Guaranteed money doesn’t guarantee anything for Sam Martin this coming season."In this edition of our 2018 Roster Review series Calvin Johnson Jersey , we break down Sam Martin’s role going into 2019 with questions regarding his leg, cap, and competition loom in training camp. Sam MartinOutlook before 2018: In his first year of a four year, $13.6 million contract, Sam Martin missed seven games in the 2017 season due to injury. Going into 2018, it was imperative that Martin bounce back as the Lions brought in cannon-legged kicker/punter combo Ryan Santoso to compete for the job in camp. While it looked like there would be a real competition at first, Santoso struggled to find consistency in training camp and through preseason games, and it became clear pretty quickly the job would remain with Martin. Actual role in 2018: 2018 Stats: 16 games, 44.7 yards/punt average on 74 puntsMartin remained healthy through all sixteen games this season, but it wasn’t without caveat.Martin wasn’t his old self, and his 44.7-yard punting average was a far cry from his 2016 average of 48.5 yards that earned him his hefty contract. It was hard to tell whether or not that was entirely his fault. While Martin definitely blasted the ball a lot better in some games compared to others, the Lions had significant struggles in coverage even when Martin hit balls with solid distance and hang time. There has been talk that Martin hasn’t been the same since injury Womens Zach Zenner Jersey , but the punting struggles in 2018 may not necessarily be on the punter. Only time will tell. Outlook for 2019:Contract Status: Under ContractMartin still has two years left on his contract, but guaranteed money doesn’t guarantee anything in his case. Ryan Santoso signed a futures contract with the Lions this offseason that surely isn’t anywhere nearly as pricey as Martin’s contract. In 2019, Martin will count $3 millon against the cap with just a $1 million dead cap number. Santoso’s cap hit is reportedly under $500,000. Santoso will certainly give Martin another run for his money, especially if training camp confirms the notion that Martin’s leg has lost some power since the injury. All those considered, things didn’t look great for Martin until the Lions brought back John Bonamego as their special teams coordinator. Martin had some of his best years under Bonamego and punt return and coverage units both thrived. Bonamego’s hire has brought new light to Martin’s future, but expect a real battle to brew in training camp between Martin and Santoso for the Lions’ punter job in 2019. DETROIT 鈥?The Detroit Lions took advantage of some聽mistakes they forced聽Green Bay to make and were fortunate some breaks simply went their way.Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and LeGarrette Blount ran for two scores, lifting the Lions to a 31-23 win over the Packers on Sunday.More Packers coveragePackers at Bears to open 2019 scheduleTop Tweets: Brewers make hilarious ‘Mean Girls’ parody videoMatthews signs with Rams after 10 years with PackersPackers re-sign tight end Marcedes LewisTop Tweets: Nikola Mirotic loves being a Milwaukee BuckDetroit (2-3) earned a win it desperately needed under first-year coach Matt Patricia, going into its bye week.“We get two weeks to 10 days to sit on whatever happens,” said Stafford, who was 14 of 26 for 183 yards with two TDs and no turnovers. “And, it feels a whole lot better with a win.”Green Bay (2-2-1) was doomed because veteran Mason Crosby had the worst game of his life and two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers lost two fumbles for just the third time in his 14-year career.“We just couldn’t overcome all the things we did wrong Kenny Golladay Jersey White ,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “We did some good things in the second half, but you can’t dig yourself that kind of hole.”Crosby missed a career-high four field goals in one game and failed to make an extra point to boot. He connected on a field goal with 2 seconds left, but that wasn’t of much consolation after his poor performance.“I look back and I’m thinking, in my childhood, in high school, this is definitely one of the worst ones,” said Crosby, the first NFL kicker to miss four field goals in a game since 2010.Detroit recovered an onside kick to seal the win, preventing Rodgers from getting another chance at聽a game-winning Hail Mary in Detroit聽like the one he threw in 2015.The Lions built a big lead in the first half, picking up where they left off in their last home game, a 16-point win over the New England Patriots.Blount had a pair of 1-yard TD runs in the first quarter and Stafford’s 8-yard pass to聽Marvin Jones聽late in the second quarter put Detroit up 24-0.Patricia, though Womens Kenny Golladay Jersey , didn’t think the Lions’ cushion was comfortable.“Unfortunately, I’ve seen that quarterback on the other side there crush a lot of leads pretty quickly and come back,” said Patricia, a former Patriots defensive coordinator.Rodgers, missing injured receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison, threw short TDs to rookie聽Marquez Valdes-Scantling聽and Lance Kendricks in the third to pull the Packers within 10 points.Stafford answered with a 5-yard TD pass to Kenny Golladay early in the fourth quarter to give Detroit a 31-14 lead.“It was big to chew up some time to give our defense a little bit of a rest and come away with some points,” Stafford said.Rodgers connected with聽Davante Adams聽on a 12-yard throw for a third TD pass, but Crosby hit the left upright on the extra point to let the Lions keep an 11-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Adams has scored in 10 straight road games, equaling a league record set by Tommy McDonald of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1959 to 1961.Rodgers was 32 of 52 for 442 yards 鈥?the second-highest total of his career 鈥?with three TD passes.“We’ve been a one-half team all year,” he said. “We need to do something about that.”STREAKINGThe Lions, who didn’t face Rodgers last year, have won three straight in the series for the first time the 1990-91 seasons.SOUND STRATEGYDetroit had success on defense http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-dwayne-washington-jersey , going after Rodgers with just four players and dropping seven into coverage. Rodgers held onto the ball to wait for receivers to get open, but they couldn’t, and it led to three sacks and his two fumbles.“They gave up rushers in order to extend plays, and they got some turnovers out of it,” McCarthy said. “We’re usually successful in those situations, but they did some good things.”INJURY REPORTPackers: LB Nick Perry (ankle) and CB Kevin King (chin) were hurt during the game.Lions: RB Kerryon Johnson, who ran for 70 yards on 12 carries, went out in the fourth quarter after appearing to hurt his right ankle. CB Teez Tabor (groin) and CB Jamal Agnew (knee) also left the game with injuries.UP NEXTPackers: Host San Francisco on Monday, Oct. 15.Lions: Off until playing at Miami on Oct. 21.
