Special Teams Review: Jets-Steelers

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 - The chicken or the Greg?

Greg Zuerlein had two kicks blocked this week, with one controversially overturned and one arguably illegal too but the overall outcome is that he's missed five of 13 field goals this year and is hurting the Jets chances during this four game losing streak.

The Steelers clearly recognized some weakness in the Jets' kick protection unit, which we've highlighted here. It was Leki Fotu and Jeremy Ruckert who the Steelers overwhelmed on the first block that was penalized for leverage. The second one came on interior pressure on Joe Tippmann and Thomas Hennessy, although this should probably have been a leverage penalty as well because shoving a lineman down and then going up to block the kick is illegal.

Don't look now but the punt protection unit is similarly leaky. Isaiah Davis whiffed on a block on the wing that led to heavy pressure on Thomas Morstead on one of his four punts. Pressure also almost got there on two of the other three as Hennessy and Anthony Firkser were beaten.

The Jets didn't get any pressure on punts or kicks. Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Qwan'tez Stiggers were tasked with coming off the edge on the placekick defense with Brandin Echols left to focus on his defensive role but neither got close.

Morstead had one of his least impressive games although the Jets didn't really give up any yards and his overall numbers were fine. None of his four punts were 50-yarders.

Zuerlein at least kicked off effectively with three touchbacks.

Return game - Can I see your I.D.?

Xavier Gipson had a rough game on returns as he muffed his first punt return and then fumbled his next one, although both rolled harmlessly out of bounds. Echols was beaten on the first of these, while Kendall Sheffield was beaten on the other and on one fair catch. One other punt was not fielded as Gipson let it bounce inside the five and it was downed at the seven-yard line.

On kickoffs, he once again had fewer opportunities than Davis as he just had a 29 and 22 yard return. Davis missed his block on the first of those but had a good lead block on the other only for Eric Watts to whiff on his block where it looked like Gipson might otherwise have had a chance to pop it for a big return.

Updating for the season, Gipson is averaging just over 26 yards per kickoff return which is good for fourth in the league (albeit that only seven players qualify). Last year he was second in the league...out of TWO qualifiers, so that's an improvement. He is currently 15th in the league for punt return average but first in total return attempts.

Davis had three returns in this game and his numbers would be basically the same as Gipson's had he not fallen flat on his face on the third of those. On one of the other returns, the Jets tried a change-up with Ashtyn Davis pulling across the field to lead the way, but they screwed this up and the two Davises just ran into one another. The other return saw Sam Eguavoen and Chazz Surratt let their men beat them.

Kick coverage - The Stigger Picture

With three touchbacks and only two returned punts, there once again weren't many chances to produce in kick coverage. Stiggers had a spectacular play to beat the vice down the field and blow up the return man for no gain, though. He looks good enough to hold onto this job full time instead of Echols.

He and Irv Charles did kind of overrun the play on the other punt return which saw Isaiah Davis involved again as he knocked the return man out of bounds for a nine-yard return. Charles forced two fair catches by beating his man though.

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