Positional Analysis: Special teams

[SoFlaJets]

Positional Analysis: Special teams

April 15, 2009

It's time for the annual "Jet Stream" draft preview, a daily breakdown of every position as we head into the 2009 NFL draft. We'll start with special teams and work our way through the defense and offense, analyzing the Jets' roster, their needs and potential draft picks.

Fired up? Here we go.

Unit: Special Teams

Need Factor (based on a scale of 1 to 10): 6

What they've got: PK Jay Feely was one of the Jets' most consistent performers last season. After replacing the injured Mike Nugent in Week 2, he made 24 of 28 field goals, a very good percentage in the AFC East. It earned him a new one-year contract for $1.475 million, which is guaranteed. In other words, they'd be hard-pressed to cut him even if he stinks out the joint. Feely isn't going to blow you away with his range or kickoff length, but he's a solid, savvy kicker who knows the Giants Stadium winds.

Leon Washington (cap number: $642,000) made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, mostly for his production on kickoffs. In that area, he's an elite player, blending terrific vision, quickness and acceleration. Oddly, he's rather ordinary on punt returns, but he probably won't have that job anymore. It'll probably go to former Ravens S Jim Leonhard, who is sure-handed and steady but not a home-run threat. The plan is to use Leonhard, letting Washington rest up for more touches on offense.

What they need: A punter. Ben Graham got pink-slipped and his replacement, Reggie Hodges, wasn't much better. By the end of the season, Hodges (cap: $460,000) was hanging by a thread. He finished 25th in net average, 21st in gross and 16th in inside-the-20 percentage. Surely, the Jets can find somebody better than Hodges.

Who's Available: The consensus top punter in the draft is Kevin Huber (Cincinnati). In fact, the Jets recently worked him out. We're not talking Shane Lechler here, but he's a left-footed punter who averaged 45 yards in gross and had only two touchbacks. He could be drafted anytime after the fifth round.

Prediction: It would be a waste (and a surprise) if the Jets burn a draft pick on a punter. They should be able to dig up somebody to challenge Hodges without having to use the draft.

Tomorrow: Defensive line.

* * *

Memo to Long Island Jets fans: Forget about training camp being held at Stony Brook. From all indications, it's down to Cornell or Cortland. Who would've ever imagined that the road to Miami (the Super Bowl, in case you didn't know) would start on Interstate 81, heading north?

[SoFlaJets]

if Reggie Hodges is our punter this year I'll eat my hat-the hundred dollar fedora