Cowboys Mailbag:Mick's Mail: 07/27

I would argue that in the recent past DeMarcus Lawrence was the Cowboys' defensive leader, but watching this year's defense, I cannot definitively say who the leader is now. I'm not suggesting there isn't anyone stepping up, but who is the voice, or voices, of the defense that everyone listens to?

Like many other fans, I was hoping the Cowboys would give Brandon Aubrey a shot at kicking a 67-yard field goal to break the NFL record. It was late in a game that was already well in hand, so why not? Are we that worried about hurting the other team's feelings? 

Would it be smart to give George Pickens a contract extension now? My fear is that after a big year he'll get a big contract once he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. He and CeeDee Lamb could be a dynamic duo for years to come.

Do you think that history can repeat itself when comparing the current team to Jimmy Johnson's first years with the Cowboys? This team is not that good right now, but Dallas has a good amount of draft capital, just like Jimmy did. Plus, look how hard these guys play for Brian Schottenheimer, just as they did for Jimmy.

I understand scheme can be a major part of any defense, which falls under the coaches. However, when do the defensive players actually step up and say, "We don't want to be in last place. Let's do something different." I think the players need to speak up to put themselves in better positions to make plays. 

Is it safe to say that after this loss to Carolina, trading any draft capital in the attempt to improve this defense is a bad decision? This is not a one player fix. Your thoughts? 

I'm curious what you think about Dak Prescott and his "championship window." Meaning, how long do the Cowboys have to ride Prescott while he's still playing at an elite level? He's 32 and has had several major injuries. I'm concerned that his decline will be coming sooner rather than later, and the Cowboys will once again have wasted the prime of an elite player. 

Having seen improvements on defense the last two weeks, the question becomes, is this a "pick your poison" situation? Defend the pass or stop the run?

 With CeeDee Lamb currently out and Dak Prescott getting a lot of game reps with George Pickens, you can only assume this will increase the trust and timing between these two. When Lamb returns (and that's hopefully soon) how will this impact the passing game? Will we see two genuine WR1s in terms of production and go-to mentality from Dak?

Sure, Dallas beat a winless team, but the Jets had three one-score losses (Steelers, Dolphins, Buccaneers) and could have easily been 3-1 when the Cowboys came to town. They have a star wide receiver (Garrett Wilson), a star defensive tackle (Quinnen Williams), an up-and-coming pass rusher (Will McDonald) and a heck of a cornerback (Sauce Gardener). Why do people seem to discredit wins?

It seems to me the Cowboys teams of the past didn't have the continuous injury issues we are now seeing. Bob Lilly, Jethro Pugh and George Andrie seemed to play each week without injuries. Do I have a faulty memory? Why are we so plagued with injuries now?