Special Teams Review: Bills at Jets

We've been breaking down this week's game against the Bills. We wrap up today's analysis with a look at the special teams.

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Mama, there goes that Mann!

Braden Mann finally made his return to the Jets' punting role, sporting a hefty brace on his non-kicking leg. Unfortunately, with the Jets turning the ball over so often, he only got to punt three times.

Mann had a solid 44-yard punt from his own end zone that ended up in a fair catch and an excellent punt from midfield that was downed inside the five despite the fact he was knocked down. However, his other punt was picked up on the bounce and returned 26 yards, so his overall numbers were poor. It will be disappointing if his numbers aren't ultimtely any better than those of Thomas Morstead.

Kicker Matt Ammendola made a long field goal and both extra points and had three touchbacks on four kickoffs. His other kickoff was a somewhat pointless squib kick which gave the Bills automatic good field position without any realistic chance of a turnover.

In punt protection, both Trevon Wesco and Sharrod Neasman were guilty of allowing pressure, although Mann arguably should have had a running into the kicker penalty that would have given the Jets a 4th-and-1 near midfield. Hamilcar Rashed got some pressure on a Bills punt in his first NFL game.

Kick coverage - Jeff Downs

In kick coverage this week, there were only two returns. Deuce Carter made the tackle on Ammendola's squib kick and Wesco made the stop after the long punt return.

On that punt, Justin Hardee slipped, which is always going to create a major issue because he's nearly always the first man down, including on one play where he forced a fair catch. Neasman and Hamsah Nasirildeen both overpursued and Kenny Yeboah missed a tackle.

The other gunner, Jeff Smith got downfield to down Mann's punt at the four-yard line.

Return game - Tevin Cool Man

Having missed some time, Tevin Coleman was back in the kick returner role on Sunday and he continues to look pretty good at this, despite his relative inexperience at doing it.

Coleman's numbers weren't great because two of his returns were called back due to holding penalties on Yeboah and Braxton Berrios but he eluded some tackles and showed some good burst. He was blown up at the 15 on one return though, as Berrios ran right past the unblocked defender.

Coleman's best return saw him spin out past the 30 as Yeboah, Wesco and Del'Shawn Phillips each made a good block.

The Bills only punted twice and Berrios took a fair catch on one of those. On the other, Javelin Guidry did a decent job of slowing up the gunner so Berrios tried to return it from near the 10-yard line. He almost broke into the clear but the defender made a diving tackle to cut him down for an 8-yard return.

That wraps up today's analysis from the game, but we'll be back with more over the next few days...