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Ravens still take Justin Tucker for granted after uncharacteristic misses

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Justin Tucker is coming off one of the best seasons by an NFL kicker in recent memory.

Tucker missed just one kick last season (and that was blocked when Shea McClellin hurdled the line). He was a unanimous first-team All-Pro selection. He's now the most accurate kicker in NFL history.

It's gotten to the point where the Baltimore Ravens take it for granted when Tucker drills a 59-yard field goal in the preseason opener.

"I do, I do, honestly. Everyone's cheering, and I'm just thinking, it's good football to me," coach John Harbaugh said. "It's amazing how you start to just expect that from a great kicker like he is."

This faith hasn't wavered in what has been an imperfect summer for Tucker. It seems like he's misfired on more kicks in this year's training camp than any of his previous ones, although it should be noted that most misses have been far from chip shots.

Before that 59-yarder in the preseason opener, Tucker clanked a 43-yard attempt off the left upright.

"It is something that hasn't happened in a while," Tucker said. "I think the reality of my position is that there's going to come a time when I miskick. The thing I've got to do is be a pro, bounce back and make the next one."

Tucker isn't your typical kicker. While many were having trouble converting extra points last season, he was making the longest kicks seem routine. Tucker was the most accurate kicker in the NFL in 2016, making 38 of 39 field goals (97.4 percent). His 10 field goals beyond 50 yards tied an NFL record.

That's why it's unusual to see Tucker have some missteps. In this year's camp, some of his notable misses have been hooking a 42-yarder wide left, missing on back-to-back 49-yard attempts and banging a 55-yarder off the right upright.

"It's not about reinventing my swing, but I'll come back from the offseason and something will be different," Tucker said. "I've just got to work through it and make sure that when we're playing games that mean something more significant, that's when I'm firing on all cylinders."

Special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said Tucker's camp has been positive overall. He doesn't want his kicker to miss any kicks in camp or preseason games, but he acknowledged they are "a fact of life."

"When you're away from one another, the operation, the battery -- Justin's training in Texas, and [holder] Sam [Koch] in Westminster, [long-snapper] Morgan [Cox] in Memphis -- that doesn't come together right away," Rosburg said. "They've been working really hard together to try to get back in the same tempo and the same kind of productivity that we had in 2016. I have a lot of confidence in all three of those guys, particularly in Justin. He has an excellent track record. We're happy we have him, and we trust him."