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Todd Archer, ESPN Employees Author
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys took care of their vast receiver want within the offseason with a commerce for Brandin Cooks. They did the identical with their cornerback want with Stephon Gilmore. They saved numerous their key free brokers, equivalent to linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
Within the draft, they chose a defensive deal with, Mazi Smith, within the first spherical for the primary time since 1991 and located a alternative for tight finish Dalton Schultz within the second spherical with Luke Schoonmaker.
“We predict we have now a greater soccer crew,” govt vice chairman Stephen Jones stated. “I feel [we] actually fastened some issues and helped some issues that we felt like wanted assist.”
What about kicker?
“Kicker is actually one we’ll proceed to take a look at choices there,” Jones stated.
The Cowboys are on this spot due to how Brett Maher ended final season. He missed six level after makes an attempt within the last three video games, together with 4 within the wild-card win in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones talked about the “yips,” on totally different events within the offseason, seeming to overlook that Maher set the crew file for factors in a season (137) and ended the 12 months making 12 straight discipline aim alternatives.
The draft was an possibility, however Jake Moody (third spherical, San Francisco 49ers) and Chad Ryland (fourth spherical, New England Patriots) went sooner than the Cowboys had been keen to make use of a variety. They by no means actually acquired into the dialogue with Brandon McManus after he was launched by the Denver Broncos.
After signing McManus, the Jacksonville Jaguars reached out to the Cowboys a few potential commerce for Riley Patterson, in line with a supply. He was finally dealt to the Detroit Lions.
Head coach Mike McCarthy talked about potentialities within the XFL and USFL. Particular groups coordinator John Fassel went one step additional.
“Anyone else on earth who shouldn’t be on the crew proper now could be into consideration,” Fassel stated. “That’s all people actually.”
Fassel particularly talked about veterans Robbie Gould, Ryan Succop and Mason Crosby, who kicked for McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers.
At this level, value shouldn’t be a problem.
In the meantime, Tristan Vizcaino is the one kicker on the roster and getting all the work. Within the first organized crew exercise that was open to the media final week, he made 7 of 9 makes an attempt, lacking from 37 and 51 yards.
“Simply are available in with the proper mindset that no matter any circumstances I’m nonetheless competing and attempting to do my finest day-after-day,” Vizcaino stated.
The Cowboys added Vizcaino to the follow squad after Maher’s Tampa Bay outing. Up to now three seasons, Vizcaino has kicked for 4 groups (San Francisco, Arizona, Los Angeles Chargers and New England). He has made 11 of his 12 discipline aim possibilities and 15 of his 20 additional factors.
“To be sincere, I don’t pay a complete lot of consideration to what’s taking place all through the league with guys getting signed,” he stated. “I normally hear by some means, however so far as I’m involved, I’ve all the time been in a contest presently of 12 months [heading] into coaching camp, so it’s nothing new, and I embrace it. I feel it normally makes each events higher on the finish of the day.”
Final 12 months, the Cowboys’ lone kicker within the spring was undrafted rookie Jonathan Garibay. In early July 2022, the Cowboys added Lirim Hajrullahu, however each kickers struggled whereas in Oxnard, California, for camp and finally Maher was signed after a tryout.
And Maher had the very best 12 months of his profession — making 29 of 32 discipline aim tries with two of his misses coming from 59 yards — and 50 of 53 PATs. He was 9 of 11 from 50 yards or extra.
Statistically, Maher stays the most suitable choice, however the scar tissue from the tip of the season could be an excessive amount of for his return.
Gould has not missed a postseason discipline aim try in his profession (29 of 29), however he turns 41 in December and had simply two discipline aim makes an attempt from 50-plus yards final season. Up to now six years, he has not had greater than 4 makes an attempt in a season from 50 yards or extra. Maher is nineteen of 27 in his profession from that vary.
Succop, who turns 37 in September, made 31 of 38 tries for the Buccaneers in 2022 however was simply 2 of seven from 50 yards or extra. Crosby, who turns 39 in September, made 25 of 29 makes an attempt however was 1 of 4 from 50 yards or extra. Randy Bullock made 17 of 20 makes an attempt final season and made all 28 PATs for the Tennessee Titans.
For now, like final 12 months, the Cowboys wait.
“No secrets and techniques on who’s out there,” Fassel stated. “The great factor for us on the kicker spot is being affected person.”
In addition they want to select the proper one. Ultimately.