Brett Maher will rebound

[Dallasfann]

I have to imagine the mental part of kicking is the absolute most important aspect. I'd have no trust in him kicking a game winner right now. That's coming from someone who gloated over him all season.

 

[Iago33]

Dak said it was just the emotions of the game, afterwards Dak was supportive of Mahar and told him to shake it off we all have bad games.

I thought Dak was great about that. He said, “Well I played like crap last week and bounced back. He’ll bounce back.” (Paraphrase)

 

[nightrain]

The misses were bad but it's all mental. It reminds me of when Crosby had his bad game four or five years ago. Guess who his coach was?

You're right. Mccarthy. Mccarthy isn't going to give up on the man. With that said. I was honestly disappointed with Dak just a bit. When Crosby had his bad day Rodgers was there to support him. Dak? He screamed on the sidelines telling the team to just go for the two. I think Mccarthy will reign Maher in and he will kick all of his kicks in against the 49ers.

A Kicker has strong potential to cost the team a game. You don't enter the Divisional Round with a K who has lost his nerve. Mental issues are the most difficult to deal with because they may never go away. Guarantee the Cowboys are meeting about this today.

 

[Beaker42]

The misses were bad but it's all mental. It reminds me of when Crosby had his bad game four or five years ago. Guess who his coach was?

You're right. Mccarthy. Mccarthy isn't going to give up on the man. With that said. I was honestly disappointed with Dak just a bit. When Crosby had his bad day Rodgers was there to support him. Dak? He screamed on the sidelines telling the team to just go for the two. I think Mccarthy will reign Maher in and he will kick all of his kicks in against the 49ers.

I was yelling it before Dak was. A K has ONE ****** JOB and that’s to - that’s right - KICK THE BALL. ERO reason for the dude to have missed FIVE IN A ROW. He’s lucky they didn’t change the locks and give everyone but him a new key. They weren’t long FG’s - THEY WERE EXTRA FREAKING POINTS.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yips are real. Let's hope he doesn't have them but we don't have enough information one way or another and hope is not a plan.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The misses were bad but it's all mental. It reminds me of when Crosby had his bad game four or five years ago. Guess who his coach was?

You're right. Mccarthy. Mccarthy isn't going to give up on the man. With that said. I was honestly disappointed with Dak just a bit. When Crosby had his bad day Rodgers was there to support him. Dak? He screamed on the sidelines telling the team to just go for the two. I think Mccarthy will reign Maher in and he will kick all of his kicks in against the 49ers.

I hope so. the toughest thing is the mental part.

 

[DUO_CORE]

I would be happy if Maher missed 7 extra points against the 49'ers.

 

[leeblair]

The misses were bad but it's all mental. It reminds me of when Crosby had his bad game four or five years ago. Guess who his coach was?

You're right. Mccarthy. Mccarthy isn't going to give up on the man. With that said. I was honestly disappointed with Dak just a bit. When Crosby had his bad day Rodgers was there to support him. Dak? He screamed on the sidelines telling the team to just go for the two. I think Mccarthy will reign Maher in and he will kick all of his kicks in against the 49ers.

It happens. At least it happened on a grass field against a weaker opponent and didn't affect the Cowboys. Now maybe he can get back to being Mr. Dependable, like he has all year, and the grass field won't get into his head in San Francisco.

 

[aikemirv]

I feel for Maher but we're going to need every point we can get against SF. I'd feel better if we had a backup we could trust, just in case...

I would sign Lirim and give him anything 40 and under and I only trot out Maher for the longer kicks for 49's game

 

[MyFairLady]

After what I saw I would say that he can never be trusted again. Kicking is definitely a concern for the rest of the playoffs.

 

[links18]

I'd like to think I would at least have gone 2 out of 4 on those kicks.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

With the game so well in hand it was almost- ALMOST- funny to see Maher keep missing. Hopefully he looks at it the same way and moves on.

He was just in his own head last night. He's made pressure kicks and game winners before so we can only assume last night was an outlier.

 

[Avery]

You need to judge Maher by the body of his work vs. recency bias. Yeah, those kicks last night were absolutely disgusting. However, he's been pretty darn good this year and even the great Justin Tucker has had some headscratchers this year.

In a closer game, it could have spelled the end, but the offense and defense persevered. Guys stepped up to compensate for the misses.

Kicking is a mental game and I think he'll turn it around next week.

 

[BellaMina]

With the game so well in hand it was almost- ALMOST- funny to see Maher keep missing. Hopefully he looks at it the same way and moves on.

He was just in his own head last night. He's made pressure kicks and game winners before so we can only assume last night was an outlier.

Yeah it was pretty funny when somebody on the game thread predicted the score would be 24 points after the 4th touchdown because he wasn't counting the PAT. But it wouldn't have been funny if the score was closer. Good thing we made a 5th touchdown so he could get at least ONE under his belt!

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

The misses were bad but it's all mental. It reminds me of when Crosby had his bad game four or five years ago. Guess who his coach was?

You're right. Mccarthy. Mccarthy isn't going to give up on the man. With that said. I was honestly disappointed with Dak just a bit. When Crosby had his bad day Rodgers was there to support him. Dak? He screamed on the sidelines telling the team to just go for the two. I think Mccarthy will reign Maher in and he will kick all of his kicks in against the 49ers.

Maher should throw a fit on the sidelines next time Dak throws a Pick 6.

Maher missed 4 extra points = 4 lost points

Dak three Pick 6 = 18 points

 

[Mannix]

Mental is way worse then physical with his job. I'm telling you right now. I fight a bout with the Shanks in golf from time to time and they can completely engulf you. That's just me being a weekend warrior. I can't imagine millions watching me do it over and over. Dude might of just David Duvalled himself.

I'd legit think of calling in a Adam Vinateri. Dude hasn't played in 2 years but I know for a fact he can still drill 30-40 yarders with ease.

If you position your head behind the ball at address and keep it still (without locking it in an exaggerated manner) throughout the swing, you will NEVER shank. If you let your head start swaying forward of your body and/or hands, and ball, any time during the swing, all bets are off.

 

[SlammedZero]

Eek, what a bad time for him to start getting shaky too. He was balling. Thinking back to him kicking those back to back boomers in Minnesota to him now missing 4 XP kicks. lol Let's hope that last one he made reinserted some confidence in himself.

Safe to say every single one of us will be holding our breath when he lines up for the next kick. I might even close my eyes.

 

[Dallasfann]

If you position your head behind the ball at address and keep it still...without locking it in an exaggerated manner... throughout the swing, you will NEVER shank. If you let head start swaying forward of your body and/or hands any time during the swing, all bets are off.

I'll keep it in mind if they rear their ugly head this season. I've worked pretty hard on figuring out my swing when it happens. Last year I went to club champion to get fitted and I was hitting good and bam...shanks...the second I started hitting short irons. Going in I was worried about it because anytime I have a tournament or big event I'm excited for I tend to do it, so the guy fitting me watched a few and noticed I had a bad in to out swing.

I really focused on trying to hit towards the top right of the screen with a dramatic hook. I started hitting power draws and hooks after and it was a big ah ha moment. If it happens I really visualize dropping the club into the slot on my downswing and intentionally try hitting draw/hooks. It's helped a lot. It's frustrating because they usually come when I'm playing my best golf. It's a curse!

It's a big reason I'm worried about Maher though, because you have to remember when these happen to me it could be after I just shot a very good score the day before...and when I get them you would honestly thought I've never golfed before. People might think that's golf and this is football but what really happens is once it gets so far into my head I'm completely doomed. Thankfully Maher is a world class athlete but still. Having a negative thought in your head at something that you've done successfully over and over can really make matters worse.

 

[RoboQB]

He needs to study a women's lingerie magazine.
And recite the models likes. Just like the catcher did in that movie.
Can't remember the name (Major League II?)

LOL.. Maher lines up. The ball is snapped.
Maher approaches "Kelly enjoys horseback riding and walks on the beach."
It's good!

 

[Mannix]

I'll keep it in mind if they rear their ugly head this season. I've worked pretty hard on figuring out my swing when it happens. Last year I went to club champion to get fitted and I was hitting good and bam...shanks...the second I started hitting short irons. Going in I was worried about it because anytime I have a tournament or big event I'm excited for I tend to do it, so the guy fitting me watched a few and noticed I had a bad in to out swing.

I really focused on trying to hit towards the top right of the screen with a dramatic hook. I started hitting power draws and hooks after and it was a big ah ha moment. If it happens I really visualize dropping the club into the slot on my downswing and intentionally try hitting draw/hooks. It's helped a lot. It's frustrating because they usually come when I'm playing my best golf. It's a curse!

It's a big reason I'm worried about Maher though, because you have to remember when these happen to me it could be after I just shot a very good score the day before...and when I get them you would honestly thought I've never golfed before. People might think that's golf and this is football but what really happens is once it gets so far into my head I'm completely doomed. Thankfully Maher is a world class athlete but still. Having a negative thought in your head at something that you've done successfully over and over can really make matters worse.

I should have mentioned that my tip is for short irons....I had a spell of it with my 56 and 60 degree about 20 years ago...I consciously positioned my head behind the ball and kept it still....the shanks stopped instantly....maybe had one or two in the last twenty years and those were in the bunker when I was thinking of 100+ other thoughts.

Maher's 3 pushes last nite looked like he was really trying to guide the ball off his foot....the 1 hook looked like he just stood up and came out of it quickly with his entire body moving left.