The NFL’s new kickoff rules are about to change the lives of so many kickers around the league this season.
The league’s new (kind of weird!) kickoff rules emphasize a landing zone instead of having kickers boot the ball out of the back of the endzone.
That’ll lead to a lot more returned kicks and, with the kicking team’s players being lined up closer to the receiving team’s players, it’ll lead to more circumstances where the actual kicker will legitimately be the last line of defense on a play.
That’s why the Chiefs are considering benching their kicker on kickoffs and using a safety instead. For some kickers across the league, it’s a real “get with it or get lost” situation.
Justin Tucker is doing his best to get with it. The Ravens’ kicker said he’s been in the weight room a lot more than usual to try and adjust to the league’s new rules. He said he watched XFL film and noticed that kickers were involved in “20 to 25 percent” of the tackles.
Not only has he bulked up, but he’s also doing tackle drills for the first time since *checks notes* high school to get himself ready.
“This might be surprising to you — and to my teammates— that i’ve been in the gym… watching film, kickers are involved in 20-25% of the tackles,” Justin Tucker said about how he’s preparing for the new kickoff.
Joked he’s added 3.8 pounds. pic.twitter.com/3pW5P4KYoX— Giana Han (@giana_jade) June 6, 2024
“I’ve mixed it up a couple of times. I’ve gotten in there. But, you know, I’ve got to get some more shrugs — get the traps going a little bit — you know, just to make sure I’m prepared for a little more contact.”
Folks. This is not a drill. Justin Tucker is hitting the weight room. I can’t blame him — being the kicker who tries and fails to make a touchdown-saving tackle on a kick return has to be one of the most embarrassing things in football. It never looks good. Best to figure out how to tackle now than to be embarrassed by it down the line.
