Dolphins vs. Jets: Week 2 special teams grades

The New York Jets special teams failed to do much of anything in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins. How does the unit grade out after this uneventful performance?

Much like the remainder of the team, the New York Jets special teams unit came crumbling down in a heap of debris and ashes as the team failed to capitalize on their outstanding Week 1 performance.

In reality, there really wasn’t anywhere to go but down after the team’s dominant showing against the Detroit Lions. That being said, an overall dud like this one is certainly not an encouraging sign for a unit that has struggled mightily over the past few years.

The Jets were consistently pinned back deep in their own territory by Miami Dolphins punter Matt Haack who forced the Jets offense to start inside their own 20-yard line on six different occasions. It’s hard for the offense to have much success when their playbook is stifled, trudging their way out from their own 5-yard line.

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Return man Andre Roberts had a quiet showing after his explosive debut with the team that netted him a 78-yard punt return touchdown in the team’s first game of the season. The former Atlanta Falcon was able to return just one punt for four yards as he was forced to fair catch or simply watch a number of punts bounce by and land deep in Jets territory.

Roberts only opted to take one kickoff out as well and it probably would have been better if he hadn’t as the play was called back following a Charone Peake illegal block in the back penalty.

Overall, not the best look for the Jets return game.

Kicker Jason Myers did get a chance to show off his powerful leg nailing a field goal from 55-yards out and connecting on another one from 41-yards out. The veteran kicker did, however, miss his only extra point attempt, something that has been a problem for him in the past.

This is something that will be worth monitoring going forward as Myers leads the league with 13 missed extra points since entering the league in 2015. In fact, his 86.3 career extra point percentage is far too close to his 81.9 career field goal percentage.

Punter Lachlan Edwards did manage himself a very solid game punting five times for a total of 263 yards, downing two kicks inside the Miami 20-yard line. Edwards has developed into quite the punter for the team and his shanking ways of the past seem to be a distant memory.

Perhaps the best takeaway from how the unit performed is how they were able to hold stud returner Jakeem Grant mostly in check. The blazing return man had a couple of solid returns but the kick and punt coverage teams were able to get downfield quick enough and prevent any big plays.

A special shoutout should go out to long snapper Thomas Hennessy who had another flawless day snapping and came away with a nice shoestring tackle on one of Grant’s punt returns.

Long snappers are people too.

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In the end, it was an uneventful day for the Jets special teams with Myers’ 55-yarder and the kick coverage boosting the grade about as much as Myers’ missed extra point and the lack of a return game lowers it.

An even split.

Final Grade: C

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