In-depth analysis - Jets at Steelers (Preseason Week 1): Special Teams

Over the course of the next few days, we'll be breaking down the performance of every player that took the field in the Jets' preseason game against the Steelers. We'll start today with a look at the special teams units.

Kicking - Sanding on Business

The Jets' kicking competition has been on a knife-edge but Cade York missed a 59-yard field goal right before halftime which could prove conclusive. As a sign of the small margins involved here, it appeared from broadcast footage that the kick easily had the distance and was only just wide of the upright.

Jason Sanders hasn't given the Jets a reason to cut him yet though. He made an extra point and a 39-yard field goal, boomed a touchback on a kickoff and his other kickoff was perfectly judged and returned from the one-yard line.

Aside from his missed field goal, York made an extra point and had two kickoffs returned - one of which was three yards deep and the other fielded at the three yard line.

There was no pressure and no issues with the operation on any of the field goal or extra point attempts, including the one that missed.

Punter Austin McNamara got six chances to punt this week, which included 56 and 61-yard boots. His gross average was 48 yards with a net of 41, both of which are solid numbers.

Kick Coverage - Fixing the Malik

One interesting development this week is that undrafted rookie wide receiver Malik McClain is really improving his chances of being retained to play a primary gunner role. Although his fumble recovery didn't count because he didn't secure the ball with both feet inbounds, McClain did a consistent job of getting downfield first, outshining Arian Smith.

On the play where Jeremy Ruckert forced the fumble, McClain was the first man down, forcing the return man wide in the other direction while Smith had been sucked too far into the middle of the field. Ruckert just about managed to grab the return man without committing a horse collar penalty, jarring the ball loose.

Another punt was downed by Smith but it was McClain who got down there first to force the return man to let it bounce.

On the next one, McClain was again the first one down and it looked like a Steelers player got away with a clear block in the back on him as the return man changed direction and was slowed up by Chip Trayanum before Thomas Hennessy brought him down on a 13-yard return. Braiden McGregor overpursued to allow this return.

Once again, McClain made an impact on the next return, drawing a holding penalty. This time, the other gunner was Samuel Womack who got downfield well and forced the return man to make a risky, bobbling catch. Dean Clark shoved him out of bounds.

Finally, McClain again was the first man down on a deep McNamara punt, although this time he missed the tackle. However, the return man was penned in near the sideline and Cam Camper was able to shove him out of bounds after a 14-yard return.

The consistent impact from McClain, especially in situations where he was on the field with Smith and made more of an impact than he did, bodes well for his chances of locking down a primary gunner role. He even faced double-teams and handled those well.

On kickoffs, Belton made a big hit before the 20-yard line on one return, then Nate Lynn also made an impact by blocking up a blocker impressively and then making the tackle. Lynn was also disruptive and around the football on another kickoff on which Jaden Keller made the tackle. Jarius Monroe aggressively drove his blocker back on that one too.

Return Game - Bergen King

Jamaal Pritchett didn't play this week, so new signing Junior Bergen got all the work as the main return man. However, the only kickoff was returned by Arian Smith because it was aimed towards the pylon. Smith got out past the 30 but was tackled by a Steelers player that got past Mason Taylor's block. The return was otherwise well blocked by the likes of Andrew Beck, Chase Wilson and Tim Patrick.

Bergen fielded five punts and averaged just 10 yards per return. This was boosted by his final return which saw him make a hesitation move to slip between two tacklers and gain 27 yards. Wilson did a good job of sealing a defender off on that one.

While the other four returns didn't net much, Bergen made the first guy miss to pick up extra yards on two of them. On one of those, the gunner beat Monroe but failed to make the stop.

One of the returns was negated by an illegal block in the back penalty on Smith, who also got beaten by the gunner, along with Azareye'h Thomas on a punt that was downed inside the five.

We'll be back to cover the offense and defense from tomorrow...