ESPN Dallas: Cowboys want Buehler to win FG job

[WoodysGirl]

Feb 26
5:06
PM CT

By Tim MacMahon


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys didn't trust David Buehler enough to let him kick field goals after Nick Folk faltered last season.

They hope Buehler earns their trust during training camp and the preseason.

Buehler didn't work much on placekicking last season, but he's been told to focus on field goals during the offseason. The Cowboys signed Conor Hughes to give Buehler some competition, but the best-case scenario would be for the elite kickoff specialist to expand his role.

"That would be a two-for-one deal for us," coach Wade Phillips said.

Ex-Cowboys kicker Chris Boniol was hired as a consultant to help Buehler improve to the point where the Cowboys would be comfortable relying on him to kick field goals. Phillips is optimistic that Buehler can make the necessary improvement because of the strong-legged kicker's determination.

"He’s obviously got the leg," Phillips said. "He hit some long ones in practice, because we only basically practiced him on the long ones. He hit a fair percentage of those, not where we want to be, but I think he can get there."

Boniol, who was interviewed by special teams coach Joe DeCamillis as well as Phillips and management, will work for the Cowboys on a part-time basis at least through training camp.

"Sometimes it’s the little things that maybe we don’t know or we didn’t teach him," Phillips said. "We’re hoping Boniol can help him in that area, and there’s a mental aspect too that Boniol has been through."

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I liked Hughes at UVA but Buehler's ability to boot the ball in the endzone makes him the better option.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys would love for Buehler to win the job it would save them a roster spot not having to keep two kickers but I don't see it happening.

 

[brickman]

I want him to win it too. I love the kid and his attitude. I'm pulling for him.
Go get 'em Dave!

 

[gmoney112]

What sort of intangibles are needed for FG kicking? Obviously a lot of it is leg, but the technique required to boot a ball on the ground can't be too complicated. I think he'll be a fine FG kicker once he kicks for an entire offseason. He certainly has the confidence.

 

[Bleu Star]

In the Buehler I trust.

 

[Four]

I don't think the cowboys are in any position to tell Buehler what to do.

They aren't going to make Buehler kick extra points, they are just going to give us the point. Too dangerous for him to be kicking that close to the fans.

Jerry is going to have to order kevlar nets for the goalposts as it is.

 

[ethiostar]

I hope he does too.

 

[theogt]

Of all the positions to have a "project" at, this is one of the last ones I want. We have the best kickoff kicker in the league, now let's just get the best field goal kicker we can get.

 

[speedkilz88]

What sort of intangibles are needed for FG kicking? Obviously a lot of it is leg, but the technique required to boot a ball on the ground can't be too complicated. I think he'll be a fine FG kicker once he kicks for an entire offseason. He certainly has the confidence.

To be able to handle pressure situations, like kick the game winner at the end.

 

[Bleu Star]

I don't think the cowboys are in any position to tell Buehler what to do.

They aren't going to make Buehler kick extra points, they are just going to give us the point. Too dangerous for him to be kicking that close to the fans.

Jerry is going to have to order kevlar nets for the goalposts as it is.

This made me chuckle.

 

[Wrangler87]

Hey, how old Chris Boniol?

I don't like this. I want a kicker I have confidence in, even if it is only from 45 yards in.

If you want to save a roster spot, why not work him into more special teams and some Safety work. I trust him more as the fifth Safety than as the FG kicker.

 

[KJJ]

What sort of intangibles are needed for FG kicking? Obviously a lot of it is leg, but the technique required to boot a ball on the ground can't be too complicated. I think he'll be a fine FG kicker once he kicks for an entire offseason. He certainly has the confidence.

A place kicker needs to be accurate and from the reports last season Buehler wasn't very accurate in practice that's why the Cowboys never used him and signed Suisham. Even Wade commented that he wasn't real accurate. Buehler has the leg to kick it 60 yards but he has to be able to put it between the uprights under pressure. You have to remember he was drafted for his KO's not his FG's. I doubt he'll be the primary place kicker next season that's an important job that requires consistency.

 

[tyke1doe]

I don't think the cowboys are in any position to tell Buehler what to do.

They aren't going to make Buehler kick extra points, they are just going to give us the point. Too dangerous for him to be kicking that close to the fans.

Jerry is going to have to order kevlar nets for the goalposts as it is.

:laugh2:

 

[casmith07]

The Buehler will never miss a field goal, because if a ball gets shanked, he'll stare at it with his death stare until it straightens out for 3 points.

 

[Four]

The Buehler will never miss a field goal, because if a ball gets shanked, he'll stare at it with his death stare until it straightens out for 3 points.

nice try, but it doesn't really work that way.

The ball would explode the moment it realized it would miss. No ball risks the wrath of the Buehler.

And at that point you think a ref is going to call it no good? can you say exploding refs? Because the Buehler can.

 

[T-RO]

It's funny how simplistic people can be.

You can find a guy who can throw a football seventy yards. Does that make him a quarterback?

Distance and accuracy are two very very different things.

Plus though I love Buehler I see a guy who bounces around like a nervous pinball when he's just kicking off. What would he be like if it were a game winning field goal? No thanks.