Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey will enter new realm of NFL’s all-time kickers in early 2025 Todd Brock Brandon Aubrey has had quite a storybook run. The Cowboys kicker’s journey to the NFL was in and of itself an unlikely tale, the college soccer star who found himself washed out of the sport and working as a software engineer when his wife suggested he try kicking footballs instead. That led to back-to-back USFL championships, and that led to a spot in camp with the Cowboys in 2023. All Aubrey did with that opportunity was lead the NFL in scoring, nail 14 out of 14 field goals from 40 yards or longer, set a new league record for most consecutive field goals to start a career, and earn both a Pro Bowl trip and All-Pro honors as a rookie. In his second-year follow-up, Aubrey connected on more field goals in a single season than any kicker in Cowboys history. Of the 39 successful regular-season field goals ever kicked from 60 yards or beyond, the 29-year-old Aubrey has three of them (only Brett Maher has more, with four). He’ll make a Pro Bowl return in February, and earned his second straight All-Pro nod. He’s a bona fide weapon who seems destined to break the once-unimaginable 70-yard-field-goal barrier. And at some point, probably in late-September to mid-October of the 2025 season- unless something goes catastrophically wrong- Aubrey will trot out onto the field, effortlessly swing his howitzer of a right leg, and walk back to the sideline suddenly in the conversation for a new title: The most accurate kicker in NFL history. Right now, that honor belongs to the Ravens’ Justin Tucker, who’s converted 417 of 468 of his career field goal attempts over a 13-year career. That’s 89.103%. Aubrey’s percentage is already technically a hair higher than Tucker’s: 89.412%. But kickers aren’t included in the all-time rankings until they’ve logged 100 regular-season field goal attempts. Aubrey has 85; only when he tries his 100th three-pointer will he automatically join the big leaderboard. It should happen fairly early. Aubrey’s 15th field goal attempt of 2024 came in Week 5. The previous year, it came in Week 6. And when 100 does happen, the rest of the very best in the business will suddenly have company. But the reality is, there will already be a new leader of the pack by then. The Chargers’ Cameron Dicker has 97 regular-season field goal tries in his career, and he’s sitting on a make percentage of 93.814.% Even if Dicker misses his next three kick attempts, he’ll still have a 91.000% rate when he hits 100 kicks, more than enough to comfortably dethrone Tucker as the accuracy king. If Aubrey makes his next 15 in a row (which is certainly possible for him), he’ll also have 91.000% when he reaches 100 and joins the list. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Kicking field goals has become a young man’s domain. Of the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage leaders, the top five are all active players. Eight of the top 15. Sixteen of the top 30. Of course, young kickers have a smaller sample size. The excellent ones naturally go right to the top of the accuracy chart once eligible. That’s just how math works. It’s not until the most accurate kickers start to age- and miss more frequently- that they slide down the historical rankings. There’s no shame in it; circle of life and all that. Adam Vinatieri, unquestionably one of the greatest to ever do it, is a surprising 35th on the all-time accuracy list. Sebastian Janikowski, so dominant he was a first-round draft pick, is 65th. Morten Andersen- who is in the Hall of Fame– stands “just” 77th. Of the current all-time top 30, Mike Vanderjagt (at No. 8) is the only one who kicked in the league before Y2K. The point is, no one stays atop the accuracy list unless they walk away from the game well before their skills decline. And the numbers are all so close, it doesn’t take much to really shuffle the leaderboard. Consider Eddy Piñeiro. The Panthers specialist is currently the third-most accurate kicker ever, per the numbers. If he were to miss his next kick, however, he would drop to No. 6. Just two off-target boots from Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo would drop him from 13th overall to outside the top 20. Still impressive, sure, but this is a rankings list that can see a lot of week-to-week shakeup with a shank here or a doink there. Aubrey has been dangerously accurate But his real superpower, of course, has proven to be kicking from distance. (Just look at his Week 17 miss in Philadelphia, a 61-yard bomb that hit the goalpost halfway up the upright and, a couple inches to the left, would have been good from much, much longer.) The Cowboys (and most fans) would probably cut Aubrey a little leeway in the accuracy department and look past a random miss from 45 here or there because they know he’ll end up stealing an improbable win someday with a sniper shot from 70. Even at this stage in his young NFL career, Aubrey is among the sport’s elite whether you’re talking about distance or accuracy. It’s just a matter of time, though, before he comes for the crown in both categories.

Culture over chaos: How Mike McCarthy steadied Cowboys in 2024 Jazz Monet If the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season were a Disney production, Mike McCarthy’s journey would undoubtedly be the heartwarming, tear-jerking, against-all-odds story arc that gets the standing ovation. Think Remember the Titans meets The Mighty Ducks—with a Dallas twist. His handling of locker room dynamics and team culture might not have earned a playoff berth, but it’s the kind of character development that makes a team’s credits roll worth watching.  The headlines alone could narrate his rollercoaster year. Remember January’s NFL Fans Call for Cowboys to Fire Mike McCarthy, Hire Belichick During Packers Loss? For the second year running, fans were practically packing McCarthy’s bags, swapping last year’s Sean Payton dream for a fantasy of Bill Belichick coaching America’s Team. In August, Jerry Jones stirred the pot, claiming the typically even-keeled McCarthy needed “angst” and “pressure” to thrive—a backhanded pep talk, if ever there was one. By mid-November, the storm peaked with headlines like, “Micah Parsons harsh words hint Mike McCarthy has lost the locker room.” But then, the winds had shifted, and by mid-December, headlines like “Dallas Cowboys rave about Mike McCarthy, locker room culture” were sprouting up like daisies after a downpour. So, how did McCarthy go from the brink of mutiny to the king of camaraderie? Let’s break it down. REPAIRING THE FOUNDATION (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Early on, things got messy. Devastating losses turned into headline bait: disharmony, weak leadership, poor work ethic, and a front office that had wrongfully gambled on a “lame-duck” coach. Locker room tensions bubbled over as players like Jourdan Lewis and KeVontae Turpin publicly questioned their teammates’ focus and work ethic, while an article spotlighted The Star’s guided tours as practice-field distractions, turning the Cowboys into fodder for punchlines and hot takes. The noise was deafening, and McCarthy was painted as a relic incapable of reigning it all in, but he refused to fold. He tackled the run-game issues head-on, and there were signs of life from an offense most had declared dead after Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury. Through it all, McCarthy remained teflon-coated: no lashing out, no grandstanding. He even dismissed unproductive narratives with a calm resolve, doubling down on his belief that public perception paled in comparison to the work being done behind closed doors. And slowly but surely, the Cowboys followed his lead. The finger-pointing stopped, and viral soundbites faded into obscurity, replaced by a quieter focus on the core values McCarthy had championed from Day 1. Enter Week 12, and a desperately-needed win against the Commanders, a spark that reignited belief in a locker room battered by injuries and doubt. Despite their playoff chances dangling by a thread, McCarthy’s refusal to quit became contagious. Cowboys stars like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons all rallied behind their coach, publicly praising his resilience and ability to steady the ship in choppy waters. With that victory, the Cowboys won four of their next five games, with their only loss coming to the Bengals’ high-powered offense—a game arguably decided by a late, special teams gaffe. Is it any surprise that the Cowboys started stacking wins as McCarthy regained control? Mike McCarthy has always maintained that everything he does is about winning. This season was a reminder that consistent success requires a solid foundation. The Cowboys’ 2024 season won’t make it into any highlight reels. There were no shiny trophies, and the playoff math didn’t work out. But beyond the stats, McCarthy pulled off something far more remarkable: he rebuilt trust, galvanized his players, and proved that culture counts. Many fans would rather forget about this season altogether, but the story of Mike McCarthy in 2024 isn’t just about wins and losses—it’s about finding a way to hold a team together when everything seems to be falling apart. And if that’s not the stuff of sports-drama legend, what is? Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Proving them wrong: Rico Dowdle’s story of grit, greatness as Cowboys RB1 Jazz Monet A series on the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season wouldn’t be complete without Rico Dowdle, a name that’s become synonymous with grit, persistence, and proving doutbers wrong. His journey isn’t just inspiring; it’s relatable to anyone who’s ever had to claw their way up through the ranks while shaking off the weight of low expectations. Rewind to the 2024 NFL Draft. Cowboys fans and analysts alike were collectively side-eyeing the team for not drafting a running back. The headlines were ruthless. One late-April gem declared, “Cowboys in Crisis: Worst Running Back Problem Since Emmitt Smith Cut.” Ouch. For Dowdle, waking up to stories like that probably felt like watching someone critique your cooking without tasting a bite. Fast forward to Week 15, and the narrative had shifted in a major way. Dowdle’s impact on the Cowboys offense was so undeniable, it inspired headlines like How Rico Dowdle has transformed into an RB1 force for Cowboys. But to be clear, Dowdle didn’t stroll into the starting lineup on a red carpet. He had to prove himself several times and in multiple ways in order to become Dallas’ lead back. Back in training camp, analysts were already calling him the team’s best running back. The Cowboys, however, opted for a “running back by committee” approach to start the season. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t giving what it was supposed to give. The offense sputtered, and whatever they were calling a run scheme got dragged for being as confusing as it was ineffective. Meanwhile, Dowdle quietly made his case. With limited chances in Weeks 2 through 4, he averaged over four yards per carry, proving he was ready for more. When his big moment finally came, a 20+ carry game on the road against the Steelers, he didn’t just show up. He showed out. By Week 11, the Cowboys officially handed him the keys to the backfield. For an 2020 undrafted free agent, being named the lead back is already an impressive feat. But Rico Dowdle wasn’t about to stop there. By the end of the season, he had rushed for over 1,000 yards—the first UDFA in Cowboys history to do so—while maintaining a career-high 4.6 yards per carry. It wasn’t just a breakout season; it was a full-on statement. Late in the season, Mike McCarthy told the press that the next step for Dowdle is to become an every-down back. Should the cards fall in such a way that he’s expected to meet that challenge next season, one thing’s for sure, Rico Dowdle will be ready to make his mark. Again. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys have 1 first-team AP All-Pro in 2024, 2 second-teamers Todd Brock The Associated Press has revealed its All-Pro Team for 2024, and Cowboys fans will notice the same kind of dropoff from 2023 that they saw on the actual field all season long. After putting a league-high nine players on the first and second teams last year, Dallas has just one first-teamer and two second-team All-Pros after their disappointing 7-10 campaign. The Associated Press began naming All-Pro Teams in 1940, with the best players at each position selected by a national panel of AP media members. There is no AFC-versus-NFC designation, with players from both conferences making up both the first-team (top vote-getters) and the second-team (runners-up) rosters. Cowboys kick returner KaVontae Turpin was the only Cowboys player to make the AP’s first team this season. He led the league in kick return yards in 2024 and was named to the Pro Bowl. This is his first All-Pro Selection. The second team features CeeDee Lamb as one of the three wide receivers, along with Washington’s Terry McLaurin and Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown. (Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown make up the first-team WR corps.) Lamb was seventh in the league in both targets and receptions and ninth in receiving yards, despite missing the final two games of the season. Lamb was a first-team All-Pro last year and a second-teamer previously in 2022. Also on the second team for 2024 is kicker Brandon Aubrey. (Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell took first-team honors.) Aubrey had a league-high 47 field goal attempts this season, and his 41 field goals made were just one behind the leader, Boswell. Aubrey’s 65-yarder was the longest three-pointer made across the NFL this season and the second-longest kick conversion of all time. Aubrey was the AP’s first-team kicker last season in his rookie campaign. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Zack Martin and DaRon Bland were named first-team All-Pros in 2023. Dak Prescott, Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Micah Parsons, and Bryan Anger received second-team honors a season ago. All were passed over entirely in 2024. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

No quit Brett Davis-Imagn Images As bad as things got for the Cowboys in the first few months of the 2024 season, there was no quit from the team. Dallas was 3-7 after a Monday Night Football loss to the Houston Texans, down multiple starters, including at quarterback where Dak Prescott was lost for the year in Week 9. McCarthy’s team still had some fight left in them. The playoffs seemed like a pipe dream in early November, but one would never know it as the Cowboys managed to win four of their next five games to stay in contention for a postseason berth. It wasn’t until Week 17 that the Cowboys were officially eliminated from the playoff race, a testament to the team’s resolve. From the owner to the coaching staff, and down onto the players, no one cared about having a better draft pick. Several players fought through injuries and tried to help the team, despite their place in the standings. Right guard Zack Martin fought through several ailments until it was clear he could no longer help, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb battled a painful shoulder injury to put up a fourth straight 1,000-yard season, tying Michael Irvin for the franchise record. One can call the 2024 Cowboys a lot of things, but quitters isn’t one of them. Special teams stars: Brandon Aubrey and… Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports It wasn’t a winning season for the Cowboys, who struggled on both sides of the ball. However, they did have one of the best special teams units in the league, led by kicker Brandon Aubrey and kick returner KaVontae Turpin. Both were named to the Pro Bowl, and both were named as All-Pros. Aubrey proved his rookie season was no fluke by making 40 kicks from his 47 attempts, which included a record number of made 50+ yard field goals in a season, with 14. The second-year kicker was 14-17 from over 50 yards, and two of those misses were from 61 and 70 yards. He was used too much for an inefficient offense, but Aubrey continues to be a weapon for the Cowboys. … Kavontae Turpin Patrick Smith/Getty Images Turpin put on a show this year as the primary kick returner for the Cowboys. The third-year man was the only player in the NFL to return both a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown this season. The pint-sized Turpin led the league in kickoff return yards with 904, and average yards per return at 33.5. Turpin showed he was the best return man in the league and was dangerous with the ball in his hands no matter which unit. Rico Dowdle Ron Jenkins/Getty Images When training camp began, one didn’t have to look very hard for observers to crown Rico Dowdle the best of the Cowboys running backs. It was evident in the summer he should be the starter and earn the lion’s share of the snaps in the backfield. The coaching staff didn’t see it that way initially and it took over half the season to finally commit to Dowdle. Only once in the first nine games did the RB get over 12 carries. That game against the Pittsburgh Steelers saw Dowdle carry the ball for 20 times for 87 yards to go with a receiving touchdown. In the first 10 games, the Cowboys were 3-7 and scored over 24 points just twice as Dowdle had 93 carries for 402 yards. In the last seven games of the year, Dowdle never carried fewer than 13 times, and had three games with over 20 totes. Those seven games saw Dowdle have 142 carries for 677 yards and two touchdowns. Dowdle also had three straight 100-yard rushing games and added a fourth in the final seven game stretch. Dallas was 4-3 in those games and scored over 24 points in all four wins. The late season surge saw Dowdle become the first undrafted Cowboys RB to rush for 1,000 yards, and it came in a year where it took much too long for the team to give him the opportunity to be the lead RB. Micah Parsons Grant Halverson/Getty Images It won’t go down as a good year for the Cowboys’ defense, but edge rusher Micah Parsons continued to show that he’s one of the best defensive players in the league. Despite missing four games, Parsons still managed to achieve double-digit sacks for the fourth straight year to start his career, entering some elite company. With his 12 sacks, Parsons is in even more rarefied air, matching Hall of Famer Reggie White as the only two players in NFL history with 12 or more sacks in each of their first four seasons. It looked like Parsons was on another level from his first three years in the league, which is a scary thought. Parsons finished tied for fifth in the league in sacks despite missing four games. If he were able to play a full slate, Parsons surely sets his career high for sacks and might have won the sack title. The Cowboys’ defense had a rough year, but Parsons did not, demonstrating once again that he’s a game wrecker.

From ‘grow up’ to show up: CeeDee Lamb’s masterclass in accountability, growth for Cowboys Jazz Monet Not every season can be a fairy tale, but even in a dumpster fire, one can find a spark. The Dallas Cowboys’ offense spent much of 2024 searching for its identity, and in that chaos emerged one of the season’s most compelling character arcs: CeeDee Lamb. Friction breeds growth, and Lamb’s evolution mirrored the team’s struggles. Two headlines bookend his journey. On February 11, the aftermath of the Cowboys’ playoff debacle led to his blunt self-assessment, “I need to grow up!” By December 16, the narrative had flipped into  Lamb showing his prowess as one of the team’s leaders. Last season, after the Dallas Cowboys crashed out of the playoffs in a humiliating loss to the Green Bay Packers, the blame game went full throttle. Fans and analysts alike dissected every failure like it was a scene from Inception. But Lamb? He flipped the script, literally pointing the finger at himself—steak and potatoes in hand—on a special Super Bowl week episode of The Edge, Micah Parsons’ podcast. Asked how he could help Dak Prescott lead the team, CeeDee owned up, saying he needed to mature. “I could be more of a leader,” he said, “I could be more vocal even though that’s not me, but understanding the situation, if I’m going to take this label of being [WR1], I take full accountability.” That wasn’t just talk. Fast forward 10 months and Lamb’s identity as a leader has been recognized by coaches and fans alike. Things could’ve gone in a different direction, especially after sitting out all offseason before agreement to the second-largest WR contract in NFL history. The shift wasn’t automatic, though. Early in the season, an emotional sideline moment garnered criticism of immaturity and selfishness. But by the season’s end, Lamb had shut them all up. His actions—playing through a nagging sprained AC joint, commanding respect from teammates, and dominating on the field—spoke louder than any headline. Following the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott early in the season, Lamb’s growth was put on display over and over again. An offense used to soaring struggled immensely in 2024, but Lamb grew into leading by example. He’s checked every box: versatility, toughness, and even delivered a solid hit or two when needed. With leadership now added to his arsenal, the only question is: what can’t he do? Whatever it is, bet on Lamb figuring it out.

Inept offseason Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The disease didn’t begin in September, rather that’s when the symptoms were finally taken seriously. The groundwork for the Cowboys’ collapse came in the months leading up to season. When free agency arrived last March, Jerry and Stephen Jones began their annual rite of Spring, sitting out while the rest of the league spent money in efforts to improve their team. Despite Jones telling fans the team would be “all-in” the Cowboys barely made a peep on the open market. Not in the first wave, nor the second wave where they usually announce they have a pulse. They made nary a ripple until it was OK to sign free agents without affecting the compensatory formula. The organization made just one legit external acquisition, somehow prying linebacker Eric Kendricks away from the San Francisco 49ers. Management took forever to sign quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to extensions, waiting until the first day of the regular season to sign their franchise QB. It cost the Cowboys valuable resources and the ability to improve by waiting so long to sign their cornerstone free agents. After giving both the top-of-market deals each sought, many wonder if the front office was using their situations as cover for not wanting to spend money on outsiders, all the while lying to fans who knew better, spitting nonsense about the salary cap and how the pieces of the pie must fit to sign players. It was easy to see the disaster that was coming, but at least the Cowboys sold out their season tickets in record time! Mike McCarthy and one-year coaching deals Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Many fans believed Mike McCarthy should have been given his walking papers after the playoff debacle blow-out loss to the Green Bay Packers. However, the Joneses weren’t going to pay McCarthy to coach elsewhere, and retained him without extending his deal. That left a lame-duck coach to finally find answers to the Cowboys’ lack of playoff success. Only this time, McCarthy would have a new defensive coordinator. Mike Zimmer was brought in to install his defense on a one-year deal, which looked like it would be tied to McCarthy. If the duo could get over the hump, perhaps new contracts would be in order. Many of the other coaches and coordinators were also on the final years of their deals. It didn’t work. McCarthy’s offense looked inept all year, even when playing a healthy Prescott, and it took a while for Zimmer’s coaching style and scheme to click. Zimmer even admitted he took on a different personality early in the year to not rock the boat too much from what had been successful for the past few years under former DC Dan Quinn. The staff couldn’t figure out their best lineup and players. It somehow took over half the season to realize Rico Dowdle was the best option at running back, and the offensive line shuffling was maddening. McCarthy looked the part of the lame duck who didn’t have the answers, and his team played like they were hoping for a new leader, despite their outcries for him to stay. It was a mistake to keep McCarthy after how the 2023 season finished and this year’s results were just as damning. Injuries Sam Hodde/Getty Images) The Cowboys were already behind the eight ball after an offseason that saw much of their depth poached in free agency, but injuries exacerbated the problems. It began in training camp when pass rusher Sam Williams was lost for the year. Set for a breakout season, he tore his ACL early in camp. All-Pro corner DaRon Bland injured his foot before the season and missed 10 games, while counterpart All-Pro Trevon Diggs played in just 11 before bowing out for the year. Prescott was lost after just eight games, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence only played the first four. His booked Micah Parsons missed the first four games Lawrence was out, and rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland missed a chunk of time starting the next week. Right guard Zack Martin was ineffectively struggling play through multiple injuries before shutting himself down in early December. Another All-Pro, WR CeeDee Lamb, battled through a painful shoulder injury that had him leave several games for stretches before finally shutting it down once the team was officially eliminated from the playoff hunt. The best players for the Cowboys all missed significant time this season. Other starters and valuable players who weren’t able to play a full year include rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton, swing tackle Chuma Edoga, left guard Tyler Smith, CB Jourdan Lewis, tight end Jake Ferguson, and rookie CB Caelen Carson. The injury gods had no mercy for the Cowboys this season. A healthy team wasn’t likely to save Dallas in 2024, but the injuries zapped the team from being able to withstand everything else that occurred. Dak Prescott regressed Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images The shortened season from Prescott wasn’t what Cowboys fans have grown accustomed to watching with their franchise signal caller. After the team gave him one of the largest contracts in NFL history, Prescott responded by having perhaps his worst year since entering the league. Just a year after placing second in MVP voting, Prescott regressed, making far too many mistakes. The veteran QB turned the ball over often, while leading the team to a 3-5 record. Prescott looked nothing like the QB he was the season prior and was on pace to have his worst completion percentage since 2017 and was near the league leaders in interceptions. McCarthy’s scheme and the skill players did Prescott no favors, but the QB didn’t help himself with his poor play. When Prescott said “we [expletive] suck” on the sidelines in Atlanta, he was talking about himself just as much as he was the team. Defense got smoked for much of the season Sam Hodde/Getty Images One of the issues that plagued the Cowboys for much of the season, was their

Cowboys Crossroads: Coaching indecision again places franchise behind provervial 8-ball reidhanson The Dallas Cowboys are at a crossroads with their franchise. Much like the prior season, when they had to decide whether or not to re-sign quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys need to determine which direction their team goes at head coach. Will they re-sign Mike McCarthy to a new contract and stay the course, or will they bring in a new coach and start a new chapter in Dallas? If they choose the former and keep McCarthy, who will they add to the staff to make things better? And if they choose the latter and let McCarthy leave, what style of head coach will be replacing him? Assuming Jerry Jones’ patience stays intact for the next hire, whoever the head coach hire is in 2025 is likely to be the head coach throughout the rest of the Prescott era. That’s a significant period of time because it coincides with the athletic peaks of players such as CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. As such, the importance of this decision cannot be understated. The value of coaching has ebbed and flowed throughout the years but in today’s day and age it’s at an absolute premium. The parity in roster talent is extremely tight, often making scheme, strategy, and play design the difference between winning and losing. It’s an area the Cowboys have historically struggled in considerably throughout the last few coaching regimes and an area that’s repeatedly ended in embarrassment. The importance of such factors has given rise to the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. Nearly half the NFL now employs some branch of the San Francisco mastermind. His is a system that makes things easy for its signal callers. It simplifies reads, schemes players open, plays out of unpredictable formations and personnel groups and still values the big plays. Different product lines of the Shanahan brand lean on different strengths, but overall, it’s a system that seeks to make things as easy as possible on the offense and as confusing as possible on the opposing defense. Master-schemers such as Shanahan are en vogue in the NFL right now but curiously so are their polar opposites. Running concurrently to the brainiacs of the NFL are the meatheads, so to speak. Dan Campbell has taken the NFL by storm with his success in Detroit. The former NFL tight end embodies leadership and inspiration at the coaching ranks. Tough guys like Mike Vrabel and Campbell fit a completely different profile at the head coach position. Their ability to keep order, dictate culture and demand respect has real value in the NFL today, providing a very different alternative to teams looking for a new coaching direction. The impending split in Detroit will be telling as to which brand of coach is worth more. Both of Campbell’s assistants fall under the scheme-master category. It’s been said it’s their ability to design plays and strategize that makes Campbell’s leadership style work so effectively. But a case could also be made Campbell’s firm position at the top of the flowchart is what allows these brilliant men to get in the weeds and be brilliant in the first place. The Cowboys have to determine which direction they want to go. They may not even want to go a new direction and choose to stick with McCarthy. McCarthy isn’t the disciplinarian Campbell and Vrabel are, but he falls under the leadership brand of head coaching rather than scheme master. That’s not a problem, unless he’s the one left to design gameplans and call plays, as has been the case the last two seasons. There haven’t been many games where an evenly-matched Cowboys team was able to outcoach the opposing sideline. Whether it’s playoffs or top tier regular season matchups, the Cowboys have been outcoached consistently during the McCarthy tenure. It speaks to the importance of the scheme-master coach and shows that leadership without a gameplan doesn’t amount to much. There are a number of directions and combinations the Cowboys can go at coach this winter but the one direction they can’t go ignoring the importance of scheme and play design. If they prioritize leadership at head coach, they have to find a way to upgrade and empower a new offensive coordinator to design plays. The Cowboys’ shrinking window of opportunity depends on it. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!