Tag: Matt Prater

Matt Prater got Sam Martin ‘really excited’ about playing for Broncos

Matt Prater gave Sam Martin a positive review of the Broncos.

Before he joined the Lions in 2014, Matt Prater served as the Broncos’ kicker from 2007-2013. In Detroit, Prater was teammates with punter Sam Martin from ’14-’19. When Martin became a free agent this offseason, Prater gave him a positive review of Denver.

“Prater has become over these years one of my best friends,” Martin said during a conference call with reporters on March 31. “I was definitely close with him in the locker room. We spent every minute together. He’s been a great friend to me and a great teammate. He had nothing but good things to say about Denver.

“Since the day he walked in until the conversation yesterday, he’s just said it’s a great place to live, great people, great organization. He got me really excited about it. I just know how much he loves Denver. He’s kind of pointing me in the right direction of where to live, places to go, stuff like that. It’s nice to have someone who has spent so much time there helping you out with that.”

Martin averaged 46 yards per punt during his time with the Broncos. He is expected to replace Colby Wadman as Denver’s new punter this year.

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Special teams miscues killed the Lions in loss to the Redskins

The Detroit Lions special teams failed in the Week 12 loss to the Washington Redskins

Normally the Detroit Lions win the special teams battle. It’s been one of the few things the Lions have reliably done well in 2019. But in Washington, the special teams not only failed to be an asset, they also bore a significant portion of the blame for the loss.

Matt Prater missed his first field goal attempt. His 39-yard attempt into the wind fluttered wide right like a hummingbird getting blown by an industrial fan. Missed field goals in inclement conditions happen to everyone, even Prater, but it was still a critical miss for a team that lost by three points.

Prater made his next attempt, but the ensuing kickoff was an unmitigated disaster. Normally Sam Martin kicks off, and he’s one of the best at placing the kicks. Prater left this one a few yards shorter than ideal, and the tackling and containment on Steven Sims was simply dreadful,

Martin wasn’t healthy enough to handle the kickoff duties. He wasn’t particularly good at his regular punting gig, either. His first punt–from the Washington 39–pinned the Skins at their own 5-yard line. He couldn’t pin them inside the 20 on any of his other three punts that were well within the distance of making that happen.

It wasn’t just the guys who make their living with their feet who struggled.

Detroit fielded six Washington kickoffs. Ty Johnson had two returns, getting the Lions to start at their own 24 and own 30. It’s not awful, but it’s not helping.

With Jamal Agnew inactive due to injury, speedy Marvin Hall took over as the primary punt return man. He probably won’t get that opportunity again. Aside from Hall leaving the game on crutches, his decision to field a punt inside his own 2-yard line while running backward cost the Lions 18 yards. That’s an extra first down the team couldn’t afford to surrender. Being reminded of Stefan Logan is never a good thing for a Lions return man.