The Baltimore Ravens 'Wolfpack' Continues to Stay Consistent, Dependable

Kicker Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with long snapper Morgan Cox and punter Sam Koch after kicking a field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016. Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Consistency can be hard to find in the NFL. That's not the case with the Baltimore Ravens' field goal unit, which has been together since 2012.

WBAL's Dawn White profiles the trio of kicker Justin Tucker, punter Sam Koch and long snapper Morgan Cox in the next of her player profile series.

Dawn White reports:

"If you guys want to call us something, you can just call us a three-man wolf pack," Tucker said.

Tucker has a great sense of humor about the field goal unit he nicknamed the "Wolfpack" after the trio in the "Hangover" series.

"When I come out at 10:30 [a.m.] on Fridays to start practice, usually there's nobody else out here," Tucker said. "I just open one of these doors as ferociously as possible. I give that hearty howl at the sky, and then I know it's time. It's time for practice."

The Wolfpack includes Tucker, Cox and Koch, and their most recent accomplishment includes the game-winning field goal in overtime in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tucker has made 90.3% of attempts with the Ravens, including 25 out of 26, or 96%, of his field goals at Heinz Field in his career.

The Wolfpack has been together for eight years. Koch was the first to be drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, and the Ravens signed Cox as an undrafted free agent in 2010.

"As far as the timing between Morgan and I, it was like we had been doing it for years," Koch said.

Koch says the two got along right away, and then the addition of Tucker as an undrafted free agent in 2012 sealed the deal by creating a field unit with amazing chemistry.

"It's magic from Tucker's foot," Koch said. "Once he came in, he was such a talented kicker that it didn't take a whole lot of time for us to all jell and become one group."

Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and he said he couldn't do it without Koch and Cox.

"When it comes down to it, this football stuff is really serious to us, and if there's any takeaway from this interview, it's that these guys are awesome. Their attention to detail is unparalleled, and because of them, I get a chance to go make some kicks," Tucker said.

The trio practice hard to prepare for game day, especially in situations where an extra point or field goal determines the outcome of the game.

"For me personally, it's just coming out here and practicing hard every day kind of creates or simulates those experiences or on-field game day kind of situations, and that way when you come out here and simulate, you kind of create a habit," Cox said. "You get used to that type of pressure, and when it comes to game time, you don't even think about it. It's like being back in practice."

The field goal unit credits a great attention to detail and camaraderie, on and off the field, with its success.

"To have Sam's leadership matched with Morgan's consistent execution and the mindset we have every single day when we're practicing of ironing out every single small detail that we can, that can only lead to made kicks, and punts hit right where we want them," Tucker said.

Tucker will turn 30 in November, Cox is 33 and Koch is 37. That led White to ask how long the gang can stay together.

"Listen, Dawn, we're on a gravy train with biscuit wheels. We're going to ride that train as long as we possibly can," Tucker said.

Tucker said in all seriousness the Wolfpack has no plans on retiring.

"We have a good time together, and thinking about the end of our football careers, that's just not a thought," Tucker said. "It's just about making the next kick, throwing the next snap, hitting the next punt where we want it, and let the chips fall where they may when they may."

Tucker won the NFL's Most Valuable Performer in a 2018 interactive talent show for his performance of "Ave Maria." He was also voted the top kicker in the league in 2017 and 2018 by The Associated Press.