Mid-season 'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Giants' special teams

We have done mid-season 'Kudos & Wet Willies' for the New York Giants offense and defense already. It is time to do the same for special teams. You know how this is going to go. Brace yourself, it isn't going to be pleasant reading.

Individuals

Josh Brown -- Brown has done everything the Giants could have hoped for after deciding to keep the veteran instead of young Brandon McManus, whom they dealt to the Denver Broncos for a seventh-round pick. Brown has made all seven of his field-goal attempts. He has generated 21 touchbacks on 32 kickoffs (65.6 percent). 'Kudos'

Steve Weatherford -- Has been punting since Week 1 with four torn ligaments in his left ankle, which is his plant foot. Weatherford has still averaged 45.4 yards per punt, had a league-leading seven punts downed and pinned 12 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. His ability to place the ball where he wants seems to be improving as his health improves following the injury. The Giants have gotten hurt on the handful of occasions Weatherford has not placed the ball, and two punts have been partially blocked. Still, nothing that has happened when the Giants are punting can really be pinned on him. 'Kudos'

Quintin Demps -- Demps came to the Giants in the off-season with a history of being one of the league's best kickoff return men. He averaged 20.3 yards per return last season for the Kansas City Chiefs, and entered the season with a career average of more than 27 yards per return. He has been a complete flop. He has averaged only 21.3 yards on 11 returns, with a costly fumble against the Arizona Cardinals. Demps has been replaced on kickoffs by Michael Cox. 'Wet Willie'

Preston Parker -- Parker has done a decent job returning both punts and kickoffs. He is averaging 6.6 yards on eight punt returns, and has had a couple of longer returns negated by Giants penalties. He has returned three kickoffs for an average 19.0 yards, with a long of 34 yards and one fumble. Parker has ceded most of the punt return duties to rookie Odell Beckham, who was supposed to get that job in the first place. 'Kwillie'

Giants fans remember this play [Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports]

Units

Kickoff Coverage -- This is the one area of the Giants' special teams where there can be no complaints. The Giants are surrendering only 18.0 yards per return, second in the league. The longest return they have allowed went for 31 yards. 'Kudos'

Punt Team -- It has been perfect, as long as Weatherford has placed the ball exactly where the coverage guys were expecting. Or, as long as they have blocked well enough for Weatherford to get the punts off cleanly, without getting them blocked or nearly getting himself killed. If the ball hasn't been perfectly punted? Disaster. The Giants have surrendered a 71-yard touchdown return, a 43-yard return and a 25-yard return. Their overall of 12.5 yards per punt return against is fourth-worst in the league. 'Wet Willie'

Kickoff Return -- Abysmal. We have already talked about Demps. Parker has a fumble. At least Michael Cox has shown in two games (28.0 yards per return with a long of 40) that he might be able to provide a spark there. 'Wet Willie'

Punt Return -- Parker has been better than his 6.6 yards per return average indicates, losing a couple of longer returns -- including a 29-yarder -- to penalties. Odell Beckham is likely to become the primary punt returner (6.7 yards on three returns). We will see if this gets better. 'Kwillie'