DMN Blog: OTA Observation deck
By Tim MacMahon
This will be passing-game intensive, because you can't tell a whole lot about the running game when the players aren't wearing pads.
*Wade Phillips mentioned that it's normal for the timing between receivers and quarterbacks to be off at this time of year, even though they've had informal throwing sessions twice per week. We saw that and some sloppiness on the receivers' end. There were several drops.
*WR Sam Hurd, who is somewhat of a forgotten man coming off of ankle surgery, did not contribute to the drop total. He caught everything he got his hands on, including a diving grab by the sideline on a low rope thrown by Jon Kitna. Hurd isn't a guy who gets great separation -- and he might not be 100 percent yet -- but his hands might be the best on the team.
*Yes, the 36-year-old Kitna can still throw ropes. Unlike the last couple of years, the experienced backup's arm strength won't be a concern for the Cowboys.
*Also didn't see a drop by coachable WR Roy Williams, who might argue about Hurd having the best hands on the team. Williams, who wore No. 4 (his Texas number), made an especially nice play on an out route in front of Terence Newman. Williams snared the pass with his hands, away from his body, and chopped his feet to make sure he got both in bounds. He celebrated by getting behind a camera located on the track and pretending to film practice.
*WR Miles Austin did have a couple of passes clank off his hands, but he also displayed his ability to be a deep threat. He twice got great separation on double-move deep routes and made plays on underthrown balls both times. On the first one, he rebounded an underthrown Romo pass after it bounced off safety S Tra Battle's helmet. On the second one, Austin made a nice adjustment to sky over CB Orlando Scandrick to snare Stephen McGee's pass.
*Several players had problems with the footing at Standridge Stadium, which has the new-age, grass-like artificial turf. Terence Newman stumbled to the ground twice while trying to break on a ball. Scandrick and SS Gerald Sensabaugh got picks when receivers slipped coming out of their breaks.
*CB Mike Hawkins had great coverage on a stop-and-go route by WR Patrick Crayton during 1-on-1 drills, but Crayton torched Hawkins on a similar route during 7-on-7. Kitna's deep ball hit Crayton in stride on the second route.
*CB/S Alan Ball made a leaping deflection of a Kitna pass on a crossing route intended for WR Travis Wilson. Ball got praise from secondary coach Dave Campo throughout the workout.
*Seventh-round WR Manuel Johnson beat FS Ken Hamlin for what would have been a long touchdown. Hamlin was stride for stride with Johnson but never made a play for the ball.
*Mike Jenkins got all the reps at the cornerback opposite Terence Newman during team drills.
*Sensabaugh got all the first-team reps at strong safety. He had good coverage of Jason Witten on an intermediate out early in team drills.
*Montrae Holland worked with the first-team at left guard, as Kyle Kosier worked on the side with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown. Cory Procter worked as the second-team center. Pat McQuistan, who was the swing tackle the last two seasons, worked at left guard with the second unit. The tackles were Doug Free (left) and third-round pick Robert Brewster (right).
*WR Isaiah Stanback was among the players who stayed after practice to catch punts.
This will be passing-game intensive, because you can't tell a whole lot about the running game when the players aren't wearing pads.
*Wade Phillips mentioned that it's normal for the timing between receivers and quarterbacks to be off at this time of year, even though they've had informal throwing sessions twice per week. We saw that and some sloppiness on the receivers' end. There were several drops.
*WR Sam Hurd, who is somewhat of a forgotten man coming off of ankle surgery, did not contribute to the drop total. He caught everything he got his hands on, including a diving grab by the sideline on a low rope thrown by Jon Kitna. Hurd isn't a guy who gets great separation -- and he might not be 100 percent yet -- but his hands might be the best on the team.
*Yes, the 36-year-old Kitna can still throw ropes. Unlike the last couple of years, the experienced backup's arm strength won't be a concern for the Cowboys.
*Also didn't see a drop by coachable WR Roy Williams, who might argue about Hurd having the best hands on the team. Williams, who wore No. 4 (his Texas number), made an especially nice play on an out route in front of Terence Newman. Williams snared the pass with his hands, away from his body, and chopped his feet to make sure he got both in bounds. He celebrated by getting behind a camera located on the track and pretending to film practice.
*WR Miles Austin did have a couple of passes clank off his hands, but he also displayed his ability to be a deep threat. He twice got great separation on double-move deep routes and made plays on underthrown balls both times. On the first one, he rebounded an underthrown Romo pass after it bounced off safety S Tra Battle's helmet. On the second one, Austin made a nice adjustment to sky over CB Orlando Scandrick to snare Stephen McGee's pass.
*Several players had problems with the footing at Standridge Stadium, which has the new-age, grass-like artificial turf. Terence Newman stumbled to the ground twice while trying to break on a ball. Scandrick and SS Gerald Sensabaugh got picks when receivers slipped coming out of their breaks.
*CB Mike Hawkins had great coverage on a stop-and-go route by WR Patrick Crayton during 1-on-1 drills, but Crayton torched Hawkins on a similar route during 7-on-7. Kitna's deep ball hit Crayton in stride on the second route.
*CB/S Alan Ball made a leaping deflection of a Kitna pass on a crossing route intended for WR Travis Wilson. Ball got praise from secondary coach Dave Campo throughout the workout.
*Seventh-round WR Manuel Johnson beat FS Ken Hamlin for what would have been a long touchdown. Hamlin was stride for stride with Johnson but never made a play for the ball.
*Mike Jenkins got all the reps at the cornerback opposite Terence Newman during team drills.
*Sensabaugh got all the first-team reps at strong safety. He had good coverage of Jason Witten on an intermediate out early in team drills.
*Montrae Holland worked with the first-team at left guard, as Kyle Kosier worked on the side with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown. Cory Procter worked as the second-team center. Pat McQuistan, who was the swing tackle the last two seasons, worked at left guard with the second unit. The tackles were Doug Free (left) and third-round pick Robert Brewster (right).
*WR Isaiah Stanback was among the players who stayed after practice to catch punts.
posted by The Gryphon at 5:30 PM
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