Lions News

[Sanders Fan]

I’m glad Wright is staying just because of that scare with LaPorta’s knee.

[jaadam4]

I’m glad Wright is staying just because of that scare with LaPorta’s knee.

I’d like to draft a TE in the mid rounds for that. You’re right LaPorta is such a big part of the offense now

[froot loops]

Their offense runs a lot of different tight end sets so you need depth, it would be wise to draft one. I'd be happy with Tip Reiman or Erick All.

Some mock had the Lions drafting Brock Bowers at 29, so it sent Detroit sports radio into a frenzy.

[Mainevent]

I’ve been pimping Barner as a day 3 target for months. But with Wright back and Mitchell and Zylstra around I could see it being more of a priority UDFA guy.

[jaadam4]

Their offense runs a lot of different tight end sets so you need depth, it would be wise to draft one. I'd be happy with Tip Reiman or Erick All.

Some mock had the Lions drafting Brock Bowers at 29, so it sent Detroit sports radio into a frenzy.

No way Bowers falls that far. That would be a no brainier for anyone from pick 7 onwards

I like All as well. He’s a solid player.

[jaadam4]

That Panthers kicker hit a 62 yarder this week and another 52 yarder in the same game. This interview is great


But the story is even crazier than that. Tony Paul of the Detroit News interviewed Bates last week, and it turns out the Panthers kicker never even made a field goal in high school. He only had one high school attempt and it was a missed 47-yarder.

“It was funny. Everything I saw was, ‘He hasn’t made a field goal since high school,’ and I was like, well, that’s a little incorrect, but I was just gonna roll with it,” Bates said. “The truth is, I didn’t make one in high school.”

[chemiclord]

Bates could just be another example of how it can take NFL-quality kickers time to really season properly that the college ranks and early pro years don't really allow them.

It could also be another example of how small sample sizes can paper over fundamental flaws.

[froot loops]

The Lions should at least follow up and sign him for camp. I know he has drawn the attention of multiple teams, but I would think they would have the inside track. You get him in camp and you can see how consistent he is.

I worked with a guy who was Florida State's placekicker. He was a soccer player that had to move out with his family to Kansas and there were no soccer teams. His dad bought him a football and a tee and took him to a baseball field and had him kick the ball over the backstop until he was good enough to play for a football team.

[Topweasel]

Bates could just be another example of how it can take NFL-quality kickers time to really season properly that the college ranks and early pro years don't really allow them.

It could also be another example of how small sample sizes can paper over fundamental flaws.

Or small sample size can ruin a person's chances. This is probably a perfect example of someone being put into a box early into their history and just never getting a real opportunity. For whatever reason, high school, college, even NFL people looked at him for his leg strength, but never actually allowed for him to compete for the job.

Reminds me of Prater's first time here. Hanson deserved to stay as long as he felt he had the leg for it. But Prater was brought in never had a real chance, to the point we let probably the second best leg this last 10-15 years go. How close could he have been to bouncing out like Bates. Took him till his third season and like 5 teams before he caught on. Not because he was missing kicks, but purely because he was a Udfa that no one had real expectations for and never got a true chance to prove himself.

i know for kickers it's even more finicky than other positions. But you find the right one you stick with them for 20 years. All the more reason to churn the position if you ask me. Then again not sure the Lions would, they don't want the option to kick at the long distance spots.

[chemiclord]

I don't think it's an issue that they don't WANT a leg that can hit from 55+, but that they value consistently hitting inside 45 more.

[jaadam4]

The Lions should at least follow up and sign him for camp. I know he has drawn the attention of multiple teams, but I would think they would have the inside track. You get him in camp and you can see how consistent he is.

Absolutely. Considering he's had fantastic results in Ford Field and Detroit is a contender with a need for a kicker. It seems like a perfect fit.

[jaadam4]

I worked with a guy who was Florida State's placekicker. He was a soccer player that had to move out with his family to Kansas and there were no soccer teams. His dad bought him a football and a tee and took him to a baseball field and had him kick the ball over the backstop until he was good enough to play for a football team.

Thats pretty cool.

[jaadam4]

Bates could just be another example of how it can take NFL-quality kickers time to really season properly that the college ranks and early pro years don't really allow them.

It could also be another example of how small sample sizes can paper over fundamental flaws.

Someone posted that its only the second time in professional football that a kicker has hit back to back weeks of 60 yard FGs. That's crazy

[RoaryFontes]

Let's take a moment to remember Kickalicious.

[JGSpartan]

I don't think it's an issue that they don't WANT a leg that can hit from 55+, but that they value consistently hitting inside 45 more.

This is what it comes down to. NFL kickers are expected to be near locks from 45 and in. A guy that can make 60+ at a 60-70 percent rate is nice but If he's also only 70 percentish from 40 he's not gonna make it.

This Bates' kids 3-3 is an incredibly small sample size that could be giving a misrepresentation of his actual accuracy. Or it could be the past was the misrepresentation. Or both are accurate and he just got better. I'm sure the Lions will give him a look but don't be surprised if it doesn't work.