DMN Blog: Live from Oxnard IX: Get fired up for some special teams!!!
by Tim MacMahon
Weather: 71 degrees and sunny.
OK, folks, I'm gonna shoot straight with you. This practice won't be very exciting. It's focused solely on special teams.
Special teams work in training camp tends to be heavy on teaching, light on real competition. It's not like they're letting Deon "Cricket" Anderson loose to be a wedge buster out here or anything.
So, if it's a little slow after the jump, don't get too worked up. However, you should feel free to fire off questions and/or turn this post into a chat room and discuss whatever is on your Cowboys-intensive minds.
5:25 -- Be back in a little while. Todd Archer has assigned me attendance-taking duties.
5:46 -- Only guys not in uniform: CB Terence Newman (groin), WR Daniel Polk (hamstring), CB Alan Ball (ankle), CB Quincy Butler (hamstring) and LB Tearrius George (knee). ... Nick Folk nailed all his field goal attempts (30-40 range).
5:49 -- Now working on kick return. First group out there: (front line, L to R) Pat Watkins, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers, Martellus Bennett, Kevin Burnett (second level, L to R) Tony Curtis, Cory Procter, Pat McQuistan and Anthony Spencer. They're rotating guys as returners, including Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback, Felix Jones, Danny Amendola, Adam "Pacman" Jones and Mike Jenkins.
5:53 -- Nick Folk is not exactly booming kickoffs. Several have fallen short of the 10-yard line. And I'm not counting the onside he just squibbed. ... Wade Phillips said he likes what he sees from Marcus Spears at NT, but I can't say Spears has done anything that raised my eyebrows. Then again, it's not like he's been getting blown off the ball. .... Phillips talked about position flexibility being a key with the DL, because it gives the coaches freedom to move guys around and create favorable matchups. ... Now working on squib kicks, high kicks to second level, etc. Stephen Bowen has stone hands.
6:10 -- Here is the first group out there with Nick Folk on kickoff coverage: Courtney Brown, Miles Austin, Justin Rogers, Kevin Burnett, Anthony Spencer, Deon "Cricket" Anderson, Bobby Carpenter, Sam Hurd and Mike Jenkins.
6:20 -- A horn just sounded, but I think that was just too wake up reporters. More fast and furious blog action on the way.
6:25 -- First-team punting squad has Pat Watkins and Sam Hurd as the gunners, Tony Curtis and Deon "Cricket" Anderson as the upbacks, L.P. Ladouceur as the long snapper with Kevin Burnett and Anthony Spencer to his left and Justin Rogers and Martellus Bennett to his right. Oh, and it appears that Mat McBriar is holding off Jay Ottovegio in the intense punting competition.
6:41 -- If you wanna fill your evening reading about the Cowboys, check out my acquaintance Matt Mosley's Camp Confidential on ESPN.com. (Mosley will upgrade to friend status if he follows through on his promise to give me some air time on his ESPN Radio show.)
Weather: 71 degrees and sunny.
OK, folks, I'm gonna shoot straight with you. This practice won't be very exciting. It's focused solely on special teams.
Special teams work in training camp tends to be heavy on teaching, light on real competition. It's not like they're letting Deon "Cricket" Anderson loose to be a wedge buster out here or anything.
So, if it's a little slow after the jump, don't get too worked up. However, you should feel free to fire off questions and/or turn this post into a chat room and discuss whatever is on your Cowboys-intensive minds.
5:25 -- Be back in a little while. Todd Archer has assigned me attendance-taking duties.
5:46 -- Only guys not in uniform: CB Terence Newman (groin), WR Daniel Polk (hamstring), CB Alan Ball (ankle), CB Quincy Butler (hamstring) and LB Tearrius George (knee). ... Nick Folk nailed all his field goal attempts (30-40 range).
5:49 -- Now working on kick return. First group out there: (front line, L to R) Pat Watkins, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers, Martellus Bennett, Kevin Burnett (second level, L to R) Tony Curtis, Cory Procter, Pat McQuistan and Anthony Spencer. They're rotating guys as returners, including Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback, Felix Jones, Danny Amendola, Adam "Pacman" Jones and Mike Jenkins.
5:53 -- Nick Folk is not exactly booming kickoffs. Several have fallen short of the 10-yard line. And I'm not counting the onside he just squibbed. ... Wade Phillips said he likes what he sees from Marcus Spears at NT, but I can't say Spears has done anything that raised my eyebrows. Then again, it's not like he's been getting blown off the ball. .... Phillips talked about position flexibility being a key with the DL, because it gives the coaches freedom to move guys around and create favorable matchups. ... Now working on squib kicks, high kicks to second level, etc. Stephen Bowen has stone hands.
6:10 -- Here is the first group out there with Nick Folk on kickoff coverage: Courtney Brown, Miles Austin, Justin Rogers, Kevin Burnett, Anthony Spencer, Deon "Cricket" Anderson, Bobby Carpenter, Sam Hurd and Mike Jenkins.
6:20 -- A horn just sounded, but I think that was just too wake up reporters. More fast and furious blog action on the way.
6:25 -- First-team punting squad has Pat Watkins and Sam Hurd as the gunners, Tony Curtis and Deon "Cricket" Anderson as the upbacks, L.P. Ladouceur as the long snapper with Kevin Burnett and Anthony Spencer to his left and Justin Rogers and Martellus Bennett to his right. Oh, and it appears that Mat McBriar is holding off Jay Ottovegio in the intense punting competition.
6:41 -- If you wanna fill your evening reading about the Cowboys, check out my acquaintance Matt Mosley's Camp Confidential on ESPN.com. (Mosley will upgrade to friend status if he follows through on his promise to give me some air time on his ESPN Radio show.)
posted by The Gryphon at 8:34 PM
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