Special Teams Review: Dolphins-Jets

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

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Time to Start a New Kicker Searchio

With Sam Ficken now on injured reserve, Sergio Castillo - who had been perfect other than one long field goal which was blocked through no fault of his own - of course picked this time to miss a 29-yard chip shot.

Castillo made his other field goal, but this is still disappointing to see as he had a great opportunity to make the job his.

Braden Mann once again handled kickoff and punting duties. Both his kickoffs were touchbacks, including one which went right out of the back of the end zone. This is good. However, two of his six punts were also touchbacks. This is less good.

He put three inside the 20, albeit that none of those were inside the 10 which should have been achievable. He also outkicked his coverage on his longest punt of the day. He had one good 48-yard kick with hangtime to the sideline to force a fair catch, but otherwise was disappointing again.

Finally, Frankie Luvu got close to blocking a punt on a good rush off the left side.

Kick coverage - Brainf Art

The Jets mixed up the roles on special teams this week and Arthur Maulet missed a good chance to make a play. He seemed like he was in a good position to down one of Mann's punts at the goal line but it bounced right past him.

Also at the gunner position, Vyncint Smith overran the return man on one runback, but Corey Ballentine beat his man to force a fair catch on one punt.

Blake Cashman had a good open field tackle on one return and the only other player credited a special teams tackle was Daniel Brown after Matthias Farley's missed tackle forced the return man out wide.

Return game - My Bloody Ballentine

Ballentine also got a chance to return kicks and had one of the better returns this season with a 35-yarder from the end zone behind a good Chris Herndon block. Herndon was also flagged for an illegal block in the back on another return though. Braxton Berrios also fielded a short kickoff, but returned it just six yards to the 25.

It was interesting to hear James Lofton describe Berrios as a guy who normally just fair catches punts and isn't much of a return threat. That's not fair to him though. Yes, he now has just 36 yards on five returns this season after his only "return" saw him flop on a bouncing ball. He was seventh in the NFL in punt return yards last year and second in average per return - without even breaking a long one! It's quite incredible how his production has fallen off.

The Jets' vices didn't do very well against Miami's gunners with Maulet, Bryce Hall and Lamar Jackson all getting beaten at least once. That remains a constant problem, although obviously Maulet and Smith were handling those duties more effectively last year.

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