Is Devin Hester an upgrade for the Dolphins?
Last season he had a career high in kickoff return yardage, with an impressive 27.7 yard average and also averaged 14.2 yards on his punt returns. A healthy 5.4 and 6.4 yard upgrade on Marcus Thigpen’s 2013 numbers.
Granted Thigpen had a down season, but even on a down season, Devin Hester is feared, which should help Miami win the psychological battle that often decides a game.
When you have the greatest of all-time on your team, it does something for your swagger and Miami’s special teams could have a career year as a result.
I doubt the team will be cheap here, when they are already paying $3.6 million for 5 more yards of “Fields” position, punter Brandon Fields 2014 salary.
Devin Hester could make a big difference if he only plays special teams, as he did last year, but on offense I compare him to Reggie Bush, minus the ball carrying.
The Bears used him as a receiver, but I view him as a receiver out of the backfield, who could go in motion.
The NFL is obsessed with making the running back into an extra blocker, but what about as a safety valve?
Let’s say the rush gets on Tannehill really quickly in 2014 again and he gets it to Devin 50 times instead of taking 50+ sacks.
It’s no longer a bad play, it is a play that had a Plan B.
Basically, three of the plays per game that went for a loss last year, would now have a chance.
Hester is great at making people miss in the open field, so a defender has to account for him, making it harder to recklessly blitz Miami.
In 2012, he was voted the 48th best football player in the NFL by his peers. He is the same player today that he was then.
Let’s not overthink this.
[Editor’s Note from Bill] – Miami Jules, I’ll be looking forward to your comments on this post. I know how much you like Marcus Thigpen….but I’m with Cyrus on this one.