The Dallas Cowboys have decided on a two-pronged approach for their kicking game, with rookie Dan Bailey set to handle field goals and extra points and David Buehler taking on kickoffs.
"We decided to keep both of those guys, and we'll give them chances to kick in games doing the things we think they do best," Cowboys coach Jason Garretttold The Dallas Morning News on Monday.
For three-year veteran Buehler, it's a return to the role he held during his 2009 rookie campaign. Last season, he took on the team's kicking duties, going 24 of 32 on field-goal attempts and 42 of 44 on extra-point tries.
"He's a very good athlete and has embraced that role in the past," Garrett said. "We'll work him into (the kickoff role). He has not done a lot of that up to this point. We'll see how he acclimates himself to doing that stuff again. We'll give him the opportunity."
Bailey, an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State, won the Lou Groza award in 2010 as the nation's top collegiate kicker. He was 2 of 2 on field-goal tries in the preseason, with a long of 41 yards.
The Cowboys put extra effort into retooling their kicking game in the offseason, trying out an assortment of kickers, including Shayne Graham, Kai Forbath and Dave Rayner.
