07:07 Tue 11-03-09 | by Andy Cohen
By now, this much is clear about the 2009 Miami Dolphins: With an offense struggling for consistency behind a young quarterback, the Dolphins are going to have to get points and pivotal plays from other areas. That was never more evident than against the Jets.
Two kickoff returns for touchdowns by Ted Ginn. A defensive touchdown from Jason Taylor. Some extraordinary punting by Brandon Fields. A late defensive stand. It isn't exactly the most advantageous recipe for success, but it worked. And it may have to work again for this season to continue to breathe playoff life.
I wonder if ever before in NFL history a team has gained 104 yards on offense and scored 30 points. I seriously doubt it. But it's been 42 years since a player returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in the same quarter so these Dolphins apparently don't do things the conventional way.
There's so much to talk about after sweeping past the Jets to go 3-0 in the AFC East heading into a crucial game Sunday at New England.
• I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, Ted Ginn Jr. out-running the entire Jets special teams, not one but two times, or the look of disbelief on the face of Jets coach Rex Ryan.
Remember, it was Ryan who was counting the days until his Jets got another chance at the Dolphins after that tough loss at Land Shark Stadium. To suffer another loss, this time at home, this time with his beloved special teams getting schooled by Ginn, must have been difficult for Ryan to swallow. Oh well, Rex, maybe next year.
As for Ginn, you can't help but feel good for this third-year player. Sure, most of the criticism he had been receiving was justified. Ginn was dropping passes and failing to come up with big plays. But he's a good kid, a coach's son, one of the hardest workers on the team who bleeds after every dropped pass and who somehow believed in himself enough to turn his season around with two spectacular kickoff returns.
Ginn's pair of third quarter long distance runs should go down as one of the more incredible individual performances in team history. We've heard a lot about the speed, but really didn't get a chance to see it until Ginn hit another gear running down the sideline. To do it in that environment, against that special teams, after losing his starting job to Brian Hartline, can there be a sweeter vindication than that?
I have a feeling that this performance will do wonders for Ginn. No, he's not going to turn into a superstar receiver overnight, but the Dolphins need yards in a lot of different ways, and if they can get it on kickoffs from Ginn, then that would be a huge plus for this team.
• Ginn's success was only part of a special day for the special teams. Brandon Fields punted seven times in the game and averaged 51.7 yards a kick. That's several notches about impressive. More than once he punted the Dolphins out of a huge field position hole, including one kick that traveled 66 yards. When your offense struggles and your defense is counted upon to keep the game close, a punting performance like that is huge.
One personal note on special teams coordinator John Bonamego. No doubt his special teams have been uneven this season. But in a job where you are rightfully judged every Sunday, against the Jets Bonamego should be saluted for what his special teams accomplished.
• Don't think it's a coincidence that Jason Taylor just happened to be in the right spot to scoop up that fumble and score the ninth touchdown of his career. Taylor knows how to play this game, possesses great instincts and can see a play developing as well as any player I have covered.
At 35 years old, it is already clear that he still has plenty left and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Taylor comes back for another season. The defense has to score points for this team to continue to win and, with Taylor, it always has a chance.
• Lost amid the euphoria of Ginn's return and another victory over the Jets was the fact that this was Chad Henne's first road victory as a starting quarterback.
This is how I see Henne. He still has a long ways to, still holds the ball too long in the pocket and still needs to work on his deep touch. But you see moments that clearly tell you that this kid is the real deal. What he needs now is more help from the players around him, specifically the wide receivers and tight ends who need to start making some big plays.
Henne's big challenge is consistency. This is a process, like with any young quarterback, but Henne will continue to get better. The one scoring drive against the Jets that Henne culminated with a touchdown pass to Joey Haynos turned out to be a crucial moment in the game. That should not be overlooked.
• Finally, that the Dolphins are 3-0 right now in the AFC East paints an encouraging sign of a team trying to overcome a slow start to the season. But it will be put in better perspective after this Sunday in New England. The Dolphins have already shown they can beat the Jets and Bills. The Patriots offer a different kind of challenge.
The Dolphins have played well enough to beat Peyton Manning (Colts) and Drew Brees (Saints) already this season, but fell short in the fourth quarter of both games. Now, they get to face a player in Tom Brady who is every bit as good as Manning and Brees. It will be a huge test for the Dolphins secondary, especially rookie corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis.
The Dolphins desperately need to find some consistency on offense, something more than the Wildcat, which hasn't exactly run wild in the last two games. Keeping the ball out of Brady's hands is imperative to win this game.
A victory would get this team right back in both the divisional and playoff race. What seemed far-fetched only a few days ago is now much more realistic after the big win over the Jets. And, just think, we haven't even reached the halfway point of the season yet.