For the closing 12 seasons, Justin Tucker has been the kicker for the Baltimore Ravens. The 34-year-old has seven Professional Bowls and 5 first-team All-Professional alternatives. When his profession is finished, Tucker will for sure be referred to as one of the most most sensible kickers in league historical past. This offseason, the NFL has made a drastic alternate to a part of Tucker’s activity.
Tucker will nonetheless be lineup kicking from the opposing 35-yard line however the different 10 gamers shall be in a brand new location. They’ll no longer be coated up on the receiving crew’s 40-yard line. 5 yards clear of the go back crew. With those adjustments, the kicker is the closing defensive position and might be requested to make a couple of further tackles. That’s why Justin Tucker has been within the weight room extra this offseason so as to add muscle.
Justin Tucker is getting ready his frame to be able to make extra tackles in 2024
“This could be unexpected to you — and to my teammates— that i’ve been within the fitness center… staring at movie, kickers are excited about 20-25% of the tackles,” Justin Tucker mentioned about how he’s getting ready for the brand new kickoff.
Joked he’s added 3.8 kilos. percent.twitter.com/3pW5P4KYoX— Giana Han (@giana_jade) June 6, 2024
Prior to now, kickers have no longer been requested to make many tackles. It’s a unprecedented prevalence when it occurs. Justin Tucker’s closing take on was once in December 2022. He has 8 profession tackles in 195 video games. Tackling isn’t one thing you take into consideration in terms of kickers. Then again, the league’s new regulations may require kickers to make a take on right here and there. Therefore the explanation Tucker has been within the weight room this offseason and has already added 3.8 kilos.
Justin Tucker informed journalists that he hasn’t practiced tackling drills since highschool. Then again, he discussed that kickers could be excited about some tackling drills this summer time. This new kickoff rule was once utilized by the XFL. The Ravens’ training workforce has watched each XFL kickoff to decide how they’ll gameplan. Tucker has been staring at movie this offseason too. Now not one thing kickers incessantly do. It’s an all-hands-on-deck manner with the brand new kickoff regulations.
Justin Tucker on new kickoff regulations: “I’ve were given to get some extra shrugs, get the traps going a bit bit in order that I’m ready for extra touch.”
He joked he’s placed on 3.8 lbs this offseason percent.twitter.com/yTplI3P431— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) June 6, 2024
Sam Schwartzstein works for Top Video analytics and he was once the motive force at the back of the brand new kickoff alternate. He claims that kickers being requested to take on extra could also be an overreaction. Schwartzstein doesn’t await kickers to be requested to take on up to some are predicting. That’s more than likely just right information for Justin Tucker and the remainder of the kickers within the league. The very last thing any crew desires is to lose their beginning kicker as a result of he were given injured seeking to make a take on. We’ll see how this new kickoff alternate first performs out within the Corridor of Status Sport on Thursday, August 1.