The Ravens are beginning a new era in their kicking game. They are replacing the great Justin Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. After 14 seasons, the Ravens signed undrafted rookie John Hoyland from Wyoming to compete against Justin Tucker. He’ll battle Tyler Loop for the prized spot this campaign.
Tucker, who was undrafted in 2012, locked up his job with the Ravens by dazzling coaches at an open tryout. During his lengthy run with the team, he grew into an indispensable weapon for the team, one that delivered an 89.1% accuracy rate. This remarkable figure in 2022 led him to win the NFL’s most accurate kicker. Throughout his collegiate career at Arizona, Tucker established himself as a player with jaw-dropping long-range ability. He even made six of nine tries from 50-plus yards, including a jaw-dropping 62-yarder.
Even more surprising would have been if the Ravens decided to part ways with Tucker following an ugly conclusion to his last season. Last year, three of his four missed kicks were from 50 yards or longer. The NFL investigated Tucker following allegations of inappropriate behavior from 16 massage therapists, adding a layer of controversy to his tenure with the team.
With Tucker out the door, the Ravens need a new kicking identity. Coach John Harbaugh sounded very hopeful over the competition between Hoyland and Loop on the first day of rookie minicamp.
On both kickers, I think they looked sharp today. We moved them out past the line with the snap. I thought they hit every shot, right? So that’s good to see. That’s a nice place to start,” Harbaugh said.
Hoyland’s arrival marks a significant shift for the Ravens, who have relied on Tucker’s consistent performance for over a decade. The team is now leaning on their two new kickers to fill the void left by Tucker and maintain their kicking prowess.
As training camp unfolds, it should be fun to see how Hoyland and Loop respond to the competition of flight or fight. Both players will be required to show their ability more consistently if they want to win their spot on the team.
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