A Special Teams Coach Analyzes Justin Tucker’s Kicks
Justin Tucker entered this season as essentially the most correct kicker of all time and the least of the Ravens’ issues, however his extended hunch has grow to be the workforce’s most perplexing scenario.
Given Tucker’s lengthy monitor report of success, Head Coach John Harbaugh’s confidence that the seven-time Pro Bowl kicker will “get it fastened” is smart. The query on the minds of followers and pundits is what particularly must be fastened.
SB Nation’s Alex Katson reached out to Fresno State Special Teams Coordinator John Baxter, who has 35 years of collegiate particular groups teaching expertise, for his evaluation of Tucker’s struggles this season.
The very first thing Baxter did was shoot down the idea that holder Jordan Stout and/or lengthy snapper Nick Moore are at fault.
“Not solely are these holds distinctive, their operation is the envy of the league,” Baxter mentioned. “Their snap-hold-kick course of is one which lots of people attempt to emulate.”
Baxter supplied his principle on why all however one in every of Tucker’s 10 misses have been extensive left.
“Tucker has all the time been a man who hits the ball actually exhausting,” Baxter mentioned. “He does what I name ‘crossing up.’ When his proper leg hits the ball, his left aspect crosses over, which tightens your observe by to remain on stability. The tougher you swing, the extra energetic your left aspect must be. If your left aspect is late, the ball goes to trace left. When you pull it as exhausting as he pulls it – you may speak to a fade however a hook will not hear. He swings as exhausting as any participant that is ever kicked. When you swing that tough, it is simple to tug one.”
Baxter mentioned one other a part of what has made Tucker so sensible may be inflicting points.
“Tucker’s plant foot can be tighter to the ball than most kickers’ – notoriously so, Baxter says,” Kaston wrote. “That permits him to generate the 66-yard energy he is displayed as lately as 2021, nevertheless it additionally implies that if he is even a fraction off, the ball drifts left. As Baxter places it: ‘When you begin flirting with the left upright … if it is going left, it isn’t coming again.'”
Katson mentioned Baxter’s assessments are in keeping with what Tucker has mentioned about this season’s outcomes.
“The 35-year-old has informed the media that he is merely let a couple of kicks get away from him this 12 months, one thing that occurs to each kicker,” Katson wrote. “His 10 misses are already simply a career-high, surpassing a seven-miss season in 2015. But there’s additionally been a four-week stretch the place he was 7-for-7 on area targets and 18-for-18 on further factors this season, and he nonetheless hasn’t missed a area purpose inside 40 yards in 4 years.
“Tucker, regardless of his standing because the second-most correct kicker within the historical past of the game, remains to be human. It’s very tough for people to copy a course of as ultra-precise as kicking beneath duress 71 instances in a row with no flaws. Tucker’s skill to do it 69 instances with solely two faults in 2021 made him the GOAT to many individuals as a result of it was insanely spectacular. … When you are taking one of many hardest swingers within the historical past of the sport, with a notoriously slender plant foot, and slender the margins – Tucker has tried 17 of his 27 area targets from 40+, the fifth-highest ratio within the NFL this season – there’s certain to be some variance.”
What’s not in query is Tucker’s dedication to honing his craft. He additionally has the advantage of working with a talented teaching employees, together with Senior Special Teams Coach Randy Brown
“The proficiency of the Ravens employees is unequalled, and if anyone goes to [help Tucker get back on track], it is going to be Baltimore,” Katson wrote.
