(Photo: US Presswire)
By Shane Hewitt, Staff Writer
While the Jets defense struggles and the offense continues it’s never ending search for an identity, one place the Jets have done well is special teams and more specifically, kicking the ball.
After beating out Josh Brown and winning the Jets starting kicker position, throughout the first three games of the 2012 season Nick Folk hasn’t missed once. Nailing all six of his field goal tries and converting all nine of his extra points.
Even after a blocked kick in Miami (that didn’t count, due to a timeout prior to the snap intending to “ice” Folk) his confidence never wavered and he was able to kick the game winning field-goal in overtime.
After replacing punter T.J. Conley less than a week before the season began, Robert Malone has performed exceptionally well for a player whose only pro experience came in 2010 with Tampa Bay and a quick stint with Detroit last year.
Now, Malone is showing his new teammates and coaches that he belongs in this league and on this team. Through three games and fourteen punts, Malone has punted inside the 20 six times and holds a cool 40-yard net average.
With Darelle Revis out for the season, everyone needs to step up. Against stout defenses in the 49ers and Texans for the next two weeks, that need could fall squarely on these two player’s shoulders.
So far, they seem up for the task.
Tags: Kicking, Nick Folk, Punting, Robert Malone
