Brian Schottenheimer Sounds Off on Cowboys Kicker Brandon Aubrey’s Epic Range
The Dallas Cowboys earned their first win of the 2025 season over the New York Giants in Week 2, but it certainly did not come easy, as the Cowboys only prevailed at the end of overtime by a final score of 40-37. Once again, kicker Brandon Aubrey delivered the goods for Dallas with a pair of clutch field goals, and after the game, head coach Brian Schottenheimer gushed over the Cowboys’ hero.
Aubrey hit all four of his field goal attempts, while also converting all four of his extra point attempts. He hit a 64-yarder at the end of the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, before hitting a 46-yard kick as time expired in overtime to win the game for Dallas. Aubrey is a weapon, and Schottenheimer admitted as much when discussing his kicking range after the win.
Brian Schottenheimer Gushes Over Brandon Aubrey
Aubrey’s path to the NFL certainly is unique, as he initially played professional soccer, getting selected by Toronto FC in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. After his soccer career flamed out, Aubrey eventually decided to try to make it as a kicker in the NFL. Aubrey got drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2022 USFL Draft, and after a pair of strong seasons, he ended up getting his shot in the NFL with the Cowboys.
Since latching on with Dallas in 2023, Aubrey has been arguably the league’s best kicker. He’s earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first two seasons, while also earning All-Pro First Team honors in 2023 and All-Pro Second Team honors in 2024. Based on his hot start to the season, it seems like more accolades may be coming his way this season.
Not only is Aubrey incredibly accurate, but he also has range that not many other kickers have. Case in point, when the Cowboys needed to tie this game, Schottenheimer felt comfortable sending his kicker out for a 64-yard attempt. After the game, Schottenheimer revealed that Dallas feels they really only need to get the ball to the 50-yard line in order for Aubrey to have a shot at hitting a field goal.
“We would try it from 70ish,” Schottenheimer admitted when asked about Aubrey’s range. “We’ve seen him make those before. We always want to try to get as close as we can, but he’s always like, ‘Yeah, I’m good.’ … The confidence that you see the guy kick with is incredible.”
Cowboys Looking to Keep Up the Positive Momentum in Week 3
GettyDallas Cowboys head coach, Brian Schottenheimer
The Cowboys certainly weren’t perfect in Week 2, but they did what they had to do to come out on top after they fell short of victory in Week 1. In an ideal world, the Giants would not have given them as much trouble as they did, but it’s still early in the season, meaning there’s time for Dallas to fix some of the issues that nearly cost them in this game.
Heading into Week 3, the Cowboys will have another game on their schedule that they will be favored to win, as they will be taking on the 0-2 Chicago Bears. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, and while Dallas knows it has a superstar in Aubrey at its disposal, they’d prefer not to have to rely on him as much as they did against New York moving forward.
Dolphins’ Defensive Struggles Mirror Joe Barry’s Troubling Past in Green Bay
When a coach with a controversial track record joins a new team, their performance is placed under immediate scrutiny. For many Green Bay Packers fans, the name Joe Barry is synonymous with a defensive philosophy that often felt frustratingly passive. The news that Barry had landed with the Miami Dolphins as their linebackers and run game coordinator was met with a sense of knowing trepidation by his former critics. Now, with the NFL season underway, the Dolphins’ defensive struggles are raising familiar questions about Barry’s impact.
While Barry is not the defensive coordinator in Miami, his influence on the linebacker corps and run defense is significant. The team’s poor performance in these areas has not gone unnoticed, and for those who followed his tenure in Green Bay, the results look eerily familiar. The Dolphins’ defense is currently facing significant challenges, and the statistics paint a troubling picture that aligns with a career-long trend for the veteran coach.
Green Bay Packers Fans Are All Too Familiar With Joe Barry
Joe Barry’s time as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2021 to 2023 was marked by consistent fan frustration. Despite having a roster loaded with first-round talent, his defenses were often criticized for playing a soft, “bend-don’t-break” style that allowed opposing offenses to dictate the terms of engagement. The scheme frequently gave up easy completions underneath and struggled to get off the field on third down, leading to long, sustained drives that wore down the defense.
This approach was particularly maddening for a fanbase that saw Pro Bowl talent at every level of the defense. The disconnect between the talent on the field and the results on the scoreboard ultimately led to his departure from Green Bay. His defenses, while occasionally posting respectable total yardage numbers, often failed to make critical stops in key moments. This history has created a narrative that follows him, one where his units look good on paper but fail to play with the aggressive, game-changing style that modern NFL defenses require.
The Dolphins’ Defensive Woes in 2025
The Miami Dolphins brought in a new defensive staff to elevate a unit that has its own share of high-end talent. However, the early returns have been alarming. Through the first part of the season, the Dolphins’ defense ranks among the worst in the league in several critical categories, particularly in the areas under Barry’s purview.
According to the latest NFL defensive rankings from Fox Sports, the numbers are stark:
- Total Defense: The Dolphins are ranked 29th, allowing an average of 418 yards per game.
- Scoring Defense:They are also 29th in points allowed, surrendering 33 points per game.
- Rushing Defense: The run defense, a key responsibility for Barry, is ranked 27th, giving up 156 yards per game.
These statistics are not just numbers on a page; they represent a fundamental inability to stop opposing teams. The struggles in the run game are particularly concerning, as a weak run defense puts immense pressure on the secondary and makes it difficult to control the clock. For a team with championship aspirations like the Dolphins, having a defense that is consistently on its heels is an unsustainable formula for success. The high number of yards and points allowed suggests a systemic issue, and it’s a pattern that closely mirrors the criticisms leveled against Barry’s units in the past.
Is History Repeating Itself?
While it is unfair to place all of the blame on one position coach, Barry’s role as the run game coordinator makes the team’s struggles in that area impossible to ignore. His career has been marked by stops where his defenses have underachieved relative to their talent level. His first defensive coordinator stint with the Detroit Lions in 2007-08 was a disaster, and his time in Washington from 2015-16 produced similarly uninspiring results.
The recurring theme is a defensive philosophy that appears to prioritize preventing the big play over aggressively attacking the offense. This often results in allowing opponents to methodically move the ball down the field, controlling possession and wearing down the defense. In Miami, we are seeing this play out again. The defense is not just giving up yards; it is failing to create negative plays or force turnovers at a rate needed to win consistently.
For the Dolphins, the hope was that a new coaching staff could unlock the potential of a talented group. Instead, the early season struggles have brought a familiar sense of disappointment. Joe Barry’s presence on the staff, combined with the team’s porous run defense and overall poor statistical rankings, suggests that a change in scenery has not necessarily led to a change in results. The pressure is mounting in Miami, and the defensive coaching staff, including Barry, will need to find answers quickly before the season slips away.
