As we do every Friday, our thoughts turn to our fine specialist brethren, as Kicker Friday is here once again. In December of 2013, facing the Detroit Lions in a critical game with playoff implications on the line, Justin Tucker, kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, went 6-for-6 on field goals en route to scoring all 18 of Baltimore’s points in an 18-16 victory. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield host the July 22 Quick Kicks Podcast, this time examining the greatest regular season kicking performance in NFL history. Topics this show include:
- The overall flawless performance from Tucker and how he turned what initially appeared to be a regular night into a special performance with three short field goals in the first half (3:35)
- The final kick of the first half as time expires, and the opening kick from Tucker in the second half, a 49-yard attempt that starts to ramp up the level of difficulty (5:59)
- Tucker’s fifth kick of the night, a 53-yarder from the right hash, with the placement being critical as right-hash kicks tend to be more difficult for kickers due to their rotating motion (8:18)
- The do’s and don’ts of kicker celebrations as it relates to mechanics and safety (10:45)
- Tucker’s final kick, a 61-yard masterpiece from the right hash with 38 seconds remaining in the game (13:20)
- How Tucker’s mechanics from 61 yards can be a textbook example for kickers from any distance in terms of efficiency and follow-through (16:01)
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Music Credits
Filligar, “Guilty Good Intentions“
Ronald Jenkees, “Disorganized Fun“