Justin Tucker's Struggles: A Closer Look at the Slump of a Legendary Kicker
Justin Tucker, widely regarded as one of the most reliable and prolific kickers in NFL history, is experiencing a rare slump that has left fans and analysts searching for answers. Known for his incredible accuracy, Tucker's performance throughout the 2023 season and the current one has sparked concern over what might be affecting his usually dependable kicking game.
A Legendary Career with Unmatched Accuracy
Justin Tucker's pre-2023 career numbers speak for themselves, boasting a career average conversion rate of an impressive 90.5%. Such consistency set him apart as the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. However, this season has painted a different picture for Tucker, highlighting issues that have begun to plague his performance.
In 2023, Tucker successfully converted 51 of 52 extra point attempts and made all 20 field goals from inside 40 yards. His reliability from these distances was unparalleled. However, cracks began to show as he went 11 for 12 on attempts ranging from 40 to 49 yards but struggled significantly with longer attempts, making just 1 of 5 field goals from beyond 50 yards.
The Current Season's Challenges
This season, Tucker opened strong, making 26 of 26 extra points alongside 12 of 15 field goals in the first seven weeks. However, since Week 8, his performance has notably deteriorated. During this period, Tucker has succeeded on just 7 of 12 field goal attempts, missing crucial kicks from distances of 50, 47, 50, 47, and 53 yards. These struggles, particularly from long range, signal a concerning trend for the otherwise steadfast kicker.
Renowned NFL coach Bill Belichick weighed in on Tucker's current struggles, emphasizing the technical challenges rather than a decline in skill. "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," Belichick noted. This insight suggests that Tucker's problems may be more of a technical nature than a physical decline.
Lingering Challenges from Previous Seasons
Interestingly, Tucker's issues can be traced back even to the previous year, where similar accuracy problems emerged. Belichick observed, “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.” Highlighting Tucker's historical consistency and mechanical prowess, Belichick added, “This guy was the most accurate kicker in the history of football. He gets great height on the ball. He's been super consistent."
Despite his current struggles, Tucker's talent is undeniable. The Baltimore Ravens, under the leadership of Coach John Harbaugh, continue to place their trust in him. Belichick's comments echoed this sentiment, reinforcing that Tucker's current slump might just be a rough patch rather than an indicator of a long-term decline. “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,” Belichick concluded.
Final Thoughts
As the season progresses, the Ravens will be keen to find solutions to help Tucker regain his composure and confidence. While the challenges are evident, both Tucker and his team possess the experience and determination to identify and address the underlying issues causing his current downturn. Until then, the eyes of the NFL community will remain fixed on the once-infallible kicker, eager to see him return to the form that earned him his legendary status.