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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? – Maryjean Howe/Oceanside, CA
Kurt: There's no doubt Aubrey is a key weapon for the Cowboys. He's fourth in the NFL in both field goals (31) and extra points made (40) while also ranking second in points scored (132). As difficult as this season has been, just think where the team would be without him.
I do think it's fair to wonder, though, if the Cowboys are relying on him too much sometimes. Against Minnesota, both teams earned points on six of their possessions, but Dallas scored only two touchdowns while the Vikings totaled four. The week before at Detroit, the Cowboys added points on seven series, but that included only two touchdowns. Conversely, not only did the Lions pick up points on eight drives, they reached the end zone five times.
Now, if the Cowboys had gone for it and failed to pick up the first down Sunday night – each time against Minnesota the distance needed was 7 yards or more, not an easy task – there would have been screaming from some rooftops that Brian Schottenheimer should have taken the sure three points and kicked the field goal. So it's a bit of a no-win situation for the head coach in that regard.
Still, it would have been nice to see the Cowboys be more aggressive, especially when inside the 10-yard line. Because while Aubrey is a rare talent in the league, with the way the Dallas defense has struggled to get stops, field goals aren't going to win you many games. At least here lately they definitely haven't.
Nick: I don't think having Aubrey on the team is changing the aggressiveness of Brian Schottenheimer. As an OC, he's been pretty aggressive this year, not just in long field goal range but also down in the red zone. As the play-caller, if Schotty thinks they can make it, he usually goes for it.
I think the problem they're running into - or at least Sunday night - was the troubles on third down. The fact alone that they had to attempt six field goals is problematic in itself.
But to your point, where I do see a problem is just relying on these long field goals and expecting him to make all of them. Sure, he's a weapon and can make them from 65 or maybe longer. But when he misses those 50+ field goals like he did twice on Sunday, it puts the defense, which already has enough issues to deal with, in a very bad situation. Sure, you need points, but I'm not sure attempting a 59-yard field goal, rather than punting it down to the 10, is the smartest play.
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