Special Teams Review: Jets-Dolphins

We've been breaking down this week's game. We conclude today's postgame analysis with a look at the special teams.

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Carlson Blanks

According to Jeff Ulbrich after the game, the Jets had planned for the last minute kickoff, which was returned to midfield, to be a touchback.

Anders Carlson obviously mis-hit the kick, which bounced at about the five-yard line, but this actually was an effective kickoff. If it went into the endzone it would have been a touchback at the 20 because it bounced in the landing zone, so the return man fielded it with no upfield momentum as he was pinned over at the sideline with plenty of players in position to stop him. It was just poorly covered.

Nevertheless, it was a mistake by Carlson, who otherwise easily managed four touchbacks and ruined a solid day which saw him make all four of his field goal attempts and two extra points. That included the would-be game-winner with 52 seconds remaining.

There was pressure from Calais Campbell on one of the made kicks, as he slipped between Olu Fashanu and Jake Hanson.

Miami missed an extra point but there was no pressure on that. Brandin Echols did twice generate some pressure off the edge though.

Punter Thomas Morstead wasn't called upon until the fourth quarter. One of his punts was pretty short but got a lucky bounce. The other was deep, but gave the return man plenty of room.

Kick coverage - You don't know (McCrary) Ball

On the long kick return to set up the game-tying field goal, the Dolphins appeared to get away with an obvious block in the back on Ashtyn Davis. Missed tackles by Tony Adams and Isaiah Davis led to the return man breaking into the clear and then Carlson was trucked before Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Kenny Yeboah combined for the touchdown sacking tackle.

Seven different Jets were credited with a special teams tackle, including two each for Yeboah and Marcelino McCrary-Ball. McCrary-Ball also had a missed tackle and was called for an illegal hands to the face penalty on a play where he drew an off-setting hold.

Ashtyn Davis was twice the first man to make a hit but didn't get credited with any tackles as his teammates had to finish the job each time.

With Irv Charles banged up, Kene Nwangwu was the most effective gunner on both punts, although he stumbled and fell on the first one, which could have led to a big return if the ball bounced more kindly to Miami.

Return game - Jarrick Burned-Converse

The Jets had no success in the return game this week, as Xavier Gipson was blown up for no gain on both his punt returns and stopped near the 20 on his only kickoff return before halftime. Nwangwu was called for a hold on that anyway, as Eric Watts and Jeremy Ruckert missed their blocks.

On the other punt, Gipson left the ball and it bounced into the end zone. Bernard-Converse was beaten by the gunner on all three punts and Kendall Sheffield was also beaten on one. Echols, who was obviously starting on defense, saw his special teams workload reduced.

We'll be back with the 3-on-D and 3-on-O over the next few days...