In-Depth Analysis - Jets "at" Giants (Special Teams)

Let's wrap up today's analysis with a look at who stood out on special teams...

Kicking game - Stone Cold Lac

There were some positive signs this week from punter Lachlan Edwards, who didn't have any bad punts. His first one went 54 yards with no return and he later had a 49 yarder with a short return. Two other punts, including a free kick following the safety, went more than 50 yards and netted over 40. He also had a good directional punt, fair caught inside the 10. He maybe was lucky on one of the longer punts where it looked like he might have out-kicked his coverage.

There weren't any noticeable bad snaps from Tanner Purdum this week, either.

Chandler Catanzaro got most of the placekicking work this week. He made a short field goal and an extra point and all three of his kick-offs were touchbacks.

Ross Martin made one extra point and kicked off three times, although one was an onside kick and one was from the 50 due to a penalty, with the return stuffed inside the 15. His only conventional kick-off was fielded in the end zone and returned to the 24.

Return game - Fee Fi Fo Fumble

The Jets are still struggling to find a decent return option. Frankie Hammond - having already muffed a punt this preseason - fumbled at the end of one return, while Romar Morris had a terrible muff on a punt where he had plenty of room to run.

Marcus Murphy again got the bulk of the work and seems to be ahead by default. However, none of his three kick-off returns got back to the 25. He made a nice move to break a tackle on a 10-yard punt return though.

It's interesting that the Jets haven't used Jalin Marshall at all as a return man in preseason. Obviously, he's suspended for the first month, but many were expecting him to resume that role on his return. If that happens, won't he be a little rusty when he comes back? Maybe they currently view him as a receiver only.

Also interesting was the fact that they put Derrick Jones back to return a kick-off and Kenbrell Thompkins back to return a punt. Neither actually got a chance to return it, but there's a couple of new names in the mix.

On kick returns, Brent Qvale had a good block, but Eric Tomlinson missed a block. The blocking wasn't great on punts either, with Darryl Roberts badly beaten on one play. There was one return where the Jets double teamed both gunners and completely took them out of the play, but the return was stuffed because of poor blocking up the middle. It wasn't clear who missed their assignment but Frank Beltre was visibly frustrated after the play.

Ronald Martin deserves some credit for recovering Hammond's fumble.

Kick coverage - Championship Belt

Beltre came from the CFL with a reputation as a good special teamer, but - having flashed on defense earlier on in camp - this was his first chance to contribute. He did well, with two special teams stops, including a big hit.

Shamarko Thomas continues to look like the best gunner on the team, getting downfield well on one punt and although the return man slipped his tackle, it slowed him up enough for the cavalry to bring him down. That was the only missed tackle by any Jet on special teams. Thomas also got in on one other special teams stop.

Lawrence Thomas, Julian Stanford, Bruce Carter and Dylan Donahue all also got in on special teams stops, but Robenson Therezie got blocked to the ground in kick coverage.

That's it for the this week. If you'd like me to cover anything in more detail during the week, please let me know. Otherwise, we'll have a player spotlight for you later today.