In-Depth Analysis: Special Teams

Special teams didn't have a major impact on yesterday's game but it could have. A few plays went awry and there were a couple of near misses from both teams.

Kicking game - Embrace the shank

After controversially winning the placekicker role over Ross Martin, it seemed inevitable that Chandler Catanzaro would fall at the first hurdle, but he actually performed well in his first game.

Catanzaro nailed field goals from 48 and 52 yards, while Steven Hauschka missed his only attempt for the Bills. The coaching staff has said that Catanzaro's kick-offs were the reason he won the job over Martin and he had three touchbacks in this game. The only kick-off that wasn't a touchback was fielded in the end zone and returned to the 20.

It looked like Buster Skrine's quick rush off the edge might have contributed to Hauschka's miss.

Punter Lachlan Edwards had a solid game overall, averaging 49.5 yards per punt. However, he had one awful 29-yard shank and his longest kick of the day was returned 19 yards so he probably out-kicked his coverage on that one.

He did have some nice punts, though, with good hang time. These included one than bounced inside the five and was downed there. Edwards almost had one blocked after Terrence Brooks badly whiffed on his block in punt protection though.

Return game - Nobody loves Raymond

In his first game as a Jet, Kalif Raymond committed the unforgivable sin of muffing a punt ... but then he scooped it up and set off on a nice 25 yard return. So maybe that could be forgiven after all. If only he didn't muff the next one as well. He even looked uncomfortable under the one after that, making a falling catch.

Even though none of these plays led to turnovers, Raymond will probably be released after that display, or at least moved off punt returns in favor of Jeremy Kerley.

On his two kick-off returns, Raymond didn't get out past the 25. He was stuffed at the 17 on one as Will Tye and Dylan Donahue each badly missed a block.

Kick coverage - Julian noted

Julian Stanford got off to a good start with two special teams tackles, while also coming close to blocking a punt on a play where it looked like he was held.

It looked like Brandon Tate was going to have a much longer return on the long Edwards punt that he brought back 19 yards. New addition Edmond Robinson just about got enough of him with a diving ankle tackle as he almost let Tate turn the corner to get up the sideline.

Gunners Charone Peake and Marcus Williams, each of whom only played one non-special teams snap, both had some good moments in punt coverage. Peake beat his man down the field a couple of times and drew a penalty, while Williams also drew a penalty, downed a punt inside the five and tackled the return man as soon as he caught the ball on one punt.

Jamal Adams was the only player to miss a tackle in kick coverage.