Ronnie Brown, KR? Bad Idea

I know I was. 

Instead of the much-heralded Ted Ginn Jr., head coach Cam Cameron opted to use starting running back Ronnie Brown and his backup, Jesse Chatman, to return kicks. 

 

Wait, seriously? Wasn't Ginn supposed to contribute an immediate measure of explosiveness to the return units? 

 

Here's what Cameron had to say following the game in regards to the Brown-Chatman pairing:

 

"That will probably be our return unit. We want to focus on Ted on the punt returns and give him a chance. Obviously, that takes a lot of work, and I want to make sure he gets as much as he can."

I simply cannot fathom the logic behind such an absurd and awful decision. The plan was for Ginn to shine as a returner while gradually growing as a receiver. Now, Cameron is saying that returning kickoffs is too much for Ginn to handle in addition to his regular receiving duties.

 

If Ginn were slated to start at receiver, I could stomach the move. But he's not. At best, he's going to be the Dolphins' third wideout.

 

What makes the decision even more half-baked is Cameron's use of Brown in Ginn's stead. Never mind that Brown has never returned kicks at the college or pro level—he's the primary running back in an offensive system that relies on a workhorse to carry a large load.

 

Without Brown, the Miami offense will likely go nowhere. So why expose him to injury by having him return kicks? Why sap the energy he'll need to effectively carry the ball through a complete game—let alone a complete season?

 

Again, I have no answers. I just hope Cameron knows something I don't. 

 

If the coach is absolutely set against having Ginn return kicks, I'd still rather see someone like WR Az-Zahir Hakim or RB Lorenzo Booker step in ahead of Brown. At least those players have proven experience as returners, and don't have the added responsibility of being the offensive keystone.

 

I've generally agreed with most of Cameron's decisions, but I can't get behind this one. Ted Ginn Jr. has the potential to be a stud return man—on kicks as well as punts. Now isn't the time to hold him back. 

 

Of course, a good night's rest after the Chiefs game may have been all Cameron needed to come to his senses. While he didn't commit to anything concretely, he seemed to back away from his initial position on Saturday.

 

"That statement only applied to that game," the coach said when pressed on the issue. "I wanted to give (Ginn) one full game of returning punts, and I wanted to give Ronnie a game of returning kickoffs."

When asked who would be back deep during the team's next preseason game against Tampa Bay, Cameron said, "We haven't made that decision yet."
 
Cam, the decision is clear. Ronnie Brown doesn't need the extra work. Let Ginn do what he does best.
 
Check out Samuel's site Phinaticism for all your Dolphins news and commentary.