Day 2 observations from Dallas Cowboys training camp practices: DE DeMarcus Ware has big day as defense dominates offense
By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com
10:11 pm on July 22, 2013 |
DALLAS COWBOYS OBSERVATION DECK:
Here’s what stood out from Day 2 of Dallas Cowboys’ training camp practices Monday in Oxnard, Calif.:
– The crowd size on Day 2 of Cowboys practice was only a third of what it was on Day 1 with 2,331 fans.
– For the second consecutive practice, CB Brandon Carr was beat in coverage on the first play of team drills in the afternoon practice. On Day 1, WR Dez Bryant beat Carr and on Monday, it was Austin who beat Carr across the field for a big gain.
– DE DeMarcus Ware continues to be really active. He had two would-be sacks of Tony Romo in team drills and has looked quick the first two days of practices.
– On the flip side, LT Tyron Smith struggled Monday. Ware beat him twice for sacks and Smith also had a false start in team drills.
– Early in team drills, new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was fired up as he yelled, “We need 11 guys to the ball.”
– RB Phillip Tanner made a good cut back up the middle and showed great burst for a big gain into the open field.
– Cowboys reserves DT Nick Hayden, LB Ernie Sims and DT Jerome Long each stuffed a running back at the line of scrimmage on three consecutive plays in team drills that would have went for no gain. RB Phillip Tanner was stopped the first time and then RB Lance Dunbar was stopped on back-to-back attempts.
– Safety Will Allen showed great hands and concentration to intercept a deep pass from Tony Romo to WR Miles Austin.Austinreached high to grab the football but it deflected off his hands and into the hands of Allen, who made a nice return.
– Rookie WR Terrance Williams has struggled the first two practices of his first NFL training camp. He dropped a pass in the open field from Tony Romo after getting free from CB Morris Claiborne. After the drop, TE Jason Witten yelled, “Damn it, 83! Come on!”
– Witten then led by example, beating coverage in the middle of the field to make a catch for a long gain on the right side on a deep pass from Tony Romo.
– CB Sterling Moore was flagged for defensive holding when he grabbed the arm of WR Cole Beasley from behind as he crossed the field.
– New special teams coach Rich Bisaccia has the same fire as previous special teams coach Joe DeCamillis. He dropped some colorful language as he screamed at RB Lance Dunbar on a kickoff return drill to “run the ball right.”
– During 7-on-7 drills, Tono Romo threw a pass behind TE Jason Witten, who was well-covered in the middle of the field.
– WR Dez Bryant took advantage of a mismatch in 7-on-7 drills against CB Sterling Moore for a big gain on a pass from Tony Romo.
– TE Colin Cochart dropped a pass in the right flat from QB Alex Tanney during 7-on-7 drills after the quarterback banked the pass off of the side of the yard marker.
– On one of DeMarcus Ware’s sacks in team drills, safety Barry Church had good coverage against WR Miles Austin as he crossed the field. That caused secondary coach Jerome Henderson to laud Church.
– WR Cole Beasley dropped a short pass on the left side from Tony Romo with CB Sterling Moore in tight coverage in team drills.
– After a standout practice on Day 1, RB Lance Dunbar struggled on Day 2. He was stuffed on back-to-back running plays for no gain and also dropped a screen pass in the right flat.
– In team drills, rookie center Travis Frederick didn’t snap the football as all the other offensive linemen left the line of scrimmage for a false start penalty.
– TE Dante Rosario never turned for a pass to the left flat from backup QB Kyle Orton and kept running up field as the pass sailed toward the sideline.
– LB Bruce Carter had a would-be sack of Tony Romo late in team drills.
– CB Morris Claiborne had a pass breakup against rookie WR Terrance Williams on a short pass to the right side that eventually hit Williams’ hands after contact between the two players.
– A pass intended for WR Dez Bryant along the sideline was caught by secondary coach Jerome Henderson, who raced down the sideline toward the end zone. CB Sterling Moore had tight coverage on Bryant.
– Center Phil Costa had a bad snap to QB Kyle Orton that hit the ground.
– A deflected pass from QB Alex Tanney at the line of scrimmage wobbled over the middle of the field but was still caught by rookie RB Joseph Randle.
– LB Taylor Reed had a would-be sack of QB Alex Tanney late in team drills.
– WR Tim Benford made a sliding catch over the middle of the field on a pass from QB Alex Tanney.
– After LT Tyron Smith’s false start late in team drills, coach Jason Garrett took out the entire first-team offense instead of just replacing Smith.
– WR Tim Benford fell down on his route to the right side as his feet became tangled with the feet of CB Sterling Moore.Moorebroke toward the football but couldn’t make the interception, causing secondary coach Jerome Henderson to yell, “come on, house that one.”
– Late in team drills, DL Ben Bass had a would-be sack of QB Nick Stephens.
– RT Jermey Parnell had a false start in a team take-off drill against air, and coach Jason Garrett had the players repeat the drill.
– During the early portion of the afternoon practice, DT Nick Hayden intercepted a pass from QB Nick Stephens after knocking the ball up in the air.
– Rookie center Travis Frederick took a few snaps at left guard during the early part of the afternoon practice.
– During the early portion of team drills, DT Ikponmwosa Igbinosun had a would-be sack of QB Nick Stephens.
– In the morning walk-through, coach Jason Garrett had the Cowboys line up again on offense, yelling, “You got to be able to know how to line up.”
– LB Bruce Carter and rookie safety J.J. Wilcox each had interceptions during the walk-through portion.
– New defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin made his unit repeat a play, yelling, “We can’t have busts like that.”
