Special Teams Review: Jets-Packers

We've been breaking down this week's game. We conclude today's postgame analysis with a look at the special teams.

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - The Sanders have been set

The special teams performance was abjectly terrible but it would be difficult to blame the kicking game for any of it this week.

Kicker Jason Sanders made his three kicks, none of which could be considered routine in such bad conditions. He only made two extra points and a 32-yarder but one of the extra points was a 48-yarder after Geno Smith's taunting penalty.

Moreover, his kickoffs were consistent as all four were fielded inside the five-yard line. And remember, hang time is no longer a relevant factor on kickoffs, because nobody can move until the ball has been caught. So there's no "out-kicking your coverage". As it was, the Jets stopped three of the four kickoffs inside the 30 but one was returned to near midfield.

Punter Austin McNamara had seven punts but allowed more than twice as many return yards as he ever has in the past. He also overcooked one for a touchback, ending up with a poor 33 yard net. His longest punt was a 58-yarder but that was a short punt that took a favorable bounce. His 56-yarder in overtime was a good punt under pressure and he had one downed at the six yard line.

On Packers punts, Isaiah Davis was a whisker away from a blocked punt in the end zone, which would have been a scoring play.

Kick coverage - Take me to your Reeder

The return game for the Packers was solid all day, with Sky Moore racking up over 200 yards, including 41 on a kickoff and a crucial 63-yard punt return.

Arian Smith got a lot of criticism for missing the initial tackle on the 63-yard return, after doing a great job of getting down there only for Moore to side-step his tackle attempt. The rest of the Jets showed poor lane discipline, especially Andre Cisco and Jeremy Ruckert who were too close together on the outside, leaving a big lane for Moore to hit, with diving tackle attempts missed by both Thomas Hennessy and Mason Taylor, and Malachi Moore sealed off. To his credit, Smith hustled 60 yards downfield and made a touchdown-saving tackle.

One positive was the elevated Troy Reeder who had three tackles in his Jets debut. Reeder also missed a tackle on the long Moore punt return, although he got enough of him to cause him to stumble so Smith could catch up to him.

On Moore's longest kickoff return, the Packers blocked it up really well as Qwan'tez Stiggers, Braiden McGregor and Reeder were all sealed off in quick succession. Malachi Moore made the stop after Sanders' missed tackle in space, although Sanders actually got statistical credit as well.

McGregor was credited with two tackles on the other three kickoff returns and Davis was also credited with a tackle.

Aside from his long punt return, Moore had another three for 29 yards. One was stopped for a short gain with Stiggers drawing a hold as he forced Moore to change direction and Andrew Beck wrapped him up in space. One was muffed and recovered by Moore, who was almost blown up for no gain by Stiggers, but slipped his tackle and then also broke tackle attempts by Ruckert and Davis to pick up nice yardage. The last was a 12-yard return of a long kick in overtime. Stiggers overpursued but Hennessy was in on the stop with Reeder.

At the gunner position, Smith and Stiggers each got downfield well on a couple more punts, with Stiggers being the one to down a punt inside the 10.

With Smith reportedly set to miss time through injury, the Jets may be hoping Kene Nwangwu is back next week. If he isn't, other options could include Malik McClain and Dane Belton.

The Packers had two personal fouls after punts, one of which was drawn by Moore.

Return game - Qwan' but not forgotten

With the Packers' return game having such a positive impact it was frustrating that the Jets had such a poor output from a unit that is usually so good. Isaiah Williams returned three punts for just two yards, with two muffs, and averaged under 25 yards per kickoff return, getting to the 30 or thereabouts on each return. He also had a penalty due to an inadequate fair catch signal.

Stiggers at least managed to rescue the possession on each of those muffs, but he also had an illegal block in the back penalty as the gunner beat him a few times.

The last three Packers punts were a touchback (but with a penalty on McGregor for holding the long snapper upfield), a shank out of bounds and downed at the 19, as Williams didn't risk a difficult catch.

On the kickoff returns, Beck, Jelani Woods, McGregor and Ruckert all had missed blocks and Davis was called for a hold. Davis did have a good block on Williams' longest return, though.

We'll be back with the 3-on-D and 3-on-O over the next few days...