Special Teams Review: Jets-Steelers

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...

Return game - I'm so grateful for my X

The much derided decision to retain Xavier Gipson backfired in a big way as his fumble set up a crucial Steelers touchdown. He also fumbled another kickoff return earlier on, after tripping over a teammate but luckily Marcelino McCrary-Ball fell on that one.

Aaron Glenn justified retaining Gipson on the basis of how reliable he was at catching punts in practice, but there's more to ball security than that and he now has 11 fumbles in his career. He may also be a little rusty after sitting out preseason. Will he get another chance, or should they just go to Jamaal Pritchett as everyone wanted them to anyway?

Gipson wouldn't ideally have been returning as many kickoffs as he did (he averaged over 28 yards on five returns) but Kene Nwangwu was knocked out with a hamstring injury on his lone return as he just can't seem to stay on the field since getting here. Cam Jones and Andrew Beck had good blocks on that one but Jeremy Ruckert let his man make the play.

The returns by Gipson featured good blocks by McCrary-Ball, Qwantez Stiggers, Isaiah Davis and Beck and missed blocks by Beck, Jones and Isaiah Oliver.

Arian Smith also had a kickoff return, which he took out to about the 30 and then finished with a nice stiff-arm.

On punts, Gipson had a 19-yard return on a play where Stiggers did a great job on the gunner. However, his other punt return was negated by a totally unnecessary Stiggers penalty for an illegal block in the back. Kiki Mauigoa arguably got away with a similar block on the other return. He also had two fair catches with Azareye'h Thomas beaten by the gunner on each of them.

Kicking game - Austin Power

In his NFL debut Austin McNamara launched one impressive 55-yard punt that was fair caught. His only other punt was a shorter one that ended up as a 53-yard net due to a dumb Steelers penalty. Apparently, this was the first time the Jets didn't punt in the first half since 1991. That can't be right.

At the other end of the scale from making his NFL debut was Nick Folk, who made two field goals including a 51-yarder and one extra point. He also missed an extra point but the Steelers had lined up in an illegal formation so the Jets went for two and failed. They later went for two again, chasing that point. And, of course, they lost by two. It's unlikely they would have taken the one point had Folk made that kick though.

Folk's kickoffs were often short, with the Steelers returning six at an average of 27.5 yards a pop. He had one touchback, although with touchbacks now coming out to the 35, it's probably by design that they're allowing more returns.

The Jets didn't really get pressure on any of the Steelers' kicks, including the game-winning 60-yarder. It looks like Andre Cisco and Stiggers will be the ones coming off the edge this year.

Kick coverage - You don't know McCrary-Ball

This rule change is going to mean much more opportunities for special teamers to generate tackle production and the new captain McCrary-Ball got off to a good start with three tackles, one of which was a big hit that forced a fumble.

Jones and Stiggers had two each, with Stiggers also getting downfield to force a fair catch on a punt. However, the Steelers got out to at least the 28 on each of their six returns. Davis, Malachi Moore and Tony Adams were also credited with tackles.

Mauigoa and Oliver each had missed tackles and Beck was blocked out of the play on one return.

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