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The Detroit Lions have been pleased with punter Sam Martin's performance as a holder on field goals.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions punter/holder Sam Martin put it best.

"Whenever eight field goals are missed, you're going to evaluate every part of the operation," he said.

As the missed field goals pile up, and the Lions search for the team's third kicker this season, questions have been raised about the quality of Martin's holds. After all, he's been a constant since Jason Hanson hung up the cleats.

But coach Jim Caldwell confirmed on Monday, after reviewing the process for each field goal -- from snap to hold to kick -- Martin was not an issue.

"We don't pull any punches if we see an issue that may be a problem, we certainly identify it and address it," Caldwell said. "I think he does a good job."

Martin, who has shown a propensity for honest self-evaluation, said he wouldn't blame a single missed kick on his holding, at least not this season.

"I think up to this point, no misses have been because of holds or snaps," Martin said. "I think our operations have been pretty sound, actually. That being said, I don't think I'm perfect holder, perfect punter or perfect kickoff guy. I'm just trying to improve. If a hold is not perfect and I notice it, I'm going to fix it."

After missing three field goals in Detroit's loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, recently released kicker Alex Henery hinted that there was a breakdown elsewhere in the process. Martin revealed Henery thought the ball may have slid on one of the holds, but film review confirmed it didn't happen.

Caldwell said the team has no plans to sub out Martin once the team signs a new kicker this week, unless that addition prefers someone else holding.

"It all depends on who you're dealing with as your kicker as well," Caldwell said. "It could be a holding style, it could be whatever. They could prefer someone else, it just kind of depends on the situation. If it does happen, it has nothing to do with (Martin's) performance. It has more to do with the comfort of whomever is going to take over that spot."

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