MIAMI GARDENS — Miami return specialist Braxton Berrios predicted Monday that yardage and returns for touchdowns will be up this season because of the drastically revamped kickoff rules. He made his prediction following a weekend around the NFL that saw two long returns, a couple of bloopers … and virtually nothing noteworthy about seven kickoffs in the Dolphins’ opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Dolphins had three kickoff returns for an average of 24.3 yards. Their average starting field position following kickoffs was the 25-yard line — coincidentally, the same starting spot following touchbacks under the old rules. Atlanta fared worse, averaging just 10.8 yards on four returns, skewed by a 10-yard return after a muff. The Falcons’ average starting position was their 20.4-yard line.

“A lot of things we did good, a lot of things we'll learn from and get better at,” said Berrios, who sat out the Atlanta game. “But at the end of the day, I think the opportunities are there more so than any other year. And that's exciting.”

Across the NFL, Jacksonville and Tennessee enjoyed returns of more than 60 yards. The Jaguars played the Kansas City Chiefs, who came away with red faces to match their colorful uniforms after they attempted to down a kickoff for a touchback but instead gave up a safety because the ball was in the field of play. Under the old rule, because the return man was in the end zone, it would have been a touchback. After a review, it was ruled a safety.

Also, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, used to kickoffs being ho-hum plays, was staring at a replay on his tablet when he got in the way of an official. He was called for a 15-yard penalty.

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This could be why Berrios, speaking about kickoffs in preseason in general, said they tend to be “a little chaotic.”

“I think first and foremost, they're trying to put the ball in play,” Berrios said. “The changes in the rule was to get more returns. And if they kick it straight into the end zone, it's the 30 instead of the 25. If they don't make it to the 20 or kick it out of bounds, it's upward from there.

“And so I think you'll see a lot better field position. And I do, I think you'll see a lot more returns for touchdowns. How that is going to happen? I have some thoughts on it, but I'm going to keep that in house and between me and coach (Danny) Crossman.”

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at  hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Braxton Berrios still encouraged by new kickoff rule