Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Jets: Biggest Needs for 2016

By Christian Kouroupakis

Jan 21, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets new general manager Mike Maccagnan speaks during a press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets new general manager Mike Maccagnan speaks during a press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
Bobby April was fired after a putrid season for the Jets’ special teams. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Bobby April was fired after a putrid season for the Jets’ special teams. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /

Special Teams

With a naked eye we could see how bad the Jets’ special teams were in 2015. It was even more apparent after special teams coordinator Bobby April was fired following the season.

After every season, Dallas news columnist Rick Gosselin releases an annual special teams report, and New York was second to last on that list. The Jets allowed a league-high 24 points via special teams.

Live Feed

NFL Straight Up Picks for Every Game in Week 15 (Bears Upset, Bills Down Cowboys)
NFL Straight Up Picks for Every Game in Week 15 (Bears Upset, Bills Down Cowboys) /

Betsided

  • NY Jets expected to move on from Mekhi Becton this offseason The Jet Press
  • Aaron Rodgers keeps door slightly open on whispers of return timeline FanSided
  • Robert Saleh leaves door open for Zach Wilson returning to NY Jets in 2024 The Jet Press
  • Every NFL Team's Playoff Odds Following Week 14 (Two New Division Leaders in NFC) Betsided
  • NY Jets confirm that veteran starting OL is out for the season The Jet Press

    • Punter Ryan Quigley was also inconsistent. Quigley shanked a punt that led to a touchdown in the season-ending loss at the Bills to cost the Jets a playoff spot.

    The special teams also allowed four touchdowns by the punting unit and the kick return unit. For punting, two were returned for touchdowns and one was a blocked punt returned for a score while a fumble on a kick return was brought back for a score. Not only did they make deadly mistakes, but special teams failed to make an impact on field position because the return units were so mediocre (and that’s a nice word to describe them).

    With the return squad being as bad as it was, April shuffled around six kick returners until he settled on Antonio Cromartie. He actually finished with a respectable 25.1-yard average. As a punt returner, Jeremy Kerley was average finishing with an 8.6-yard return average (14th best).

    Fixing the special teams unit starts with hiring a capable coordinator. If I’m the Jets, I’m looking for a Mike Westhoff kind of guy. Westhoff retired as New York’s special teams coordinator in 2012, when his unit was ranked 19th in the league.

    They also need a kick/punt returner that could improve the return averages. Kerley did an average job, but hopefully the new special teams coordinator can push them to improve in this area.

    It’s arguable that if the special teams unit wasn’t so inept, the Jets could have made the postseason. As they make improvements this off season, getting their act together with this unit it is a necessary start.

    Next: Running Back

    Home/New York Jets