Steve Weatherford is seeking redemption
The Jets punter said there were a few times Sunday he could have forced the Patriots to start drives 15 yards further back than they did, and instead, two of his punts were touchbacks.
“I was really disappointed after the game, but at the same time, we won, so I’m like, it didn’t play that
big of a factor,” Weatherford said yesterday as the Jets prepared to face the Steelers in Sunday’s AFC Championship.
“But if we would have been able to pin the ball at the 6 or the 5 instead of giving them the ball on the 20, I’m sure that would have changed a lot of field position.
“That’s one and a half first downs just off one punt.”
Weatherford wasn’t the only one unhappy with his performance. Rex Ryan said Monday that the Jets’ special teams was the lone area he didn’t like in their 28-21 AFC Divisional victory over the Patriots. Ryan also put a fair share of the blame on Weatherford.
“Obviously it starts with Steve punting the ball better,” he said.
Weatherford has struggled in both playoff games, hitting four touchbacks out of his five punts against the Colts before recording two more touchbacks out of his six punts against the Patriots.
“He’s had six touchbacks in the playoffs, and he had four all season,” Ryan said.
Weatherford, who matched an NFL record by dropping 42 punts inside the 20-yard line, said he is proud of his season but knows he must regain his form.
“I feel like I had a really good year, especially pinning the ball deep,” the five-year veteran said. “I think [in the playoffs I’m] just getting a little bit excited and trying to make too big of a play.
“Trying to put the ball down there at the 1-yard line, instead of just hitting it down there at the six or the five and being happy with that,” he said. “I was trying to make a huge play and got a little greedy.
“I’m going to pull back a little bit,” he said. “Still, you get a fair catch at the 7-yard line, it’s still a big play. Just trying to make a huge play and came up a little bit short, hitting the ball a little bit too long.”