Justin Tucker's Struggles: Anomalous Season or Declining Form?
Justin Tucker, synonymous with precision and dependability, has encountered a rare slump in form that has mystified fans and analysts alike. Known as one of the most consistent kickers in football history with a pre-2023 career average conversion rate of 90.5%, Tucker's recent difficulties are a puzzling deviation from his usual performance.
In an unusual performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, Tucker missed three field goals and an extra point, marking a stark departure from the standards he has set throughout his career. This performance, although alarming on its own, underscores a broader trend of struggles that have emerged during the current season and echoed issues that arose as far back as the '23 season.
Throughout 2023, Tucker managed to convert 51 of 52 extra point tries successfully, a testament to his skill under routine pressure. Additionally, he was flawless within 40 yards, converting all 20 field goals, and remarkably accurate on attempts ranging from 40 to 49 yards, with 11 out of 12 success rate. The challenge has come from the longer attempts, where this season, Tucker has only made 1 of 5 attempts from 50 yards or more.
A Troubled 2023 and Thereafter
In the first seven weeks of the season, Tucker maintained perfect form on extra points, making 26 of 26, and continued to succeed in 12 of 15 field goal attempts. However, since Week 8, the narrative has shifted, with Tucker making just 7 of 12 field goal attempts. His misses have predominantly been from longer distances, including unsuccessful attempts from 50, 47, 50, 47, and 53 yards.
The inconsistency has brought to light concerns about his technique rather than talent. The legendary Bill Belichick commented, “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.” These words emphasize the belief that Tucker's struggles are a matter of mechanics, not a decline in ability.
A Historical Backbone
Despite his recent woes, Tucker's history remains impressive and unwavering. Following last season’s Week 13 bye, he achieved perfection by making all 21 extra point attempts and all 15 field goal attempts. This record serves as a testament to his enduring skill and resilience. Nonetheless, the execution mismatches since the final stretch of the 2023 season point to the possibility of an underlying issue that has carried over into the present season's challenges.
Belichick's observations highlight that these accuracy issues are indeed not a recent development. “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,” Belichick noted.
The Path Forward
With a career built on remarkable accuracy, it is uniquely unusual to see Justin Tucker sifting through this patch of inconsistency. His coaches and peers advocate for persistence and corrective training rather than a drastic course change. As Belichick suggests, “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.”
For Tucker, the future hinges on identifying and resolving these mechanical hiccups. This phase, as taxing and uncharacteristic as it seems, prompts a broader reflection on the ebbs of sporting careers irrespective of prior illustrious histories. With the support of an adept coaching team and his discipline, the league expects Tucker to surmount this adversity, standing testament once again to the resilience that marks the true greats of sports.