Justin Tucker has long stood as a beacon of consistency and excellence in the world of NFL kickers. Known for his impressive career average conversion rate of 90.5% before the 2023 season, Tucker has cultivated a reputation as one of the most reliable legs in football history. However, every legend faces challenging times, and it appears that Tucker is in the midst of one of those rare rough patches.
A Phenomenal Start
The 2023 season held promise and seemed to continue Tucker’s legacy of excellence. With 51 of 52 extra point attempts successfully converted and a perfect record of 20 field goals made within 40 yards, Tucker seemed unfazed by the pressures that come with being one of the most dependable kickers in the game. His numbers on longer attempts were similarly impressive, achieving 11 of 12 on field goals ranging from 40 to 49 yards.
The Long-Distance Dilemma
However, Tucker’s accuracy appeared to falter at the 50-yard mark and beyond, managing just 1 out of 5 attempts at this distance in 2023. The typically sure-footed kicker’s challenges came into sharper focus during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he missed three field goals and an extra point—a performance uncharacteristic of Tucker's usual form.
Since Week 8 of the current season, Tucker's form has been less than perfect, with 7 out of 12 field goal conversions and missed attempts marked from 50, 47, 50, 47, and 53 yards. Prior consistency had never allowed for such a succession of misses, prompting speculation and discussions among fans and analysts alike.
Coaches' Trust and Technical Questions
Navigating through this challenging phase, Tucker retains the trust and support of his coaching staff. Both Head Coach John Harbaugh and iconic Patriots Coach Bill Belichick have weighed in on Tucker’s current form. Belichick astutely observed, “Obviously there's something that's a little bit off from a technique standpoint. But I don't see that there's like a lack of talent. I think there's something mechanically that he's not doing consistently. If you have the key to unlock that problem, then probably everything could be great.”
This emphasis on mechanical issues rather than a decline in skill resonates throughout the league. Tucker's reliability has been a hallmark, and the belief in his ability to return to form reflects a shared trust in his innate talent. The notion that a slight mechanical adjustment could resolve the current inconsistencies offers a glimpse of hope for Ravens fans and stakeholders.
A Historical Perspective
Reflecting on last season, post-Week 13 showed Tucker in peak form, with a 100% success rate on both extra points and field goals through the end. This historical context suggests that Tucker's inconsistencies might indeed be a temporary blip, one that a kicker of his caliber is entirely capable of correcting.
Belichick further remarked on Tucker’s capabilities: “Clearly this extends back even to last year a little bit, too, because there were some accuracy issues last year in the '23 season as well as the current season. So I think Coach Harbaugh is doing the right thing. I would stick with Justin Tucker. This guy was the most accurate kicker in the history of football. He gets great height on the ball. He's been super consistent. He's obviously having a little bit of a rough patch right here, but it doesn't look to me like his talent level has declined. There's something mechanically that just isn't quite right all the time. I think they just gotta work hard and try to find that.”
Looking Ahead
As the current season progresses, the focus for Tucker and the Ravens will be to identify and correct the mechanical elements affecting his kicking. The meticulous attention to detail that defines professional sports will undoubtedly be the tool that helps Tucker regain his full form. The path to resolution may not be immediate, but the conviction in Tucker's abilities remains unshaken.
For a kicker whose legacy is built on consistency, a return to peak performance is not a question of if, but when. Kicking excellence is a game measured in millimeters and milliseconds, and for a craftsman like Tucker, the journey back to flawless precision is just another challenge to overcome.