Day 8 observations from Dallas Cowboys training camp practice: RB DeMarco Murray dominates; WR Dez Bryant makes athletic play
By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com
9:04 pm on July 31, 2014 | Permalink
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Here’s what stood out from Day 8 of Dallas Cowboys’ training camp practices Thursday in Oxnard, Calif.
The Cowboys had a short practice Thursday before taking the day off Friday. They mostly worked on red zone and hurry-up offense. It was a rough day for the defense.
Several of the players’ families watched Thursday afternoon’s practice. QB Tony Romo’s wife, Candice, and his two sons, Hawkins and Rivers, joined him after practice.
The family was surrounded by cameras on the field. At one point, Hawkins ran away from Tony and Candice and Tony had to go looking for him. He ended up just beyond the end zone, where Romo had him run over bags used for running back drills. Both his sons wore No. 9 jerseys with “Daddy” on the back.
Late in team drills, WR Dez Bryant made a smart, athletic play to keep QB Tony Romo from an interception. Romo’s pass to the left side was tipped up in the air near the line of scrimmage by DT Davon Coleman. LB Bruce Carter was camped underneath the ball, waiting for it to come down in his hands, when Bryant swatted the ball down from behind.
QB Tony Romo was forced to scramble to his left late in team drills and looked normal. One of Romo’s deep passes in team drills was too long for WR Dez Bryant, who had beat CB B.W. Webb on a go route down the left sideline.
To end team drills, Romo threw a nice deep out pass to WR LaRon Byrd for about a 20-yard gain in a hurry-up situation. That set up a Dan Bailey field goal attempt that was good. Byrd continues to have a great start to training camp, catching just about every pass his way.
The defense gave up several long runs in team drills, often not touching the running back until he was well into the secondary.
RB DeMarco Murray started team drills with a long run to the right side behind a big block from rookie RG Zack Martin. Murray had two other long runs in team drills, one up the middle and one to the right
RB Ryan Williams had about a 20-yard gain on a run wide left in team.
RB Lance Dunbar had a run wide right for 20-plus yards. CB Dashaun Phillips took a bad angle on the play to allow Dunbar to get around the corner.
DE Caesar Rayford would have sacked QB Dustin Vaughan early in team drills.
S J.J. Wilcox had a nice pass breakup against TE Gavin Escobar down the left seam on a pass from QB Tony Romo. But Romo wouldn’t have gotten the pass off because he would have been sacked by DT Davon Coleman.
The receivers dominated the cornerbacks in 1-on-1 drills Thursday, but it didn’t help that the Cowboys were without CBs Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Sterling Moore.
WR Dez Bryant beat CB Orlando Scandrick three times for red zone touchdowns in 1-on-1 drills. Scandrick did intercept a pass in 1-on-1 drills, stepping in front of WR LaRon Byrd near the left sideline.
CB B.W. Webb really struggled in 1-on-1 drills, losing all but one matchup. Several times he was beat badly, even to the inside on slant routes, which is something a cornerback never wants to allow in the red zone. On one matchup, Webb was flagged for illegal contact against WR Chris Boyd, and Boyd caught the ball for a touchdown anyway.
WR Dez Bryant, WR Terrance Williams and WR Dwayne Harris each won their 1-on-1 battle against a cornerback to start drills. That caused coach Jason Garrett to say, “3-0, offense. It’s a bludgeoning.”
Rookie CB Terrance Mitchell used his physical play to keep WR Dez Bryant from catching a pass inside in a 1-on-1 drill. Later, Mitchell gave up a touchdown catch to WR Terrance Williams.
WR Chris Boyd made a nice one-handed catch in the end zone for a touchdown against CB Terrance Mitchell.
WR Dezmon Bricoe had two touchdowns in 1-on-1 work, including one in which he caught the ball after CB Tyler Patmon deflected into the air. Afterward, WR Dez Bryant yelled at him, “Nice [expletive], man. Keep your eyes on it.”
Rookie CB Terrance Mitchell injured WR Dwayne Harris late in 1-on-1 drills. Harris appeared to sprain his left ankle as Mitchell came down on his leg at the goal line trying to defend a pass inside. WR Dez Bryant yelled at Mitchell after the play, “You got to stop doing that.”
K Dan Bailey was 5-for-6 on field goal attempts, missing his first attempt from 39 yards out. The ball went wide right.
As the offense huddled for a field-goal attempt, special teams coach Rich Bisaccia yelled at OT John Wetzel, “Hurry up, 61. Get your [expletive] in the huddle.”
After a punt, coach Jason Garrett threw the ball back toward the offense. A fan yelled at Garrett, “You still got it buddy.” Garrett turned toward the fan and said something to him and smiled.
In 7-on-7 drills, WR Dez Bryant beat S J.J. Wilcox and caught a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone.
QB Tony Romo threw a pass away through the end zone on the right side in 7-on-7 drills, and he immediately turned to his left and yelled at TE Gavin Escobar.
DE Jeremy Mincey blew past OG Mackenzy Bernadeau in 1-on-1 drills. Bernadeau recovered, however, and held off DT Davon Coleman in a 1-on-1 drills with the entire team circled around them.
In the other 1-on-1 drill with the team surrounding the players, TE Gavin Escobar showed his good hands by catching a pass against S J.J. Wilcox.
Former Los Angeles Rams and USC head coach John Robinson was at practice Thursday. Also, Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford – Tony Romo’s brother-in-law – attended practice. … Follow Brandon George on Twitter at @DMN_George.