Detroit Lions 53-Man Roster Prediction: Preseason Week 3 Edition

Sep 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin (6) during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Specialists (3)

• Nate Freese
• Sam Martin
• Don Muhlbach

I predicted that these three names would be the ones you see as your specialists going into the regular season, and I’m not backing down.

Martin and Muhlbach have nothing to worry about as far as their jobs are concerned, but the competition between Nate Freese and Giorgio Tavecchio is as close as it’s ever been.

So far, Nate Freese has been perfect on field goal attempts (including a 55-yarder), but dinged an extra point off of the right upright against the Raiders. Tavecchio has made his only field goal attempt from 25-yards out and has connected on all extra point attempts.

Tavecchio has been more consistent throughout camp, but Freese just seems to have the better leg of the two. It’ll all come down to who the coaches trust more at this point.