Jeff Hafley had an appropriately simple response to the Miami Dolphins’ most inexplicable mistake of Week 2
The most baffling of the Miami Dolphins mistakes in a 35-13 loss to San Francisco offers no magic fix — as pointed out by head coach Jeff Hafley.
For the first 30 minutes of the Miami Dolphins‘ Week 2 contest against the San Francisco 49ers, we had a competitive game on our hands. The Dolphins had found their pulse on the ground and were controlling the clock effectively. In return, the game had only 5 combined possessions — all would have yielded points if not for a missed Riley Patterson field goal.
But then things unraveled to the tune of a 21-0 third quarter outburst from the 49ers. And among the barrage was a play we’ll be sure to see pop up throughout the course of this season. Punter Bradley Pinion simply…dropped the ball before his kick and set the 49ers up on a short field. Head coach Jeff Hafley offered an appropriately simple explanation for the miscue after the game.
Simple mistakes require simple solutions and the Miami Dolphins’ biggest gaffe of Week 2
“Yeah, we have to hit the field goals. That’s two misses in two games that we’re counting on him to make those kicks, and I’m not sure what to tell you about the punt that we dropped. Just got to catch the punt…(Pinion) has been punting for a really long time. He’s got to
catch the ball.”
— Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley on special teams woes early this season
For all of the concern that exists around Miami’s special teams through the first two weeks, lapses like these can be shouldered by one party and one party only: the players involved. Credit to Pinion for owning this mistake after the game. But it’s a pretty surreal play to have happen to a 12-year veteran punter. Just dropping a ball outright? I’d assume it will be all over your timeline in the weeks ahead as a symbol of what has been a trying start of the season.
But I’d also assume it’s the last time we see it. As Hafley stated after the game, there’s no magic fix here. He’s just got to catch the ball.
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