Over the past two weeks and a little this week, we'll be reviewing each position group for the Detroit Lions in multiple ways. We'll continue with the specialists Monday.
Every morning as part of the Roar, we'll have a quick statistical breakdown of that position group.
The specialists as a whole: The Lions were 15th in the NFL in yards per punt return (8.88) and 10th in the league in yards per kick return (24.48). Detroit's field goal percentage of 65.8 was the worst in the NFL -- in part because of the struggles of Alex Henery and Nate Freese. Detroit was ninth in punting yardage (46.15 average) and 16th in net average punting yards (39.74). The Lions allowed 10.37 yards per punt return (25th in the league) and 27.20 per kick return (29th in the league).
The specialists as individuals:
Sam Martin: He punted 68 times for 3,138 yards and 2,702 net punting yards. The longest punt he had this season was 71 yards and only five touchbacks. He averaged 46.15 yards per punt and 39.74 net yards per punt. He landed 36.8 percent of his punts inside the 20, 13.2 percent inside the 10 and 2.9 percent inside the 5. He had 53 of his 75 kickoffs go for touchbacks -- a 70.7 percent rate.
Matt Prater: After signing with the Lions, he made 21 of 26 field goals and all 21 of his extra points. He hit six field goals from 40-to-49 yards and three from 50 yards or longer. He also made a game-winner against Atlanta.
Nate Freese: Detroit's seventh round pick in 2014 made 3 of 7 field goals -- including missing all four of his chances from 40 yards or longer -- before being waived after Week 3.
Alex Henery: He made 1 of 5 field goals over two weeks -- including three misses in a loss to Buffalo -- before being cut.
Jeremy Ross: He had 23 kick returns for 584 yards and no touchdowns -- averaging 25.39 yards per return. He only had 52.2 percent of his kick returns reach at least the 20 yard-line. He had 32 punt returns for 284 yards and no touchdowns -- an average of 8.88 yards per return. Ross graded out by Pro Football Focus as the No. 12 returner in the league. PFF said he led the league in fair catches on punt returns with 38, 12 more than Minnesota's Marcus Sherels.
And now, a look at Lions news from around the Interwebs:
Reviewing Detroit's safeties. Looking at the safeties from a stats-based prism. A draft outlook for safeties. This week's Lions Mailbag. How many players away are the Lions from the Super Bowl?
Matthew Stafford had a good first Pro Bowl, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Michigan State safety Kurtis Drummond trying to rebound as he enters the draft, writes Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.
The Lions could look to the draft to fill their backup quarterback needs, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.