Ravens’ Tucker bulking up for novel kickoff guidelines

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The NFL’s novel kickoff rule has altered the workout routine for the league’s most wonderful kicker.

Justin Tucker talked about he has seen that XFL kickers had been focused on 25% of the tackles with the revamped kickoff play, which has led him to add a pair of pounds.

“This would presumably presumably well be in actuality beautiful to quite deal of you guys and quite deal of my teammates attributable to I form no longer hand spherical within the burden room too many times,” Tucker talked about after the Baltimore Ravens‘ offseason practice Thursday. “Now I got to receive some more shrugs, receive the traps going a tiny of bit, perfect to create definite I’m willing for a tiny of bit more contact.”

Asked whether he plans to add more muscle, Tucker talked about, “I if truth be told maintain save apart on, love, 3.8 pounds. Are you able to guys uncover? Presumably no longer. However yeah, I’m going to leave it at that.”

In March, NFL owners well-liked the big switch in kickoffs by a vote of 29-3. Below the novel rule, which originated within the XFL, kickers will continue to kick from their have 35-yard line but the diversified 10 avid gamers on the kickoff team will line up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line, which is 5 yards from the return team. The kickers will list the closing line of defense.

Tucker, a seven-time Educated Bowl kicker, has made eight tackles in 195 games. His most modern kind out came Dec. 17, 2022.

“I form no longer assume [tackling is] necessarily one thing that is galvanized [for kickers]but it is no longer depressed both,” Tucker talked about. “It more or much less perfect comes with a territory. Or no longer it is a football play. We’re all football avid gamers available, and within the kill if a returner is beelining toward the tip zone and I’m the closing guy there to end him, it is a part of my job description.”

Tucker, 34, is the most wonderful kicker in NFL history, converting 90.2% of his attempts (395 of 438). Since coming into the league as an undrafted rookie in 2012, he has recorded the most arena targets within the NFL with 395. His 66-yard, sport-a hit arena purpose in Detroit on Sept. 26, 2021, is the longest in NFL history.

The revised kickoff rule is a novel arena for Tucker, who hasn’t practiced tackling since he became once in excessive college. He introduced up the possibility of doing some tackling drills in coaching camp this 365 days.

“It would doubtlessly be in actuality wicked TV, but we will maintain time doing it,” Tucker talked about.

Per Tucker, the Baltimore coaching workers has watched every XFL kickoff and sent some clips to Tucker for him to seem. The Ravens are rising their have suggestions on easy how one can attack the play.

Final week, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs particular teams coordinator Dave Toub talked about the team is alive to within the utilization of security Justin Reid as a kickoff specialist attributable to it would possibly presumably presumably well add a more proven tackler.

“Hell yeah, I ought to be available,” Tucker talked about. “On the identical time, in equity to the concept that that a security or a linebacker or somebody that has a tiny of bit more coaching as a coverage athlete, as a tackler, yeah, I articulate it is totally wonderful to turn over every stone and peek what you bought. Who knows? There would possibly presumably presumably well be a guy that can presumably presumably pinpoint fall the ball off the tee on the 5-yard line after which perfect run down there and smoke the ball provider. I would desire to assume I would possibly presumably presumably well be that guy.”