In-depth analysis: Jets-Giants (Part Three: Special Teams)

Over the course of today, we'll be breaking down the performance of every player that took the field in the Jets' preseason game against the Giants. We'll wrap up now with a look at the special teams units.

Kicking - Seib-leined

One negative to come out of last night's game was a rare dip in form from Greg Zuerlein who hit the upright with a chip shot field goal before half time and then shanked a 47-yarder in the second half.

Perhaps most interestingly Austin Seibert did not get a chance to kick. There are two potential reasons for this: Perhaps the Jets value Seibert as a possible backup to Zuerlein and perhaps didn't want to showcase him in hopes that he can get through waivers to the practice squad. The alternative would be that Zuerlein felt he needed the extra work having missed one in the first half (with some accounts suggesting he also missed several kicks in a row in pre-game).

Either way, it's something to keep an eye on. Zuerlein did make a field goal and an extra point and also kicked two touchbacks. Hopefully, he can correct whatever the issue was this week and we can be relieved it happened in a game that didn't count.

On one of Zuerlein's kicks Kohl Levao and Thomas Hennessy got blown up by interior pressure. However, this was ironically one of the ones he made. There was no pressure on either of his misses.

Thomas Morstead had to punt six times and his numbers were good, with two of his punts muffed. He put two inside the 20 and three of the other four went 50 yards or more.

Kick Coverage - Zaire on Fire

The Jets caused some chaos early on, as the Giants fumbled three returns in the first half. Tre Swilling stripped the ball loose from the return man on the opening kickoff and Qwan'tez Stiggers recovered. Then there were two muffed punts which the Giants recovered. Stiggers, Jason Brownlee, Chazz Surratt and Jackson Sirmon got downfield well and almost got the recovery on these.

That opening kickoff was the only kickoff return either team had all day and was the longest the Jets have given up in preseason as Marcelino McCrary-Ball got blocked out of the play and Shemar Bartholomew missed a tackle.

The punt coverage unit did reasonably well, although Stiggers overpursued after getting downfield well on one return. Xazavian Valladay cleaned up behind him to knock the return man out of bounds.

On another return, Al Blades and Zaire Barnes combined to clean up after Lance McCutcheon and Zack Kuntz missed tackles but forced the return man laterally.

McCutcheon was completely dominated by Christian Holmes on the next punt, with Holmes even hitting him with a "too small" gesture despite the fact the return still got blown up. Barnes got down before everyone else and, although he return man slipped his tackle, Blades was right there to finish him off.

Barnes continued to make an impact on Morstead's final punt as he was the first man down again to force a fair catch.

Return Game - Cod is in the house

Undrafted rookie Brandon Codrington didn't create any big highlights this week, although he did cut across the field for 15 on his best punt return of the day.

On that longest return, Stiggers pancaked the gunner and Kendall Sheffield also did a nice job to pick up the other gunner.

Codrington's other two punt returns netted just nine yards as he slipped on one and he also took three fair catches. All three Giants kickoffs were touchbacks.

Swilling also did a good job of blocking on another return but Braiden McGregor, Brandon Smith and Lincoln Sefcik all let their man beat then to make a play. In addition, Brownlee and Stiggers were both called for holding on another return.

The question now becomes has Codrington done enough to secure a roster spot and, if he hasn't, has he done too much to be able to pass through waivers?