As the 2023 football season unfolds, Justin Tucker, a name synonymous with kicking excellence, finds himself in uncharted territory – navigating a rough patch in performance. Renowned as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, Tucker’s recent outings reveal a deviation from his otherwise illustrious career trajectory. With a career average conversion rate of 90.5% before 2023, Tucker's struggles have not gone unnoticed and have begun to raise questions among both fans and analysts.
A Season of Contrasts
Tucker’s 2023 season presents a narrative of stark contrasts. On the one hand, he impressively converted 51 of his 52 extra point attempts, demonstrating his consistency in shorter range scenarios. Within the 40-yard mark, Tucker maintained an impeccable record, making all 20 field goals. He also showed strength in mid-range attempts, hitting 11 of 12 kicks from 40 to 49 yards. Yet, his performance on longer kicks — those 50 yards and beyond — tells a different story. A 1 of 5 conversion rate on such attempts highlights the difficulties Tucker has encountered from longer distances this season.
A Rough Patch and Its Impact
The beginning of the current season seemed promising, with Tucker executing all 26 extra point attempts and 12 of 15 field goals in the first seven weeks. However, since Week 8, his success rate has visibly dipped. Tucker has made just 7 of 12 field goal attempts, missing crucial kicks from distances of 50, 47, 50, 47, and 53 yards. This inconsistency, particularly in critical game situations, marks a departure from his storied past as the league’s most reliable kicker.
Bill Belichick, a seasoned observer of the game and its intricacies, offered his perspective on Tucker's current trajectory. "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," Belichick remarked. His comments underline the belief that Tucker's recent slump is not born out of diminishing skill but rather technical inconsistencies. Belichick further speculates that identifying and correcting these mechanical issues is key to restoring Tucker’s previous form.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
This season's struggles are not entirely isolated. Echoing similar sentiments, Belichick noted, “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.” Despite these challenges, Tucker closed the previous season on a high note, converting all of his 21 extra points and all 15 field goals after a Week 13 bye. This ability to rebound underscores Tucker’s potential to alleviate current accuracy problems.
In the minds of many, Tucker’s athletic prowess remains unquestioned. As Belichick concisely put it, “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.” The onus, instead, lies upon uncovering and addressing the mechanical issues plaguing his performance.
The Confidence of the Ravens
Encouragingly, it appears that the Baltimore Ravens share Belichick's confidence, opting to stand by their legendary kicker despite his recent hiccups. Coach John Harbaugh's decision to stick with Tucker comes as no surprise, given his historical consistency and talent. As one of the few stalwarts in the NFL known for getting great height on the ball and demonstrating near-flawless accuracy, Tucker's legacy as a kicker still looms large over the field.
In an age where performance is meticulously analyzed and measured, Justin Tucker’s path will be closely monitored by teammates, opponents, and fans alike. With coaching, time, and perhaps a bit of recalibration, the anticipation is that Tucker will recapture the form that once made him the gold standard of NFL kickers, reaffirming his status not just as a player, but a maestro in the art of kicking.