Special teamer Ellis Hobbs set a franchise single-game record with 237 yards last Sunday against Miami.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ play on special teams might have been the only positive in the loss to the Miami Dolphins, but that’s not really news: New England has consistently been one of the top special-teams units in the NFL for several seasons.

On Sunday, Ellis Hobbs averaged nearly 40 yards on six returns, and Kevin Faulk totaled 34 yards on two punt returns. On kickoff coverage, Miami rookie Davone Bess couldn’t manage 16 yards per kick return, and had one 10-yard punt return.

While Hobbs had an outstanding day (he set a franchise single-game record with 237 yards), it’s not surprising that New England leads the league in kickoff return yardage and is sixth on punt returns. Last year, the Patriots were fourth in the league on kickoff returns and second on punt coverage; they were in the top third of the standings on both punt yardage and kickoff coverage.

It’s no secret that Bill Belichick values special teams. As a former special-teams coach and as someone who looks for every way to gain an advantage in games, he places a high premium on the results in that phase of the game, just as much as he does on the success of the offense and defense.

Heath Evans, who played with Seattle and briefly with Miami, said there is much more emphasis put on the kicking teams in New England than other places.

But thanks to that emphasis and the leadership of unit coach Brad Seely, the “organized chaos” actually has some organization for the Pats.

“It’s chaos now — there’s live bullets flying everywhere — but at the end of the day, you study your film, know your personnel, you know realistically what could happen, you know what they’ve done in the past and you try to base your plan on that,” Evans said. “Not that there’s [not] wrinkles every week, but this is a game of improvising and adjusting and apparently we do that pretty well sometimes.”

Seely, who has held the role in New England since Belichick came aboard in 2000, has been a special-teams coach for all his NFL coaching life. After stops at Colorado State, Southern Methodist, North Carolina State, Pacific and Oklahoma State as an offensive line coach, he transitioned to pro football in 1989 as special-teams and tight-ends coach in Indianapolis. He has also led the special-teams units with the Jets and Panthers.

Seely is detail oriented, like most Pats coaches, Evans said, and special-teams captain Larry Izzo added that he is a good communicator as well.

“He does a great job of articulating to each guy what they need to do on each particular play to be successful,” Izzo said. “Every guy has a job to do on every play, whether it’s return or coverage, and I think he’s able to articulate to each guy what their responsibilities are and how they can best be successful through good coaching, ability and good communication.”

Brandon Meriweather, who has spent just over a season with Seely, echoed Izzo’s thoughts: Seely’s schemes lend order to plays rooted in disorganization.

All manner of player — cornerback, receiver, defensive and offensive linemen — can play special teams for New England, but all have one thing in common. They want to be out there.

“That’s a green light to get the man with the ball,” Meriweather said with a smile.

A three-time Pro Bowler as a special teamer, Izzo has enjoyed a long career in the NFL thanks to his skills in those positions. Sam Aiken was signed as a free agent during the offseason primarily for his prowess in the area as well. Other players, such as linebacker Pierre Woods, have carved a niche in special teams while also improving at their position in the offense or defense.

“They just don’t hand roles to players,” Izzo said. “Each guy that’s out there has earned the right to be out there covering a kick or blocking for a returner. You have to show the coaches and you teammates throughout training camp, throughout preseason, throughout the games, that you can go out there and get it done. When you see a guy out there, they’re capable. They’re not thrown out there because they’re here [on the roster].”

It helps that special teamers know their job is held in the same esteem as the others on offense and defense. And when the players own the job, they put in all the effort.

“Guys in there are hungry and everybody just wants to win,” Meriweather said. “Just like the defense and offense, everyone wants to win.”

smanza@projo.com