DMN Blog: Live from Oxnard XVI: Jason Witten wants Bobby Carpenter to get off him
by Tim MacMahon
Weather: 71 degrees and partly cloudy.
This morning was a teaching practice, working on assignments, etc. at half speed. Wade Phillips want to see how well his players learned this afternoon.
The Cowboys are in helmets and shoulder pads. We'll get some full-speed, pad-poppin' action this afternoon.
And T.O. is ready to roll again after resting the last couple practices.
Getcha popcorn ready, follow the jump and refresh as fast as your buttery fingers can ...
5:29 -- Alan Ball (ankle) is practicing again after returning this morning. It'll be interesting to see how well he can cut after sitting out several practices.
5:35 -- Stretching started. Wade Phillips has a little pep in his talk as he walks the stretching lines. He took it easy on his team the last couple days, and he expects to be paid back with an intense practice this afternoon.
5:38 -- No more Martellus Bennett questions today. You can check out this conversation with TE coach John Garrett and read Calvin "Lucky" Watkins' story on Bennett tomorrow. ... The Cowboys might be able to get something for Alan Ball or Evan Oglesby, but the CB would have to play well during the preseason. While GMs around the NFL read this here blog on a daily basis, they're reluctant to make deals based on my ramblings or other media reports. They'll need to see something on tape.
5:44 -- Stretching over. Defense doing position drills, offense running plays vs. air. LT Flozell Adams is back out there after resting this morning. T.O. is dressed out, but he's not out there with the starters. Wade Phillips wanted to make sure everybody understood that resting T.O. is precautionary. Just a case of the Cowboys being careful with a 34-year-old who has done an awful lot of running the last two weeks.
5:51 -- Hugs Lady hollered at Jerry as he was walking out onto the field. He stopped and shouted, "Hey, baby!" with a wave. ... T.O. dropped a pass during warmups. Too bad Ed Werder isn't here anymore. Sounds like a story worthy of leading SportsCenter to me, never mind the Brett Favre Circus in Green Bay.
5:55 -- Todd Archer, Tim Cowlishaw and Brian Davis are chatting with Stephen Jones. They'll either come away from the conversation with major breaking news or a good restaurant tip in Ventura. I'm betting on the latter. ... Still doing position warmup stuff.
6:01 -- Horn sounded. Things should get a wee bit more exciting now. I'm headed to the field. Be back in a bit with highlights.
6:14 -- I focused primarily on passing 1-on-1s (red zone) with Todd Archer keeping an eye on inside run drills. Hopefully, he'll share some observations of that stuff a little later. ... Fifth-round CB Orlando Scandrick had an outstanding session. He picked off a pass intended for Patrick Crayton, who ran a zig-zag out. Scandrick wasn't fooled a bit by the in cut. Scandrick broke up slant to Crayton at the goal line and had great coverage on a Sam Hurd fade that was overthrown. ... T.O. was too much for the CBs when he kept his feet. He scored on slants against Adam "Pacman" Jones and Anthony Henry, but he stumbled coming out of his break on an out against Evan Oglesby. ... Isaiah Stanback had an oooh-inducing catch, snaring a pass thrown behind him with his left hand while crossing the goal line. Stanback didn't break stride with Alan Ball closing in. ... Hurd had a ball go through his hands on an out. First-round CB Mike Jenkins got props from DB coach Dave Campo for his coverage on the play. ... Danny Amendola had an impressive catch, keeping his feet while getting both hands on a pass that was low and away. ... Working on FGs now.
6:22 -- Actually, they're working on punts. Mat McBriar just had a long, high boomer that pinned Pacman a yard or so from the sideline. ... Interesting question about Andre Gurode's shotgun snaps, because I really haven't thought about that issue since the start of training camp. He's been on target consistently. He blamed sweat for his occasional problems last season -- most memorably against the Rams -- and might still be a little sore about me joking in a column about french fry grease playing a role in the high snaps. Not sure whether he's still a paid spokesman for Wendy's.
6:27 -- Terence Newman, sporting a blue "iPractice" T-shirt, is working up a pretty good sweat off to the side. He's doing resistance training with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown. ... Horn sounded. Be back in a bit.
6:43 -- 11-on-11 highlights: First-team offense had some trouble with blitz pickup. Chris Canty came free when Anthony Henry blitzed off the edge out of a sub package. LBs Kevin Burnett and Bobby Carpenter went unblocked up the middle another play. Greg Ellis had a sack later. ... LT Flozell Adams picked up the blitz just fine on one play, knocking Burnett sideways a few yards. ... Miles Austin had a pretty catch on a quick go route. He got space at the last second with Playmakeresque push-off on Anthony Henry and caught the ball cleanly with both hands, never breaking stride. ... Tony Romo zipped a seam route to Jason Witten, who had a step on Zach Thomas. ... Austin also had a nice catch on a slant with Mike Jenkins all over him. ... Brad Johnson put some mustard on a curl route to T.O. between Evan Oglesby and a couple LBs. Johnson one-hopped a 15-yard out a little later. ... T.O. made a shoestring catch on an out in front of Adam "Pacman" Jones. ... Carpenter had a sack against the second-team O and almost picked off a pass deflected by DE Marcus Smith. ... More action now. ... Be back in a bit.
6:58 -- Some 7-on-7 highlights: Jason Witten made a couple of catches over the middle, but he also had a rare drop. Roy Williams was in position to deliver a hit on the play, not that Witten has to worry about hearing footsteps out here. ... Danny Amendola held on to the ball with both hands when Williams tried to rip it away. ... Isaiah Stanback juggled the ball after a zig-zag out. He held on to it, but he probably wouldn't have if he got hit. ... Pat Watkins, who is battling Courtney Brown for playing time in sub packages, ended the drill with a PBU on a crossing route to T.O. ... 11-on-11 work started now. ... Witten just had another drop on a short out.
7:02 -- Headed to field to watch red zone work. Be back in a bit, maybe after practice.
7:38 -- Jason Witten appeared to be a wee bit frustrated when LB Bobby Carpenter held him near the goal line. "Get him the [heck] off me, Stew!" Witten hollered at defensive coordinator Brian Stewart. ... TE Martellus Bennett had two nice TD catches. He made a diving catch near the front pylon for a 1-yard score. Brad Johnson hit Bennett on a slant in the end zone between LBs Bradie James and Zach Thomas. Bennett held on despite a pretty good pop from Thomas, a rare case of an Aggie enjoying success against a Red Raider. ... Miles Austin made a couple of catches with CBs in close proximity, snaring an out in front of Alan Ball and a hook in front of Adam "Pacman" Jones. ... Isaiah Stanback couldn't make a leaping grab in the back of the end zone despite getting both hands on the ball. ... Danny Amendola added to his one-handed catch highlight reel. He snared the ball with his right hand on a short out. ... Fifth-string TE Drew Atchison ended practice by sneaking behind the defense for a 1-yard TD. In a moment the undrafted dude from William & Mary will probably remember for the rest of his life, he celebrated with a spike that bounced about 15 feet in the air.
Weather: 71 degrees and partly cloudy.
This morning was a teaching practice, working on assignments, etc. at half speed. Wade Phillips want to see how well his players learned this afternoon.
The Cowboys are in helmets and shoulder pads. We'll get some full-speed, pad-poppin' action this afternoon.
And T.O. is ready to roll again after resting the last couple practices.
Getcha popcorn ready, follow the jump and refresh as fast as your buttery fingers can ...
5:29 -- Alan Ball (ankle) is practicing again after returning this morning. It'll be interesting to see how well he can cut after sitting out several practices.
5:35 -- Stretching started. Wade Phillips has a little pep in his talk as he walks the stretching lines. He took it easy on his team the last couple days, and he expects to be paid back with an intense practice this afternoon.
5:38 -- No more Martellus Bennett questions today. You can check out this conversation with TE coach John Garrett and read Calvin "Lucky" Watkins' story on Bennett tomorrow. ... The Cowboys might be able to get something for Alan Ball or Evan Oglesby, but the CB would have to play well during the preseason. While GMs around the NFL read this here blog on a daily basis, they're reluctant to make deals based on my ramblings or other media reports. They'll need to see something on tape.
5:44 -- Stretching over. Defense doing position drills, offense running plays vs. air. LT Flozell Adams is back out there after resting this morning. T.O. is dressed out, but he's not out there with the starters. Wade Phillips wanted to make sure everybody understood that resting T.O. is precautionary. Just a case of the Cowboys being careful with a 34-year-old who has done an awful lot of running the last two weeks.
5:51 -- Hugs Lady hollered at Jerry as he was walking out onto the field. He stopped and shouted, "Hey, baby!" with a wave. ... T.O. dropped a pass during warmups. Too bad Ed Werder isn't here anymore. Sounds like a story worthy of leading SportsCenter to me, never mind the Brett Favre Circus in Green Bay.
5:55 -- Todd Archer, Tim Cowlishaw and Brian Davis are chatting with Stephen Jones. They'll either come away from the conversation with major breaking news or a good restaurant tip in Ventura. I'm betting on the latter. ... Still doing position warmup stuff.
6:01 -- Horn sounded. Things should get a wee bit more exciting now. I'm headed to the field. Be back in a bit with highlights.
6:14 -- I focused primarily on passing 1-on-1s (red zone) with Todd Archer keeping an eye on inside run drills. Hopefully, he'll share some observations of that stuff a little later. ... Fifth-round CB Orlando Scandrick had an outstanding session. He picked off a pass intended for Patrick Crayton, who ran a zig-zag out. Scandrick wasn't fooled a bit by the in cut. Scandrick broke up slant to Crayton at the goal line and had great coverage on a Sam Hurd fade that was overthrown. ... T.O. was too much for the CBs when he kept his feet. He scored on slants against Adam "Pacman" Jones and Anthony Henry, but he stumbled coming out of his break on an out against Evan Oglesby. ... Isaiah Stanback had an oooh-inducing catch, snaring a pass thrown behind him with his left hand while crossing the goal line. Stanback didn't break stride with Alan Ball closing in. ... Hurd had a ball go through his hands on an out. First-round CB Mike Jenkins got props from DB coach Dave Campo for his coverage on the play. ... Danny Amendola had an impressive catch, keeping his feet while getting both hands on a pass that was low and away. ... Working on FGs now.
6:22 -- Actually, they're working on punts. Mat McBriar just had a long, high boomer that pinned Pacman a yard or so from the sideline. ... Interesting question about Andre Gurode's shotgun snaps, because I really haven't thought about that issue since the start of training camp. He's been on target consistently. He blamed sweat for his occasional problems last season -- most memorably against the Rams -- and might still be a little sore about me joking in a column about french fry grease playing a role in the high snaps. Not sure whether he's still a paid spokesman for Wendy's.
6:27 -- Terence Newman, sporting a blue "iPractice" T-shirt, is working up a pretty good sweat off to the side. He's doing resistance training with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown. ... Horn sounded. Be back in a bit.
6:43 -- 11-on-11 highlights: First-team offense had some trouble with blitz pickup. Chris Canty came free when Anthony Henry blitzed off the edge out of a sub package. LBs Kevin Burnett and Bobby Carpenter went unblocked up the middle another play. Greg Ellis had a sack later. ... LT Flozell Adams picked up the blitz just fine on one play, knocking Burnett sideways a few yards. ... Miles Austin had a pretty catch on a quick go route. He got space at the last second with Playmakeresque push-off on Anthony Henry and caught the ball cleanly with both hands, never breaking stride. ... Tony Romo zipped a seam route to Jason Witten, who had a step on Zach Thomas. ... Austin also had a nice catch on a slant with Mike Jenkins all over him. ... Brad Johnson put some mustard on a curl route to T.O. between Evan Oglesby and a couple LBs. Johnson one-hopped a 15-yard out a little later. ... T.O. made a shoestring catch on an out in front of Adam "Pacman" Jones. ... Carpenter had a sack against the second-team O and almost picked off a pass deflected by DE Marcus Smith. ... More action now. ... Be back in a bit.
6:58 -- Some 7-on-7 highlights: Jason Witten made a couple of catches over the middle, but he also had a rare drop. Roy Williams was in position to deliver a hit on the play, not that Witten has to worry about hearing footsteps out here. ... Danny Amendola held on to the ball with both hands when Williams tried to rip it away. ... Isaiah Stanback juggled the ball after a zig-zag out. He held on to it, but he probably wouldn't have if he got hit. ... Pat Watkins, who is battling Courtney Brown for playing time in sub packages, ended the drill with a PBU on a crossing route to T.O. ... 11-on-11 work started now. ... Witten just had another drop on a short out.
7:02 -- Headed to field to watch red zone work. Be back in a bit, maybe after practice.
7:38 -- Jason Witten appeared to be a wee bit frustrated when LB Bobby Carpenter held him near the goal line. "Get him the [heck] off me, Stew!" Witten hollered at defensive coordinator Brian Stewart. ... TE Martellus Bennett had two nice TD catches. He made a diving catch near the front pylon for a 1-yard score. Brad Johnson hit Bennett on a slant in the end zone between LBs Bradie James and Zach Thomas. Bennett held on despite a pretty good pop from Thomas, a rare case of an Aggie enjoying success against a Red Raider. ... Miles Austin made a couple of catches with CBs in close proximity, snaring an out in front of Alan Ball and a hook in front of Adam "Pacman" Jones. ... Isaiah Stanback couldn't make a leaping grab in the back of the end zone despite getting both hands on the ball. ... Danny Amendola added to his one-handed catch highlight reel. He snared the ball with his right hand on a short out. ... Fifth-string TE Drew Atchison ended practice by sneaking behind the defense for a 1-yard TD. In a moment the undrafted dude from William & Mary will probably remember for the rest of his life, he celebrated with a spike that bounced about 15 feet in the air.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:20 PM
<< Home