‘Special’ year for Jets coordinator
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer has been with the Jets longer than any other player or coach. Boyer first joined the team in 2016 and has coached under three different head coaches and with hundreds of players.
Boyer said this season has been one of the best for his special teams units. They endured plenty of adversity, with injuries and players missing time due to COVID-19, and have handled it well.
“I am really, really proud of this group,” Boyer said. “It’s one of the prouder times that I’ve had since I’ve been here. They have battled and battled and didn’t blink when all this stuff was going on, and it’s hard as hell, especially in your rookie year, your body is hurting all the time and, mentally, you’re worn out and to have me just getting after you at times and everything. I think they understand that’s our job and everything to try to get them to where they want to go. They don’t think they can get there unless someone is pushing them. I think this group has bought in, done a great job, and I’m really, really proud of them.”
Boyer hit on a few of his special teams players, too.
On kicker Eddy Pineiro: “He’s done a great job. It’s everything that we ask him to do. I think you can see the difference in pop, on his ball, I think he’s getting stronger, he’s getting better. And I think he’s an ascending guy, I really do. I think he’s done an outstanding job since he’s been here.”
On returner-receiver Braxton Berrios: “He’s been a huge impact, and I think that his preparation is huge. He works harder than anybody. He studies a ton. I think he’s done a great job running all the tracks that we ask him, and he’s made people miss and he’s accountable to his teammates every week and he plays his butt off every week.”
On punter Braden Mann: “I think the injury [a sprained left knee] hurt him a little bit, I really do. I also think that he’s done a better job this year at controlling returns. I also think, he’ll tell you the same thing, he had some kicks that he’d like back, but statistically, I think we’ve kicked in shorter fields this year with inside the 20s and stuff like that when he’s been back. I think he’s done a solid job. Is there a lot of improvement that we can all make? Me as a coach, him as a player, everybody’s got to make improvements. I think he’s growing, just like anybody, and we all got to keep in mind it’s his second year and he’ll get better and better as we go.”
➤ The Jets released DE Shaq Lawson and S Sharrod Neasman and elevated DE Ronnie Blair, WR Tarik Black and OL Ross Pierschbacher from the practice squad for their season finale Sunday at Buffalo.
After being acquired from Houston for a sixth-round pick, Lawson had one sack in 14 games. Neasman, signed this offseason, had one interception in 11 games.