In-Depth Analysis: Special Teams (Week 5 - Cleveland)
Once again, the special teams units made some key contributions this week. So far, they're much improved on last year.
Kicking game - The Cat that got the cream
Chandler Catanzaro came up huge once again for the Jets. After the Jets were lucky to be in a scoreless tie just before halftime, Catanzaro's franchise record 57-yarder gave them a 3-0 lead.
According to a New York Post report, they may even had tried it from 65 had Jeremy Kerley not caught an eight yard pass with one second left. That would have been an NFL record, but Catanzaro - who made a 60-yarder while with the Cardinals, claimed to have been making them from 62 in practice before yesterday's game.
Would this have been close from 65? I'm not convinced:
Catanzaro also had a touchback on each of his three kickoffs in Sunday's game.
Punter Lachlan Edwards had a nice day too. He boomed one punt 61 yards from his own end zone and did well under pressure. He also got lucky on a deceptive shorter punt that ended up rolling inside the 20 for a 56-yarder.
Muhammad Wilkerson had a 15-yard penalty for leaning on the long snapper as he tried to get his hand up to try and block an extra point.
Return game - No fair!
The return game didn't contribute much this week. The only chance ArDarius Stewart got to return the ball on a kickoff saw him stuffed at the 17 after the Browns kicked off from midfield due to the Wilkerson penalty.
Eric Tomlinson missed his block on that play and Rontez Miles had a personal foul on a blindside block while blocking on a punt return. He also got away with an illegal block in the back on another return.
Kerley only returned a couple of punts this week, although he had zero fair catches. One of his returns went for 13 yards, albeit on a very deep kick.
Julian Stanford flopped on the onside kick that sealed the win and David Bass also did well to field a low kick and take it out past the 25.
Kick coverage - Stuffed Peppers
There wasn't much to report in kick coverage this week either, what with all the touchbacks. Jabrill Peppers returned one punt where he broke outside for 16 yards after a long kick with Tomlinson making a saving tackle but otherwise was kept in check.
Miles and long snapper Thomas Hennessy were also credited with tackles, with Miles forcing a fumble that went out of bounds and Hennessy cleaning up after a good play by Stanford to slow up the runner.
Terrence Brooks got some work as a primary gunner this week, beating his man on one play to force Peppers to take a fair catch.