Cowboys Mailbag:Mick's Mail: 07/27

Should ​the Cowboys start Joe Milton at quarterback these last two games? Joe needs the experience and the evaluation. Dak Prescott doesn't need either. He needs to stay healthy and ready for next season.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game last Sunday, "I think we are beating ourselves quite a bit." How many times have we heard something similar over the last several years? Different coaches, different players, same undisciplined play. Is there any hope of ever fixing this issue?

It seems hard to believe that putting Trevon Diggs on the field right now wouldn't be an immediate upgrade. He says he's healthy, so what are we, the fans, missing? 

We were all fired up after the trade for Quinnen Williams and the performance of the defense in his first three games with the team. But the Cowboys have generated little pressure in their last two games against Detroit and Minnesota. Are you seeing anything different? Have opponents figured out this five-man front we were so excited about? 

I love having Brandon Aubrey on our team. I wonder, though, is knowing he can generate points from almost anywhere on the field preventing the Cowboys from going for it on fourth down to try to continue the drive for a touchdown. I'm so happy that he can make long field goals, but should they make a push for touchdowns instead?

What's the most important thing to concentrate on for the remainder of the season: assessing players, draft needs or winning games so you start next season positively? 

Any reason for the consistently slow starts? The Cowboys have now been outscored 109-49 in the first quarter this season. In the other quarters combined they are outscoring opponents 332-277. Why is this such a problem? Is there a fix? 

What would you rather have at tackle, a great run blocker and not so great pass blocker? Or a great pass blocker and below average run blocker? Has shoring up this position become a need?

Considering the Cowboys had to play four games in 18 days, including three straight against playoff-caliber opponents, how much do you think that stretch contributed to the loss in Detroit? It really felt like the overall energy and physical intensity weren't at the same level as in the previous games. Do you think fatigue from that brutal stretch played a major role?

Will the Lions be the biggest test the Cowboys' run defense has faced and will face the remainder of the season? They've looked great since the addition of Quinnen Williams, but how do you think they'll do against Detroit's two-headed rushing monster? 

KaVontae Turpin is seeing more snaps on offense and has made some great plays, but his punt and kickoff return averages are down this year. Is the additional time on offense taking away from his return abilities? Should the Cowboys go back to using him primarily as a return man?