Cowboys’ Aubrey: Rising Star and Pickens’ Slant Route Mastery

FRISCO, Texas — With 100 profession made subject targets, Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey is formally within the NFL document books in relation to accuracy.

Properly, one more a part of the NFL document e-book, anyway.

He has made 90.3% of his kicks, second in NFL historical past to Cameron Dicker of the Los Angeles Chargers, who has made 93.6% of his kicks.

Aubrey discovered himself on the listing by making 5 subject targets towards the Detroit Lions. He grew to become the primary kicker with three subject purpose makes from no less than 55 yards in the identical sport. He linked from 55, 57 and 63 yards. His 63-yarder was his third from greater than 60 within the season, an NFL document. The remainder of the league has six this season.

He now has six profession subject targets of 60 yards or longer, extending his NFL document. Aubrey tied Kansas Metropolis’s Harrison Butker for quickest to 100 subject targets (47 video games). It was his second profession sport with 5 subject targets.

He additionally had a deal with on a 40-yard kickoff return.

“Kind was not perhaps what we educate, however did a superb job getting the man on the bottom,” coach Brian Schottenheimer stated. “So, he is a dual-threat man now for us.”

The Cowboys don’t need Aubrey to make many extra tackles, however he did maintain his proper leg out of the hit when stopping Lions receiver Tom Kennedy.

“He is simply an unbelievable kicker. He is so poised. He is so assured,” Schottenheimer stated. “Every week or two in the past, when he really missed on one you thought the world was coming to an finish. I simply suppose he is so gifted however simply so clutch.”

Aubrey is about to be a restricted free agent after the season. The Cowboys most likely would place the second-round tender on him, which could scare off groups from signing him to a suggestion sheet. If they can get a deal completed with unrestricted free agent vast receiver George Pickens, their prime candidate for the franchise tag, the tag might be an choice for Aubrey.

There have been discussions between the 2 sides, however nothing has gotten shut — but.

Perhaps it is going to be inevitable, like Aubrey making a subject purpose.

“Nobody has ever stated, ‘What within the hell are you doing, Schotty? Don’t put him on the market,’” the coach stated.

A route of his personal

Receiver Michael Irvin constructed a lot of his Corridor of Fame profession on the “Bang-8” route, a fast publish. Tight finish Jason Witten constructed a lot of his soon-to-be Corridor of Fame profession on “Y choice,” a route that gave him the liberty to pivot both approach relying on the defender.

Pickens is not there simply but with the slant, however he’s making the slant his personal in his first 12 months with the Cowboys.

“It is type of inevitable,” Pickens stated. “It is going to occur regardless.”

If corners are taking part in with inside leverage, Pickens can nonetheless get to his spot with a fast transfer to the skin and use his power. If the nook is taking part in outdoors or gentle, he can create fast separation.

“I really feel like that slant’s not an excessive amount of. It is a quick route, so the whole lot is just about on me,” he stated. “If he guards me, make a contested catch or I cook dinner him off the road.”

Earlier than Thursday’s 44-30 loss to the Lions, Pickens led the NFL with 292 receiving yards on slants, 126 greater than Houston’s Nico Collins. Pickens was focused on 61% of his slant routes, most within the league. Teammate CeeDee Lamb is second at 56%, in response to NFL Subsequent Gen Stats.

However the Lions had been in a position to remove the slant to a level. Pickens had one reception on a slant negated by a face masks penalty, and he caught yet another.

“Two of these slants simply did not go our approach. Whether or not it is the decision, whether or not that is the play, there’s a variety of stuff that did not go our approach,” Pickens stated after the sport.

The Cowboys and Pickens have solutions off the slant, changing to deeper routes if mandatory, which Schottenheimer wished he had gotten to versus Detroit. Schottenheimer will not shrink back from getting the ball to Pickens on the slant.

“Executing one thing that the protection is aware of is coming,” Schottenheimer stated, “I feel is actually cool.”

Simply ask Irvin and Witten.

Carry the noise

Regardless that he’s 6-foot-6, 332 kilos, Tyler Smith may be quite unassuming, however that modifications when he will get on the sphere. His pregame speeches to the offensive line the previous month are proof.

The Professional Bowl left guard has began speaking to the offensive line group throughout pregame warmups, and it’s fairly intense. So intense that when he popped Tyler Guyton within the chest lately, the left deal with gave a facet look to the videographer filming the speech.

“I actually did not suppose I hit him that arduous on the time, however if you return and watch the tape, the attention within the sky did not lie,” Smith stated. “I did type of hit him laborious. However it’s all enjoyable and video games. He was like, ‘It is cool, bro, you are getting us hyped.’”

Smith’s speeches are transient and carry the identical message: Be dominant, be bodily.

“Be who we all know we’re,” Smith stated. “That is one thing we’ll emphasize and proceed to emphasise. And it is one thing that everyone within the room is aware of. Regardless that I am the one talking, I am listening to the whole lot all people stated throughout the week and I am summarizing that.”

The Cowboys are 3-1 since Smith began delivering his speeches.

“Sizz brings the eagerness, the vitality,” proper deal with Terence Steele stated. “Guys feed off of it and we like it.”