Jets at Packers: In-depth analysis (Part Three

We've been breaking down the first preseason game. Earlier, we broke down the offense and defense. Now we wrap up with a look at the special teams.

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - 'Mmending Fences

With his only competition already moved, Matt Ammendola might only need to stay mistake-free to win the Jets' placekicker role. He had a good game yesterday with five successful kicks, including a 54-yard field goal on the opening drive. One of the kicks was just barely inside the upright but he was impressive overall.

On kickoffs, he had three touchbacks on six attempts, but he was booming them to the back of the end zone so you got the impression the non-touchbacks were deliberately laid up short to give the coverage units some work. One was fielded at the 13-yard line so he undercooked that one.

Punter Braden Mann put all four of his kicks inside the 20, including one that bounced backwards inside the five. It was unfortunately that this bounced all the way out past the 10 before being downed. One of his other punts was a high, booming 55-yarder but he also had one that was a bit of a line drive with a 28-yard return.

Kick coverage - Elijah More

Elijah Campbell was a standout in kick coverage this week as he was credited with two tackles including one where he blew up the punt returner as soon as he caught the ball.

In addition, Manasseh Bailey, who only played one offensive snap, also impressed by wrapping up and hauling down the return man in space after a short kickoff.

Blake Cashman also made a good stop on a kickoff to bring the return man down at the 20.

Others credited with special teams tackles were Bryce Huff, Sharrod Neasman, Kenny Yeboah and DJ Montgomery. Also, Bennett Jackson wasn't credited with any tackles but got downfield well on a few of these plays.

The Jets also had some missteps in coverage. Brandin Echols, Hamilcar Rashed, Noah Dawkins and Edmond Robinson all missed tackles, as did Jackson, with three of those coming as they allowed a 28-yard punt return. Josh Adams also lost contain badly on a kickoff return.

In addition, Javelin Guidry, Echols and Thomas Hennessy all misjudged the bounce on Mann's punt that landed near the goal line.

Return game - My Bloody Ballentine

The Jets efforts to get the kick return game going keep leading them back to Corey Ballentine. The former Giant was easily the best of the multiple kickoff returners used by the Jets last year and he showed those skills again on a dynamic 73-yard runback. Daniel Brown had a good downfield block on that one.

Ace Carter got the early work in the kickoff return role and was blown up at the 15 on his first return but got out to about the 30 on his other one. On the one that got blown up, Cashman got beaten and Neasman was driven back into the return man's lap. Trevon Wesco almost allowed his man to blow up the other return, but Carter slipped the tackle.

The punt return unit did an awful job as they seemed to be trying to set up a return and failed to do so. Braxton Berrios took two fair catches and then got tackled immediately on his only return attempt as Vyncint Smith and Jeff Smith combined to let the gunner blow it up.

Deuce Carter, Guidry and Echols all also got beaten in the vice role. This is something Justin Hardee and Jason Pinnock could be tasked with in the regular season.

Lamar Jackson also had a holding penalty on one punt as the Jets really struggled with the Packers gunners even though they were double-teaming them and not actively rushing the punter.

That's it for this week's game. If you'd like us to cover anything in more detail during the week, please let us know.