Detroit Lions Training Camp: Top Five Position Battles
By Alex Reno
Nov 23, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Boston College Eagles kicker Nate Freese (85) kicks a 52 yard field goal as time expires to win the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. Boston College Eagles defeated Maryland Terrapins 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
#5: Starting Kicker
The Detroit Lions are not used to having an uncertainty at the kicker position. They have had a ton of success when drafting kickers in the past, but kicking phenoms like Eddie Murray and Jason Hanson don’t just happen to grow on trees.
Last year the Lions went against their nature and attempted to simply patch up the position by signing veteran kicker David Akers, who went on to have one of his worst performances of his career at the position.
This year, the Lions have invested their 7th round pick (229th overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft on Boston College kicker Nate Freese. In recent past, when the Lions select a kicker in the NFL Draft, they’re set at the position for at least a decade. However, Freese’s competition UDFA Giorgio Tavecchio isn’t going down without a fight.
Nate Freese was 3/4 during initial special teams period. Nailed left upright from 48. ... Tavecchio was 4-of-4, and cleared 48 EASILY
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) May 28, 2014
It’s way too early to tell, but even though it looks like the Lions may be all-in on Freese, there is still a legitimate competition at the kicker position.
Early Prediction: Nate Freese is your starting kicker.