Special Teams Review: Jets-Patriots

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

Let's review the key contributions...

Return game - Gip too hard

Xavier Gipson had 27 yards on four punt returns this week but 21 of those yards came on his longest return of the day, as he slipped the first tackle and then avoided another one up the field. That was actually his first punt return for more than 20 yards since his touchdown in last year's opener.

While the Patriots' punter Bryce Baringer was launching kicks that gave Gipson plenty of room, gunner Brenden Schooler basically beat Brandin Echols down the field on all five of his punts, making things tough for Gipson who had three returns stopped for a short gain and was forced to take a fair catch as a result.

On the longer return, at least Echols went and got a block on someone else, while Sam Eguavoen also made a good block.

The only kickoff return of the day was actually by Isaiah Davis and probably shouldn't have been because he fielded it in the end zone and came up six yards short of the 30-yard line. Gipson and Jeremy Ruckert each let a New England player run right past them to blow it up though.

Kicking game - WTF Greg, Jesus fcking Christ Greg, God damn it Greg, Greg.

Kicker Greg Zuerlein was a rare negative from this game for the Jets as he hooked a short field goal just before half time. Luckily it didn't matter, as he made his other four kicks. It didn't help that there was pressure off the edge once against Ruckert and three times against Tyler Conklin on these. New England had a leverage penalty on one of them though.

On kickoffs, Zuerlein had all touchbacks apart from when the Jets got to kick off from midfield and he tried to hang one up near the goal line. This was returned out near the 25 but the return man probably could have left it because it looked like it would go out of bounds.

Thomas Morstead didn't post very good numbers this week either, mostly due to a touchback from near midfield. Echols got downfield well but couldn't find the ball to down it. Braelon Allen and Chazz Surratt also allowed pressure on two of his three punts.

Both teams seemed desperate to try and block a kick this week. Echols pressured a field goal attempt and Eguavoen and Solomon Thomas got some pressure on two of Baringer's punts.

Kick coverage - Charles in Charge

Echols did a decent job of getting downfield this week, as the Patriots paid more attention to his fellow gunner Irv Charles, frustrating him into a personal foul at one point. The pair both got downfield well to combine for a special teams tackle in the fourth quarter.

On New England's only kickoff return, Echols slowed up and redirected the runner so that Eguavoen could make the play. Then Eguavoen was the first man down on the punt where Charles had his penalty and although he missed the tackle, that set up Thomas Hennessy to make the stop.

Somehow Schooler only ended up with one special teams tackle but it was enough to move him into a first-placed tie with Anfernee Orji of the New Orleans Saints for special teams tackles this season. While Charles and Jamien Sherwood are just one behind, it's Schooler who looks like the most dominant special teamer in the AFC right now.

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