15 had a longer return than Bess's 47. J Allen had 14 T, 1 A, and 2 MT in 09. Shaw as Pff's #1 guy in 09, 21 tackles. He is tied for 18th in 10, 14 tackles. They do go by more than tackles. Their top guys last year were Kassim Osgood, T J Ward, Delanie Walker, Mike Adams, and Dekoda Watson.
No surprise, he did play minor league baseball for a time that is still good production for a newb ST guy. On how many attempts though? Shaw has been a standout ST guy for the Bears and then the Titans, he is a proven player which is why imho they should take a sniff at him. Ironic thing is, Tim Dobbins was supposed to improve the ST overall. JA was always near the top of our tackles list, since we rarely try onside kicks any longer cannot say how he did in that dept. Osgood is a perenniel pro bowl ST player, the problem is he offers nothing as a Wr.
Shaw was credited with a outstanding 30 ST tackles with the bears in 2009, afaik he was tendered at a 7th rd level, meaning they are not too serious about keeping him, but they won't just give him away, they signed him for next to nothing so they are trying to recoup some value.
Amaya led the team in STs tackles despite playing only 9 games, but that does his baseball background have to do with it?
He had not played football in 2 yrs as nearly as I can tell, his football bio cuts off in 2008, think it maybe took him some time to catch up to game speed and the contact ST demands?
No it doesn't. 4 yr letterman at Nevada, ending with 2009 season. http://www.miamidolphins.com/content/jonathon-amaya
