Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer and the Jets, like other NFL teams, are still adjusting to the new “dynamic kickoff” rule during the preseason.
In an effort to increase the frequency of kickoff returns, the kickoff formation was significantly altered, with the kicking team, excluding the kicker, now lining up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
The receiving team lines up in two zones, with nine players lining up between the 35 and 30 yards, plus two returners in the “landing zone” between the 20-yard line and the goal line.
All kicks that land in the landing zone must be returned, except for a direct touchback into the end zone, which carries the ball to the 30-yard line.
The team has been exploring various possibilities during the preseason.
“I wasn’t too surprised, to be honest with you,” Boyer said. “I think we saw some high kick combinations, some low kicks and even a kick that bounced 20 yards out. Those were hard kicks to execute, so I was expecting that.”
“As the season goes on, I think there’s going to be a lot more balls on the ground than there are now, but I think guys are going to try to see what their returns are like, what their coverage is like, and play very average, so I think you’re definitely going to see some changes during the regular season.”
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett noted the importance of rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu, the 11th overall pick out of Penn State, being familiar with the ins and outs of both sides of the offensive line in case he is forced to fill in for veteran starters Tyron Smith (left) and Morgan Moses (right) at some point this season.
“We always want to have someone in the top five, so I think this is something we want to experiment with and give him the opportunity,” Hackett said. “I think he’s really excited about it.”
Smith missed four games against the Cowboys last year due to injury, while Moses missed three games against the Ravens.
