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Ryan Stonehouse put up gaudy numbers during his time with the Tennessee Titans and owns the two highest single-season yards per punt averages in NFL history. Yet when it would've cost the Titans a minimal amount to keep Stonehouse as a restricted free agent this offseason, they cut bait and allowed the 25-year-old punter to leave Nashville.
So why did the Titans cut ties and how did the Miami Dolphins land the NFL record holder on a bargain deal? Hang time.
“Some of the punts we’ve had, it gets down the field and it goes long down the field, but it doesn’t give us hang up in the air and give us enough time to get down there to cover. Puts us in a tough spot," Titans coach Brian Callahan said in October.
So Stonehouse already knows exactly what he needs to do to prep for success in Miami.
"I’ve really been honed in on getting a lot of hang time this offseason. I’ve really tried to get that down," Stonehouse told reporters earlier this week. "When I was coming out for the draft, that was the big knock on me that my hang time wasn’t as great.
"But I kind of set out to prove that wrong and I came into camp -- you can ask [Dolphins special teams coordinator] Craig [Aukerman] when you get him on -- I was hitting 5.0s consistently, and that’s what I’m striving for this year because I think it matters so much.”
Aukerman was the Titans' special teams coordinator when the team signed Stonehouse as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The coach was fired by Tennessee late in the 2023 season and spent 2024 out of the league before he was hired by the Dolphins earlier this year to replace Danny Crossman.
Miami's decision to add Aukerman was a significant reason Stonehouse wanted to play for the Dolphins and is convinced he'll find success in South Beach.
"I’m very excited to work with Craig again," Stonehouse said. The opportunity, when it was presented, I couldn’t pass it up. I think he understands my ability, and I value critique and coaching a lot. Craig is honest with me. He knows where I need to improve on and he’s willing to hold me accountable, which that’s the most important thing as a coach – holding guys accountable.
"It doesn’t matter what level you are, if you’re an All-Pro, if you’re the best player, got to hold guys accountable and I think he does that, so I’m very excited to be in that system again.”
For now, though, it's no guarantee that Stonehouse will even win the job. The team still has Jake Bailey, who handled Miami's punting duties for the last two seasons, under contract as well. The Dolphins could save $1.975 million by cutting Bailey and $1.65 million by parting with Stonehouse.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins punter Ryan Stonehouse has 'honed in' on improving hang time
Continue reading...
So why did the Titans cut ties and how did the Miami Dolphins land the NFL record holder on a bargain deal? Hang time.
“Some of the punts we’ve had, it gets down the field and it goes long down the field, but it doesn’t give us hang up in the air and give us enough time to get down there to cover. Puts us in a tough spot," Titans coach Brian Callahan said in October.
So Stonehouse already knows exactly what he needs to do to prep for success in Miami.
"I’ve really been honed in on getting a lot of hang time this offseason. I’ve really tried to get that down," Stonehouse told reporters earlier this week. "When I was coming out for the draft, that was the big knock on me that my hang time wasn’t as great.
"But I kind of set out to prove that wrong and I came into camp -- you can ask [Dolphins special teams coordinator] Craig [Aukerman] when you get him on -- I was hitting 5.0s consistently, and that’s what I’m striving for this year because I think it matters so much.”
Aukerman was the Titans' special teams coordinator when the team signed Stonehouse as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The coach was fired by Tennessee late in the 2023 season and spent 2024 out of the league before he was hired by the Dolphins earlier this year to replace Danny Crossman.
Miami's decision to add Aukerman was a significant reason Stonehouse wanted to play for the Dolphins and is convinced he'll find success in South Beach.
"I’m very excited to work with Craig again," Stonehouse said. The opportunity, when it was presented, I couldn’t pass it up. I think he understands my ability, and I value critique and coaching a lot. Craig is honest with me. He knows where I need to improve on and he’s willing to hold me accountable, which that’s the most important thing as a coach – holding guys accountable.
"It doesn’t matter what level you are, if you’re an All-Pro, if you’re the best player, got to hold guys accountable and I think he does that, so I’m very excited to be in that system again.”
For now, though, it's no guarantee that Stonehouse will even win the job. The team still has Jake Bailey, who handled Miami's punting duties for the last two seasons, under contract as well. The Dolphins could save $1.975 million by cutting Bailey and $1.65 million by parting with Stonehouse.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins punter Ryan Stonehouse has 'honed in' on improving hang time
Continue reading...
