Special Teams are Thriving for the Lions

Throughout this wild Detroit Lions season, a weekly question arises before each game: Which side of the ball is going to show up today? There have been games where the defense is non-existent, and others where the offense is stalled yet the D holds their ground. It’s always worrisome when both start to struggle, but for the most part, one has been able to make up for the other (even if it is on the last drive.) However, what gets lost in these wild finishes are just how clutch Detroit’s special teams have been.

Just look at Thanksgiving. Matt Prater was back in a position he’s quite familiar with, lined up to win the game. And as nervous as I, and I’m sure just about all of you were, deep down we completely believed this guy was going to kick that ball as hard and as beautiful as he always does when the clock expires.

It’s exactly what he’s been doing since he came to Detroit. In 2014, Detroit was going through a mess of kickers before Prater fell into the team’s lap. Remember Nate Freese? Remember Alex Henry who missed three field goals in one game, including a game winner that traveled maybe 13 yards? Those were some dark days. And after Jason Hanson blessed this team for years, it was something the Lions weren’t ready for. But now, Detroit is back to their clutch kicking ways. And without Prater, they wouldn’t be leading the NFC North.

(Side note: The Lions actually let Ndamakung Suh kick an extra point in a regular season game against the Jets after a Jason Hanson injury. I was there. I remember thinking it was the weirdest thing in the world. It was one of the weirdest things in the world. There is an NFL coach who actually thought that his massive defensive tackle who played soccer once, was a better kicker than a professional punter would be. P.S. Lions lost that game in overtime.)

But special teams isn’t just about the kicker. Sam Martin has been solid since Detroit drafted him in 2013. He doesn’t get the publicity that Pat McAfee or Marquette King get, but he does just as well at his job. Currently, Martin is top-5 in average and net yardage on punts, with only one touchback. So even if Detroit is kicking from around the 50, (which seems to be happening a lot due to how many times I have screamed at Caldwell to go for it) Martin still manages to keep it out of the end zone.

And on all these punts what might be the most amazing stat is that Detroit is only allowing 5.5 yards per return, good for 3rd best in the league. Yes, some of that has to do with the kick being perfect, but more importantly, it means the gunners are, well, gunning. And Don Carey and Johnson Bademosi are some of, if not the, best gunners in the league.

Carey has been with the Lions since 2011 and has few stats outside of special teams. Bademosi came over this offseason from Cleveland mainly for his special team skills. Separate they were both good at containing the returner, but together they create a wall. Throughout the weeks I have watched these guys sprint down the field, managing to contain the returner with ease. Finally, the Lions have turned the table and are able to contain punts to perfection. That extra 10 yards a returner can get really impacts the game. Detroit makes returners work extra for them.

In the Lions’ return game, I’ll agree with most that Andre Roberts returning from the end zone is not great. But from a punt return standpoint, he’s been great. The only knock against him is the muffed punt against the Jaguars. So of course, he housed one later in the game. After years of crumby kick returns, it’s nice to see consistency with big plays mixed in.

With all of these players on special teams, I feel safe. What more could you possibly want from such an important unit? Caldwell and the Lions’ faith in this unit have changed the outcome of many games already. Hopefully, this strong play continues during the playoff push.

-Follow Jack on Twitter @J_zark

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