Lions’ Jake Bates shrugs off preseason inconsistency against Rams

September 9, 2024 Vaseline blog 0

Lions’ Jake Bates shrugs off preseason inconsistency against Rams

Detroit — Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates isn’t superhuman.

He can’t pick and choose what he remembers, or what’s on his mind in critical situations. Athletes talk often about having short memories, but no one can legitimately turn their brains off. Some are better than others at locking in when the pressure is on, but the back of their minds still exists, whether they want to admit it or not.

So, when Bates lined up for a 32-yard field goal to send the Lions into overtime against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, what were his thoughts? Was he thinking about his missed kicks throughout training camp? More specifically, what about the 30-yarder he missed — going in the same direction at Ford Field, by the way — in the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers?

“I’m human,” Bates said after Sunday’s season-opening win over the Rams. “I know I missed that kick. But also, I think something you have to preach to yourself is you’re not always going to be perfect as much as you want to be. That comes with the position, the ebbs and flows of being a kicker. You’re going to miss some; you’re going to make some. How can you stay as even-keeled as you can throughout the ups and downs?

Bates sank his attempt against Los Angeles. Right down the middle. No knuckling, no last-minute curve. No question about whether or not he was going to tie the game with 17 seconds remaining, helping set the table for the Lions to run their way down the field for the winning touchdown in overtime.

It was a cold-blooded kick in front of 66,530 fans who would’ve turned venomous had he whiffed.

“Just do my job,” Bates said of his mindset. “I know that (long snapper) Hogan (Hatten) and (holder) Jack (Fox) are going to put me in the best possible position to be able to knock it through. At that point, it’s just do my job. We’ “ve practiced really hard. The coaches have done a really good job of putting us in those situations throughout training camp and practice, so it’s kind of just go out there, do your job and hope you see the ball go through the uprights.”

Bates, who was given a game ball by Fox, said he doesn’t remember if his heart rate went up while he jogged onto the field for that kick Sunday night, but was pretty sure his mother’s did: “She said she’s aging a little bit too fast with me and my little brother playing football,” he added.

The Lions have stuck with Bates through the highs and lows of his young career, which was born out of him excelling as a member of the United Football League’s Michigan Panthers. Bates made 17 of his 22 field goals with the Panthers, including three makes from 60 or more yards out.

Bates, with just one regular-season game to his name, will experience a hiccup again. As he continues to tell himself, no one is perfect. Kickers are going to miss, and that’s OK. It doesn’t have to affect his mentality.

“I’m always ready, absolutely,” Bates said. “I know that we have a really, really good offense that’s going to get us down the field a lot. And then one of the best punters in the NFL that’s going to pin them deep. I’m always ready to go. I’ m just kind of waiting to get my number called.

“Whenever that is called, go out and do a job.”

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