Josh Cribbs can feel it coming.
The Jets kick and punt returner believes he is primed to break a long one for a touchdown any day now.
“We’re right there,” Cribbs said. “It will come when nobody expects it. I almost hate for people to be like, ‘This is the one,’ and then it’s, ‘Oh, you jinxed us.’ I don’t want nobody to say anything and then it just happens out of the blue. That’s usually how it happens.”
The Jets have had a few long returns lately, but have not been able to bring it to the end zone for a touchdown this season. In fact, the Jets have had very few momentum-changing special teams plays this season. Antonio Allen blocked a punt in Atlanta, but that is about it.
“I like the way the group has played,” special teams coach Ben Kotwica said. “Ball security was a huge issue for us going into the year. We’ve protected very well, we’ve secured the football.
“Big play-wise, if you look at it over the last couple of weeks, we’ve had a couple of kickoff returns over 30 yards. I think we’ve helped our offense in the starting field position. It’s been solved. I’m not discouraged by it. We’ve got enough guys that can make plays and if that opportunity presents itself I feel comfortable.”
With the offense struggling, Cribbs said his focus is on getting his team in scoring position with his returns.
“My overall goal is to just provide as much field position for our offense as possible,” he said. “If we don’t get a score, I’m good with getting to the 40 or getting to the 35, because then we’re a couple of first downs away from field goals, from points. Then you see that productivity out of the special teams unit pays off when you’re scoring.”
The offensive line has given up a ton of pressure in the past two games. This week, that group has been trying to regroup to help quarterback Geno Smith.
“We have to pull the weight right now,” guard Willie Colon said. “We have to better up front as far as giving Geno more time, get him in a rhythm early. We have to establish our physical type of game. We’re not playing bad, but we’re not playing to the elite level which we could play. That sometimes is a lack of execution or getting started faster.”