Special Teams

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Special Teams Review: Jets-Texans

29 NOVEMBER 2021

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

Let's review the key contributions...

Kicking game - Ammendola and Out

Kicker Matt Ammendola had a rough week as he missed a 42-yard field goal, making him 2-for-8 from 40+ on the season. This led to Robert Saleh apparently losing faith in him as the Jets went for it on 4th-and-5 rather than attempting a 55-yarder and on 4th-and-1 rather than attempting a 40-yarder.

Saleh did say that the second decision had more to do with the fact that offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was adamant that they would convert the 4th-and-1, but it seems his faith in Ammendola is waning. He was pleased, though, with Ammendola's late make - his fourth successful kick of the game (although one didn't count).

He made that last one despite heavy pressure which was allowed by Greg Van Roten letting a man sneak past his outside shoulder and he did at least have three touchbacks on five kickoffs.

Punter Braden Mann had a disappointing game that included a 29-yard shank from his own end zone. One of his other punts was a 43-yarder that went out of bounds and then he had a 44-yarder on which there was a short return.

His last punt was good, as he bounced it down inside the five yard line, but the result wasn't, as the Jets failed to down it so it ended up as a touchback and a 20-yard net. Mann's numbers are now looking much worse than Thomas Morstead's did.

Finally, Kenny Yeboah almost came up big as he deflected a punt on a good rush just before halftime. However, it rolled downfield to the Jets' 30-yard line so the Jets couldn't do anything with it.

Kick coverage - Jeff Whiffed

The Texans only returned one punt and two kickoffs in this game and the Jets did a decent job of limiting the damage.

This was the first time all season that the Jets failed to force a fair catch. Jeff Smith got downfield well on one punt, but missed his tackle and Justin Hardee was in position to down Mann's punt at the goal line, but ended up kicking it into the end zone.

After Smith's missed tackle, Ryan Griffin was credited with the stop. Trevon Wesco was also in on the tackle.

On the first kickoff, Hardee missed the tackle but slowed up the return man and Jarrad Davis cleaned up near the 20-yard line. On the second one, he was arguably held and Del'Shawn Phillips and Nick Bawden each overpursued as the return man got out past the 30. Ammendola tried to make the tackle, but the return man got away from him and Javelin Guidry finished him off. Phillips also hustled back into the play to get credit for an assist.

Phillips and Hardee are now tied for the team lead with seven special teams tackles each.

Return game - I ad-vice!

Although Austin Walter was activated for this game, Braxton Berrios handled all of the return duties. Tevin Coleman had been the kickoff returner but with him starting at running back, the Jets instead put Keelan Cole back with Berrios on kickoffs.

Berrios' only kickoff return, fielded in the end zone, went out to the 27 as Phillips made a good block. On his only punt return, the Jets set their vices up to double team on each gunner with Hardee and Jason Pinnock getting involved. That gave Berrios room to make a nice return from about the 10 to about the 30.

Two other punts had to be fair caught after Deuce Carter and Isaiah Dunn got beaten by the gunners.

Berrios is quietly putting together a pro bowl resume in this dual return role. On punts, only Devin Duvernay has a better average with more than three returns. As a sign of his consistency, Berrios has averaged 13.6 yards per return without a single 20-yarder.

Even on kickoffs, Berrios' numbers stack up. For NFL kick returners with double-figures in attempts, he's fourth in the league with an average over 25. That's despite the fact Coleman's numbers are even better (but he only has eight return attempts).

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

Site Admin

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Glad to see Berrios getting some props.  Kid took a lot of heat from the board all year for some reason.

He's another one of those role players, will never be a star, but steady play, and a big play here and there when ya don't expect it, win footbll games.

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1 hour ago, flgreen said:

He made that last one despite heavy pressure which was allowed by Greg Van Roten letting a man sneak past his outside shoulder and he did at least have three touchbacks on five kickoffs.

Always the same guy, right? 

By the way, you spelled his name wrong, there's 2 t's