Putting the QB talk aside for a second, this is another important Jets personnel issue that needs to go under the microscope.
And that is who they had on their punt coverage team on the game-winning return by New England’s Marcus Jones that gave the Patriots the 10-3 win on Sunday.
Three of the guys that ran down to stop Jones, and he got by all of them, were players that aren’t ideal punt cover guys – tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin and defensive end Michael Clemons.
And don’t take this as a shot at those players, who all do solid jobs handling their regular positions, but their skill sets aren’t necessarily ideal for punt coverage.
Having two large tight ends, and a long-legged defensive end, running down on punt coverage, and expecting them to deal with a quick, speedy returner in space, is probably asking too much of them.
Granted, there are personnel restrictions on game day with just 46 guys dressed, but still, to have this trio, as some of the first people down the field to deal with a 5-8 waterbug like Jones, who is electrifying in the open field, is asking for trouble.
Moving forward, the Jets clearly need to tweak their personnel approach on punt returns.
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