The Detroit Lions’ kicker is former Michigan Panthers standout Jake Bates.
Detroit special teams coach Dave Fipp stated following Monday night’s practice that the team is willing to ride or die with the unproven Bates.
Fipp is confident that the ride will be enjoyable, even if it includes some bumps along the way.
Those hiccups have been significant throughout Bates’ tenure in Detroit. During a three-day practice period, he failed to make even 60% of his field goal attempts and missed two extra points. Bates’ kickoff performance has also been uneven, with an unusually high proportion of mis-hits for a former soccer player.
Bates recently improved his field goal accuracy. In the preseason opener in New York, he blasted home a dead solid perfect 53-yarder, even in the rain. While he did follow that with a mishit on the kickoff, which led in a costly penalty, Bates’ confidence continues to grow. He finished Sunday’s practice with a 64-yarder that left no doubts.
Fipp recognizes such confidence and believes in nurturing it.
“Obviously, the big kick (vs. the Giants) helped,” Fipp said after Monday’s practice, in which Bates made all of his attempts. “I believe the most important thing for him is to improve a little bit — and this is true for every player, which is simple for me to say — but it is the reality.
You do not have to go out there and make every kick. Nobody is going to do that. All you have to do is show gradual improvement. And I believe you have a chance if you continue to improve as a player in this league.”
When asked how an unskilled kicker like Bates, who never kicked a field goal in college, can make that gradual improvement, Fipp said,
“I believe a lot of it is repetitive. And that impacted him early on because he didn’t spend the entire offseason with us. We picked him up just after the offseason (minicamp and OTAs) concluded. He got some work done, but not much.
Since Lions kicker Michael Badgley sustained a season-ending hamstring injury, Bates has been the only kicker in camp. Fipp claims that this is by design.
“It’s unfortunate that Badgley isn’t here, but it has benefitted (Bates) by increasing his workload. That was part of the decision not to bring anyone else in.”
The Lions did hold workouts for a couple free agent kickers, but Fipp believes in Bates’ massive leg and that more reps will improve his accuracy and consistency. When asked a similar question about bringing in other kickers, Fipp reinforced his argument.
“We’ve got a super talented guy,” Fipp said.
The always cheerful Fipp ended his thoughts on Bates with three words:
“Improving, confidence, repetition.”
