10 takeaways from Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp
3. Jake Bates missed only three field goal attempts last season (26-of-29). He’s missed double that amount this season (21-of-27) with three games left in the regular season. But Fipp and the Lions have not lost faith in their second-year kicker. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.
“I’m not worried about him at all,” Fipp said.
That stems from the data the Lions have accumulated on Bates over the course of two seasons in every practice and game kick. Fipp said Thursday Bates has the highest percentage of makes – in the high 90 percent range – than any kicker he’s ever been around in his 18 years coaching in the NFL.
4. Veteran defensive lineman Alim McNeill hasn’t been playing bad since his return from a torn ACL, but he also isn’t making as many of the impact plays as we’ve been used to seeing from him. Sheppard said McNeill has said as much to him, and Sheppard expects more out of McNeill these last three weeks.
“I have all the faith in the world in Alim,” Sheppard said. “He’s done good things for us, but it is time for him to kind of kick in as far as being that impactful three technique we all know he can.”
5. After rushing for just 70 yards last week against the Rams, how do the Lions get back to dictating pace of play and physicality on offense with their run game? Morton said it’s a matter of being more explosive coming off the ball upfront. That’s been a point of emphasis this week developing the run scheme.
