Special Teams Review: Jets-Bengals

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

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Zuerlein Steak

He won't win it, because the Jets lost the game, but kicker Greg Zuerlein made a run at the special teams player of the week award that punter Braden Mann won last week. Zuerlein had the kicker equivalent of a perfect game as he not only made all four of his field goals (from 40, 43, 50 and 52 yards), but also had a touchback on all four of his kickoffs.

Mann was less impressive this week, although he did angle a 52-yard punt out of bounds at the 12. His other two punts were both 47-yarders but with a net of 32 and 39 respectively.

On Bengals kicks, Brandin Echols once again pressured one of them, having put good pressure on the crucial missed kick last week. However, the one kick the Bengals missed came with no pressure.

Kick coverage - Ashtyn you shall receive

With four touchbacks on kickoffs and one of Mann's punts sailing out of bounds, there were only two coverage plays this week. On the first, Justin Hardee didn't get down in time to prevent the return man from getting to the outside. Ashtyn Davis shoved him out after a 15-yard return.

The other saw Echols beat the vice to get downfield well, only to then overrun the return man who hadn't called for a fair catch. Echols regrouped to tackle him from behind after an eight-yard return.

Return game - Tony the Tiger

Sunday's game was also a bit of a non-event for Braxton Berrios and the return game. All but one of the Bengals kickoffs were touchbacks and Berrios eventually ran one out from deep and got blown up at the 15 as Hardee and Jeremy Ruckert missed their blocks. This was a rare game where Hardee didn't really get to make any positive contributions.

On punts, Berrios was only able to return one and it came on a play where Echols did a good job of slowing up the gunner. Berrios uncharacteristically hesitated and only gained 10 yards on the return. As for Echols, his improved special teams play is the obvious reason he's active and Bryce Hall isn't. Well, that and Hall's own struggles.

On the other two punts, Berrios was forced to take a fair catch and was unable to field a short bouncing punt as, in each case, Tony Adams got burned by the gunner.

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