Special Teams Review: Jets-Cowboys

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

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Austin Powers

With Greg Zuerlein out, new kicker Austin Seibert did a pretty good job in his first game as a Jet. He made a field goal and an extra point and had two touchbacks. His other kickoff was deliberately laid up short and ended up being muffed before the Cowboys fell on it.

Punter Thomas Morstead did a solid job on his five punts. Four were fair caught with all four being over 45 yards and two over 50. There was one poor kick that went 38 yards and bounced out of bounds but he was under pressure on that one.

Long snapper Thomas Hennessy had one high snap and Nick Bawden and Ashtyn Davis gave up pressure. Davis did pick up a first down on a fake punt though, running behind blocks by Bawden, Jamien Sherwood and Jeremy Ruckert.

Justin Hardee came extremely close to blocking a Dallas punt late in the game.

Kick coverage - Just the Process

The Jets didn't allow anything in the return game as Hardee put on a masterclass, beating his man downfield four times to force a fair catch. On one of those, it looked like the return man may have had room to run but Brandin Echols drew a holding penalty further up the field anyway.

Through two games, the Jets have just one special teams tackle as a team. Sam Eguavoen almost had one yesterday as he downed the upback after he fell on the muffed kickoff, but was not given official credit.

Return game - Nothing doing

There's not much to report in the return game either. Dallas kicked off eight times but all eight were touchbacks. On their three punts, Xavier Gipson fair-caught two and then was stopped after a short return on the third as Davis failed to make his block.

Echols and Sauce Gardner (in the game as a vice because the Jets tend to leave starters in when the opposition punts from near midfield) were beaten by the gunners on the two fair catches.

That wraps up the post-game analysis but we'll be back with the 3-on-D and the 3-on-O over the next few days...