In the world of professional football, kickers don't typically receive much spotlight unless something goes wrong. Unfortunately for Justin Tucker, one of the NFL's most reliable kickers, this has been a season where attention has been squarely on some uncharacteristic missteps. Known for his precision and consistency, Tucker has experienced a challenging stretch that has prompted discussions, analyses, and hopeful prognoses about his form.
Justin Tucker, who entered the 2023 season with an impressive career average conversion rate of 90.5%, has found himself in a bit of a rut, with some significant misses in recent games. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, a rare performance led to Tucker missing three field goals and an extra point, highlighting a stark deviation from his usual form.
In the 2023 season, Tucker has shown signs of his former self. He successfully converted 51 of 52 extra point attempts, and his performance on field goals within 40 yards was nothing short of perfect, making all 20 attempts. However, his challenges have predominantly come from greater distances. He's recorded 11 out of 12 successes on kicks ranging from 40 to 49 yards but managed just 1 of 5 from beyond 50 yards, a mark that certainly falls short of expectation for someone of his caliber.
Struggles from Distance
Analyzing Tucker’s performance in the current season, particularly since Week 8, unveils a pattern of difficulties on long-range attempts. From that point forward, he has made 7 of 12 field goals, with misses from the demanding distances of 50, 47, 50, 47, and 53 yards. Despite these struggles, he has not faltered in extra point attempts, successfully making all 26 such kicks in the season's first seven weeks.
Despite these issues, those in the know suggest that a technical adjustment could be the key to overcoming this rough patch. Legendary coach Bill Belichick provided his take on Tucker’s predicament: “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.”
Insightful Perspectives
Tucker's challenges extend slightly beyond this season. As Belichick further 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.” Yet, there is a consensus that Tucker remains a top-tier kicker. As Belichick noted, “This guy was the most accurate kicker in the history of football. He gets great height on the ball. He's been super consistent.”
It's not unusual for kickers, even those as reliably outstanding as Tucker, to hit a snag during their careers. Nevertheless, the principles of success lie in identifying and resolving any mechanical inconsistencies. “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,” Belichick said, echoing the sentiment that Tucker’s talents are undiminished. “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.”
A Look Ahead
Optimism remains high that Tucker will reclaim his position as the benchmark for NFL kickers. A look at his post-Week 13 performance in the previous season offers a glimmer of past excellence. Following the bye week, he made all 21 extra points and all 15 field goals—a stark reminder of his unrivaled potential.
For Justin Tucker, the focus ahead will likely be on honing his technique and rediscovering the fluid consistency that has characterized his career. As experts and fans alike keep a keen eye on his performance moving forward, there is a shared belief in his ability to surmount this challenge and return to form. Tucker's pursuit of perfection continues, reaffirming his status as one of the game’s all-time great kickers. The journey might be daunting, but if history is any indicator, Tucker is more than capable of making the necessary adjustments.