The Dallas Cowboys are in a crisis and need a kicker before the regular season kicks off next month. The team recently made the move, releasing Tristan Vizcaino after offseason camp struggles. This means that Former USFL and soccer star Brandon Aubrey remains the lone option at kicker on the team. Aubrey has not come even close to winning the starting position after Vizcaino had his struggles finishing with a 50 percent conversion rate. Aubrey struggled that same day going 2 for 7 on field goal attempts.
This is months after Brett Maher’s loss of consistency in the postseason, the replacements continue to ripple the kicking position. What prompted Dallas to release Vizcaino is when he went 22 out of 35 field goal attempts. While Aubrey didn’t have a great outing thus far in the offseason, the team was still convinced to go with him at kicker for now after he went 14 of 15 field goal attempts while kicking for the USFLs Birmingham Stallions in 2023.
The only answer for Dallas is to go for Veteran Kicker, Robbie Gould, who could give the answer to Dallas’ kicking woes this upcoming season. His veteran status can potentially give Aubrey the experience he needs to learn from.
The Cowboys have decided to release Tristan Vizcaino, per source, leaving Brandon Aubrey as the only kicker in camp. Vizcaino went 22 of 35 in the first eight padded practices of training camp. He was 4 of 8 on Saturday. Aubrey has gone 26 of 35.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 7, 2023
The Dallas Cowboys Have A Kicker Crisis
Brett Maher
Back in 2013, Maher replaced Dan Bailey in the starting position when Bailey suffered an injury, but Maher was released two weeks later. Dallas brought him back in 2018 and was their starting kicker for two seasons. His accuracy issues piled up which led to his release at the end of 2019. Eventually, he was brought back to compete for the job against Lirim Hajrullahu.
Maher successfully won the job, but the position was still a concern back in 2022 when the team was struggling to find a kicker. So, they had to go with someone who has experience with the team. The Cowboys was trying to find a temporary cushion, but it cost them when the team eventually let go of Maher after a playoff loss against San Francisco. It was his miscues where he didn’t make crucial points for the team that led to four missed extra points in their Wild Card game against Tampa Bay.
Eventually, the Denver Broncos made a move by signing Maher to a 1-year agreement. This led the Cowboys to sign Tristan Vizcaino to the main roster in 2023.
Tristan Vizcaino
The Cowboys gave Vizcaino a chance at offseason camp, but that fell short when he continued to struggle. It’s evident that Cowboys fans are having another “told you so” moment, but that’s where Dallas is at again like how they were in 2022. After a dreadful weekend in Oxnard, Vizcaino had four straight misses from inside 40 yards. It’s evident that Dallas will soon sign a new competition against Brandon Aubrey.
Despite Mike McCarthy’s excitement about Aubrey, it’s possible that the team could use their preseason opener against the Jaguars as an audition for Aubrey to win the job. In the meantime, the team should be considering now before getting comfortable with their only kicker on the roster. One kicker can’t get the job done considering that injuries tend to happen more often in the preseason, especially having one kicker to have all the responsibility for one position.
Cowboys kicker Tristan Vizcaino missed four straight FGs from 33, 38, 39 and 39 yards. The first 39 had poor operation with bad snap, so team reloaded to second try. All misses wide left. Vizcaino 4-of-8 with context of bad operation on one. Brandon Aubrey: 5-of-7. Missed 33, 42. pic.twitter.com/f5xS76TSTz
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 5, 2023
Brandon Aubrey
Aubrey is the lone kicker on the roster that remains on the Dallas Cowboys roster. He went 5-of-7 and missed from 33 and 42 yards. This sparks a concern while Jerry Jones claims that he is comfortable, he shouldn’t take these struggles lightly. Aubrey’s first real chance begins against the Jaguars on August 12th.
While the released Vizcaino relieves some pressure off of Aubrey for now, he shouldn’t remain comfortable just yet. This remains the story for now as the Cowboys need to find a kicker that will legitimately help the team remain having momentum. Jones said that all options are open and one of those options could very well be Robbie Gould.
Cowboys kicker Tristan Vizcaino missed four straight FGs from 33, 38, 39 and 39 yards. The first 39 had poor operation with bad snap, so team reloaded to second try. All misses wide left. Vizcaino 4-of-8 with context of bad operation on one. Brandon Aubrey: 5-of-7. Missed 33, 42. pic.twitter.com/f5xS76TSTz
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 5, 2023
Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould made 97% of his kicks compared to other free-agent kickers like Codey Parkey who made a 76% accuracy in 2018. While the Cowboys have a glaring hole at the kicking position, Gould could provide the temporary fresh breath of air the team needs. In his 18th career, he never missed a playoff field goal attempt in 29 tries. He went for a perfect eight-for-eight in the postseason and was a key factor in the 49ers defeating Dallas.
If the 2023 Dallas Cowboys were missing any piece to the puzzle, that would be Gould. He’d fit perfectly with the team since they are building their team around Dak Prescott. Gould spent his last five seasons with the 49ers and led them to game-winning situations.
While Gould isn’t automatic, he is when it’s counted in game-winning moments. The kicker position shifts the momentum for the team in critical moments, so Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys need to be automatic to find a kicker before the regular season begins.
Main Photo: Jason Parkhurst – USA Today Sports
