What has influenced Brett Maher’s improvement as a Dallas kicker?

Many Cowboys fans raised their hands when the team brought back Brett Maher during training camp. Not to mention when he was chosen to be Dallas’ starting kicker this season. Although Lirim Hajrullahu and rookie Jonathan Garibay were unconvincing during camp, bad memories of Maher in 2019 were revived in the cowboy nation.

It was not for less. Arriving in Dallas for the second time in 2018 after a fleeting stint five years earlier, Maher had good numbers taking over from Dan Bailey. However, his 2019 was forgotten. Despite his perfect efficiency in extra points, his inconsistency in field goals (66.7%) hurt the team. In fact, this led to his departure from Dallas a month from the end of the regular season.

FAILED IT!#NFLxFOX Brett Maher ????????–42 yards–❌

Cowboys 7-10 Bears@FOXImpactoNFL pic.twitter.com/jMt7dqUvrE

— FOX Sports MX (@FOXSportsMX) December 6, 2019

Now, in the middle of the 2022 regular season, opinions about Maher have changed.

Against all odds, Brett Maher has been very reliable as a kicker for Dallas this season. The kicker had just left a good feeling in 2021 with the Saints, which was key for the Cowboys to give him a new opportunity. And Maher has so far responded to that vote of confidence.

In eight games, “Money Maher” has only missed one of 19 extra point attempts (94.7%). Meanwhile, in field goals, he has hit 15 attempts of 17 (88.2%). His only misses were two nearly 60-yard attempts, both in non-decisive situations usually late in the second quarter when he couldn’t get much further. And those are distances from which many kickers generally fail to be effective.

Seeing this, it’s no surprise that Maher is receiving positive feedback. Especially now that, during the Cowboys’ bye week, many analysts and reporters who cover the team are doing reviews of the most outstanding players so far. And, without a doubt, the Nebraska product is one of them.

The zero broke ????????
Brett Maher kicked the FG down the middle ????????

????: @ESPNDeportes#WorldNFL #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/JgInECgBS4

— NFL World (@NFL World) September 27, 2022

The key to Maher’s improvement

Now, the improvement of Brett Maher as a kicker is not a product of luck, but of specific work.

For the past five years, the Nebraska product has been participating in an immersive mind training program. This implies a daily exercise that involves listening for 30 minutes, with eyes closed and using headphones, an audio file with noise from the public in a stadium. This exercise takes Maher to another place mentally, and has helped him have a better mental preparation for each game.

Aside from these drills, part of Maher’s preparation includes using footage from visiting stadiums and audio from his fans during a game, as well as mock practices. She does this work under the guidance and supervision of Andy Gillham, a specialist in performance psychology. And although Maher was on that show in 2019, the year she left Dallas, the current results are very positive.

Sanford Sports Performance Psychology Specialist, Andy Gillham, is thrilled to see client & @dallascowboys kicker Brett Maher thriving this season.

Focusing on imagery exercises & a routine that stimulates game conditions has helped: https://t.co/ijlAGIzsHQ #SanfordSports pic.twitter.com/D49BeXQaJv

— Sanford Sports (@sanfordsports_) November 1, 2022

In fact, Brett Maher admitted that his improvement with this imagery work has required a lot of diligence on his part. He thus he let him see during a interview for The Dallas Morning News in mid October.

“The imagery is a little different,” Maher said. “Most people think of visualization when they talk about it, but this involves more than just seeing things in your mind. It tries to engage different senses, the interaction of the grass with my feet, specific things with the ball, how the crowd sounds… And you add emotional ups and downs to that as well.”

Without a doubt, the improvement of Brett Maher as a kicker has been one of the most positive aspects for the Cowboys this season. With “Money Maher” in top form, Dallas has a reliable tandem on its stunt team. This, of course, without forgetting the good work of John Fassel in command of this unit. In this way, the cowboy team already leaves behind the concerns experienced with that position during the last two seasons.