Lions News

[chemiclord]

CGVT approves of this message

SPOILERalthough he doesn't think Bates will make the team

I doubt it myself. It seems like it's Turner's job to lose at this point, if the reports from this spring are any indication.

[froot loops]

Bates has got a bomb of a leg and it's proven in pro game situations. But it is a small sample size. They will have to find out if he can consistently hit extra points and short field goals because that wasn't something he had to do in the UFL. His 60 yard field goals are beautiful.

It worked for the Cowboys with Brandon Aubrey. In some ways Aubrey had less experience.

[chemiclord]

I think statistically, Bates only missed one field goal inside of 50 yards (there were two others, iirc, that were negated by penalties). But yeah... how much of that is that he didn't have too many circumstances where the Panthers were in that position?

[Forsh]

Turner seems like the guy to me ... but same I'm open to there being more competition

[CGVT]

I'm too lazy to post the link, but it appears that the Lions signed Bates to a two year contract.

[chemiclord]

That's what I figured it would take. Someone was going to give the guy more than just a tryout, I'm glad it was the Lions.

[ghandi]

Let's hope it works out...Its probably not easy to kick for Dan Campbell...he probably doesnt like kickers to begin with and he CAN kick your butt if you miss it.

[maxw3ll]

Hard not to pull for Bates. Liked money badger, not sure about Turner.

He did make clutch kick vs OSU, but when you kill teams each week its a safe job. He was solid though.

interesting Bal looked into Bates. Says a lot.

let the best kicker win!

[chemiclord]

I wouldn't say that Campbell "hates" kickers, more than he likes the odds of his offense getting 10 yards in 4 plays in most situations. Which is a correct read for this team more often than not.

A good kicker is necessary for those "No Man's Land" situations where it's like 4th and 9 from the opponent's 35, where it's too close for the punter but really not a good down or distance either to go for it... or with time running out and no opportunity to squeeze in one more play. It's something that doesn't happen terribly often, but it's nice to have in your quiver those five or six times a season it happens.

[whatever_gong82]

I hope that Bates can make the team.

Anyway, it's good to have true competition for the field goal kicker position.

Even better that this current Detroit Lions team seems to be loaded at just about every other position besides our field goal kicker.

[BJK]

[whatever_gong82]

Makes sense, since they've taken some of our talent on and off the field lately.

[BJK]

Makes sense, since they've taken some of our talent on and off the field lately.

And I believe he’s the replacement for Brandon Sosna, who just left for the Commanders.

[NewOrleansLion]

Even better that this current Detroit Lions team seems to be loaded at just about every other position besides our field goal kicker.

I was just thinking about this. Among the starters, what are the positions that aren’t championship-contending caliber? On offense, it’s the WRs whose fathers haven’t won Mr. Universe, although If Jamo takes a big step forward, that offsets the WR3 problem. On defense, DE opposite Hutch and DT, as long as Reader is out. The jury is out on the CBs, but there’s some legit hope there.

That’s a pretty short list. This still feels weird.

[GALion68]

Adding Bates makes this training camp even more interesting.