Dolphins Escape Near Catastrophe Against Saints
The Miami Dolphins found themselves on the brink of a shocking defeat last weekend as they faced off against the New Orleans Saints. With a commanding 16-0 lead at halftime, the Dolphins appeared to be in control. However, the tides turned dramatically in the second half when the Saints mounted a comeback, narrowing the score to 21-17 with just 1:23 remaining on the clock.
In a situation where all the Dolphins needed to do was recover an onside kick to secure victory, chaos ensued. The ball slipped past Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, leading to a controversial recovery by the Saints. After an extensive review, officials determined that the ball had brushed against Cameron Goode’s leg before traveling the requisite ten yards, allowing New Orleans’ Devaughn Vele to seize the opportunity. The review sparked confusion, and even FOX’s rules analyst Dean Blandino expressed uncertainty over whether the ball had indeed touched Goode. Nonetheless, the ruling stood, leaving the Dolphins scrambling to explain the blunder.
Dolphins’ Special Teams Coordinator Addresses the Blunder
When asked about the disastrous onside kick recovery during a Thursday press conference, Dolphins special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman did not mince words regarding his team’s execution.
“First off, we’ve got to be more aggressive about going after the ball,” Aukerman stated. “That’s why we’re putting skilled players there to attack it. We called a timeout because we anticipated the kick going to that area. We just need to be more assertive.”
The question remains: why did Westbrook-Ikhine allow the ball to pass him? Aukerman provided insight, explaining that the player deemed the situation “too hot” and chose not to pursue it. “We had another guy behind him who thought Nick would go for it. The key coaching point here is that we can’t assume anyone will go after the ball. Everyone needs to want it. That’s going to be crucial moving forward. We’ll coach it better,” he emphasized.
Preparation for Onside Kicks
Given the Dolphins’ near-miss in what should have been a straightforward situation, it raises the question of how the team prepares for onside kicks during the week. This season, Miami has made a strategic adjustment by adopting techniques from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ onside kick preparations.
“That’s a big point of emphasis for us,” Aukerman noted. “Minkah Fitzpatrick brought this over from Pittsburgh. We conduct numerous onside kick drills on Fridays and Saturdays for the players. Our specialists, including the long snapper, kicker, and punter, practice various types of onside kicks to ensure readiness.”
Emulating the Steelers’ renowned special teams coordinator, Danny Smith, appears to be a wise move, considering his reputation as one of the best in the business. While Aukerman’s commitment to improving the unit is evident, Westbrook-Ikhine’s mistake is particularly frustrating for a player who has not significantly impacted the team this season.
Potential Changes to the Onside Kick Unit
As the Dolphins look to rectify their onside kick issues, they may consider adjustments to their personnel. However, the players typically expected to fill in for Westbrook-Ikhine were already on the field during the game against New Orleans. The unit included notable names like Fitzpatrick, Goode, Cedrick Wilson, Jaylen Waddle, Greg Dulcich, Julian Hill, De’Von Achane, Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, and Ashtyn Davis.
Westbrook-Ikhine generally occupies a position meant for a larger player tasked with blocking, while smaller, quicker players like Waddle or Achane are better suited for the recovery. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the Dolphins adjust their onside kick strategy and execution as they work diligently to learn from the mistakes that almost cost them a vital win.
