Quick poll of the class: Who here feels good about the kicker situation in Dallas? Anyone? No one?
That’s not surprising. After watching the previously reliable Brett Maher come down with a chronic case of “the yips” late last season (he went 1-for-7 on his last batch of extra point attempts), the Cowboys are back to the drawing board at kicker.
Tristan Vizcaino is on the Dallas roster, but there’s no telling if he’ll even make it to training camp, let alone be the answer at kicker. Special teams coach John Fassel has stated all options are on the table this summer, indicating tires will be kicked and competition will be added at some point.
With all of the unknowns, it’s understandable there’s consternation within the Cowboys fanbase. The thought of a season coming to a premature end because of a shanked kick is enough to keep anyone up at night. The peace of mind fans in Baltimore have with Justin Tucker (who might be the best kicker ever) must be priceless.
Dallas has no ideal solution or even a competition in place. Options on the market are limited (although Brandon McManus just became available) so there’s no clear and obvious move staring them in the face.
Yet, the more we learn of the kicker position, the more we realize there is no such thing as peace of mind. And at the end of the day, the Cowboys may be playing this whole thing correctly.