In-depth analysis: Jets-Packers (Part Three

Over the course of today, we'll be breaking down the performance of every player that took the field in the Jets' preseason game against the Packers. We'll wrap up now with a look at the special teams units.

Kicking - Demon Harrison

Nick Folk just kicked one (successful) extra point in his return to action in a Jets uniform and then Harrison Mevis got to handle kicking duties the rest of the way.

He made all five of his kicks (two extra points and three field goals all less than 40 yards), although a few of these were pretty close to hitting the upright.

Mevis hasn't really proved he's much good at kickoffs yet but it is difficult to judge that aspect based on preseason because he was probably told to hang it up near the goal line to give the coverage units some work.

As it was, he had two touchbacks, one of which was deliberately skipped short of the goal line to pin the Packers at the 20. Nicely done. Four of the other five were fielded within two yards of the goal line but he did have one shorter kick fielded at the seven yard line and returned to the 40.

New punter Austin McNamara made a positive impact as his first punt was 53 yards and blown up immediately at the five-yard line and his second one was a muffed 54-yarder to create a turnover. His other one was solid too, a 36-yarder that was fair caught at the 10.

There were no issues with the operation or protection in the kicking game and the Jets created no pressure on Green Bay's two successful kicks.

Kick Coverage - Quality, not Qwan'tez-y

As noted, one of McNamara's punts was blown up at the five yard line. That came on a great play by Qwan'tez Stiggers, who was putting his name forward for the primary gunner role with Irv Charles on PUP and Kris Boyd also hurt.

Also seeing action at the gunner spots were Ja'Markis Weston and Arian Smith. That's an interesting combination because Smith will run past anyone but then get re-routed while Weston pretty much runs through people, which is unique but somewhat effective.

It relies on other players getting downfield well, though, but that's what happened on the muff, which Isaiah Oliver caused and Weston himself recovered, and on the fair catch, on which Tanner McCalister got downfield first down the middle.

In kick coverage, eight different Jets had one special teams tackle each including Stiggers and McCalister. Five returns came out to the 25, 28, 30, 35 and 40 with Boog Smith blocked out of his lane on two of these. McCalister also had a missed tackle.

Return Game - Life's a Pritch and then you die

Xavier Gipson was out so Jamaal Pritchett handled punt return duties and did pretty well. He took one fair catch at the six-yard line that he maybe should have just left alone but the four he fielded were returns of 11, 13, nine and 14 yards (although the last one was negated by Zaire Barnes tackling a lineman to the ground 40 yards up the field).

The Jets double-teamed both gunners on most of these, with Stiggers and Jarius Monroe beaten as solo vices on the fair catch. On one return, Pritchett ran right into the back of Andrew Beck and Rashad Weaver missed his block.

The kickoff return job is unsettled, especially after Kene Nwangwu left with a calf issue. Nwangwu's lone return, a 35-yarder, was the longest of the day with Oliver and Kiki Mauigoa making good blocks. Jeremy Ruckert, who was awful on the return unit last year, whiffed on his block though and his man missed the tackle.

Pritchett's only return on a kickoff was stopped at the 23 after Kingsley Jonathan's missed block.

Finally, Malachi Corley also had a return, fielded six yards deep and taken out to the 25.