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Todd Archer's training camp observations - Practice 19
Todd Archer / Reporter
** Players were in helmets and jerseys for the morning session. Maybe that will change in the afternoon with a short practice on Friday before the team's return to Dallas and nothing scheduled Saturday before the flight to Canton, Ohio.
** The special teams' portion of practice focused on situations, like onside kicks as the recovering team and kicking team, having a holder for kickoffs because of poor conditions, punting after a safety, taking a safety by punter Mat McBriar killing time running around the end zone. Wide receiver Sam Hurd even took a snap at punter and ran back through the end zone for a safety.
** David Buehler made all five of his field goal attempts and he is now 33 of 38. As part of the situational play, they simulated a poor snap to lead to a "fire" call and players running routes. Patrick Crayton took his first team snaps as a holder in camp.
** Safety Mike Hamlin had a pick of a Tony Romo deep ball during seven on seven drills. Romo forced the ball down the middle of the field to Kevin Ogletree, but Hamlin was in perfect position to make the pick while jumping for the pass.
** Subtlety is part of Jason Witten's game. Working on Jason Williams down the field he waited until he got a half step behind Williams so the linebacker could not feel him before breaking outside for an easy throw from Romo. He put another head-and-shoulder fake on Barry Church for a catch on a corner route.
** It's hard to judge line play without full pads and full speed but the fronts did a better job of picking up the blitzes during the session. Saw only one sack allowed.
** Anthony Spencer had extra protection on his right heel after suffering a bruised Achilles on Tuesday. He had the back of his cleat cut out and replaced by a large piece of foam. He should be able to play Sunday if the coaches want to use him against the Bengals.
** Cornerback Terence Newman came up with an interception of a Stephen McGee pass that went through Lonyae Miller's hands and returned it for a touchdown. Newman even did a little touchdown dance to the delight of the crowd in the end zone.
** Safety Alan Ball nearly came down with an acrobatic interception of a deep throw to Jon Kitna. He could not hold on to the ball as he dove and to make matters worse he landed on top of the ball giving him some pain.
** Running back Marion Barber had two drops in the morning. He could not hold on to a checkdown or a swing pass from Romo. On a wheel route, linebacker Leon Williams did a great job of running stride for stride with Barber, forcing an overthrow.
** Funny scene to start practice while the offense ran plays on-air: On Wednesday, Jon Kitna hurt his left finger after a snap, so on Thursday the entire first-team offense acted as if they were in great pain - Doug Free fell to the ground, Marc Colombo screamed as he held his hand - after a snap. When Kitna got his rep, he turned and fired the ball good naturedly at Romo before heading to the end zone.
** This will be my final observation deck from the Alamodome since I'm heading to Cleveland for the Hall of Fame ceremony this weekend. Thanks for tuning in.
Todd Archer / Reporter
** Players were in helmets and jerseys for the morning session. Maybe that will change in the afternoon with a short practice on Friday before the team's return to Dallas and nothing scheduled Saturday before the flight to Canton, Ohio.
** The special teams' portion of practice focused on situations, like onside kicks as the recovering team and kicking team, having a holder for kickoffs because of poor conditions, punting after a safety, taking a safety by punter Mat McBriar killing time running around the end zone. Wide receiver Sam Hurd even took a snap at punter and ran back through the end zone for a safety.
** David Buehler made all five of his field goal attempts and he is now 33 of 38. As part of the situational play, they simulated a poor snap to lead to a "fire" call and players running routes. Patrick Crayton took his first team snaps as a holder in camp.
** Safety Mike Hamlin had a pick of a Tony Romo deep ball during seven on seven drills. Romo forced the ball down the middle of the field to Kevin Ogletree, but Hamlin was in perfect position to make the pick while jumping for the pass.
** Subtlety is part of Jason Witten's game. Working on Jason Williams down the field he waited until he got a half step behind Williams so the linebacker could not feel him before breaking outside for an easy throw from Romo. He put another head-and-shoulder fake on Barry Church for a catch on a corner route.
** It's hard to judge line play without full pads and full speed but the fronts did a better job of picking up the blitzes during the session. Saw only one sack allowed.
** Anthony Spencer had extra protection on his right heel after suffering a bruised Achilles on Tuesday. He had the back of his cleat cut out and replaced by a large piece of foam. He should be able to play Sunday if the coaches want to use him against the Bengals.
** Cornerback Terence Newman came up with an interception of a Stephen McGee pass that went through Lonyae Miller's hands and returned it for a touchdown. Newman even did a little touchdown dance to the delight of the crowd in the end zone.
** Safety Alan Ball nearly came down with an acrobatic interception of a deep throw to Jon Kitna. He could not hold on to the ball as he dove and to make matters worse he landed on top of the ball giving him some pain.
** Running back Marion Barber had two drops in the morning. He could not hold on to a checkdown or a swing pass from Romo. On a wheel route, linebacker Leon Williams did a great job of running stride for stride with Barber, forcing an overthrow.
** Funny scene to start practice while the offense ran plays on-air: On Wednesday, Jon Kitna hurt his left finger after a snap, so on Thursday the entire first-team offense acted as if they were in great pain - Doug Free fell to the ground, Marc Colombo screamed as he held his hand - after a snap. When Kitna got his rep, he turned and fired the ball good naturedly at Romo before heading to the end zone.
** This will be my final observation deck from the Alamodome since I'm heading to Cleveland for the Hall of Fame ceremony this weekend. Thanks for tuning in.