The Baltimore Ravens are going into the 2024 season with one expectation: to win the Super Bowl. Those expectations were a full go last season when they finished 13-4 on the season and had the number one overall seed in the AFC.
Justin Tucker has not only cemented himself as the best kicker in Ravens history, but one of the best kickers of all time. This week in practice he once again showed that he is one of the best in the world at what he does.
Baltimore Ravens Kicker Justin Tucker Does The Unthinkable
Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) points skyward after making a point after try during the fourth quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]During practice, Tucker flaunted his leg strength by drilling a near 70 yard field goal:
With the new kickoff rules in place for 2024, things are going to change in a big way. Returns may increase, and tackling the return man will become more important since you don’t have to tackle when the kicker just booms the ball through the end zone.
Gunners won’t be the only ones with increased responsibilities. As a result, kickers will now be the last line of defense, far behind the rest of their teammates. The Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker, one of the league’s best kickers, is bulking up in preparation for his new role.
Justin Tucker hit a 68-YARD field goal during #Ravens practice today 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PLbguieZ9A
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 14, 2024
“This might be really surprising to a lot of you guys and a lot of my teammates because I don’t hang out in the weight room too frequently,” Tucker said, via ESPN. “Now I got to get some more shrugs, get the traps going a little bit, just to make sure I’m prepared for a little bit more contact.”
His leg strength is already proof of this. It will be interesting to see how kickers, especially the veterans, fair this year with the new kickoff rule.
