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Dez Bryant's left-handed touchdown catch a thing of beauty
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- Since he arrived in 2010, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has made a lot of "no he didn't just do that" catches.
He added one to the highlight reel in team drills on Thursday, making the most ridiculous of one-handed catches while blanketed inside by Brandon Carr and outside by Byron Jones.
At the snap, Bryant lined up in between Cole Beasley and tight end Jason Witten, who was near the sideline. Witten did not run a route, hoping to clear space for Bryant in the end zone. It worked a little bit, but Jones dropped off Witten as Tony Romo was letting go of the pass. Romo put the ball only where Bryant could get it, but there is no way he expected Bryant to grab it only with his left hand for the score.
Or maybe he did.
"The biggest thing for Dez is taking 'batting practice,'" coach Jason Garrett said. "He's capable of making those plays that you're talking about, but just like with all our players you have to get steeped in the fundamentals. For him it's getting in the right stance, releasing off the line of scrimmage, running routes the right way, coming out of his breaks, attacking the football and just doing the basic fundamentals."
On to the observations:
• LB Sean Lee did not take part in team drills. Garrett said the veteran was "working through some things." Lee, who had minor offseason knee surgery, is doubtful to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. Orlando Scandrick (knee), who also didn't take part in team drills, is doubtful as well. Rookie DE Charles Tapper did not practice because of lower-back stiffness. Safety Jeff Heath left practice early to be evaluated for a concussion.
• RB Alfred Morris has worked hard in the passing game and he showed some nifty moves in open space after taking a checkdown from Romo, spinning away from LB Justin Durant for extra yards.
• RB Darren McFadden, who is on the non-football injury list while recovering from a broken elbow, caught passes off to the side for one of the first times in camp. The hope is McFadden is back for the final week of the preseason and ready to play in Week 1.
-• Both of Dak Prescott's incompletions came on screen attempts to RB Darius Jackson. DT Zach Wood appeared to deflect the first attempt and LB Derek Akunne kept the second attempt from getting to Jackson.
• Backup OT Chaz Green did a nice job handling the rip, pull, rip move DE Mike McAdoo tried to throw at him in the compete period. Green had a good punch, stayed strong with his base and was able to win the drill.
• If you're into these kinds of things, take Jackson and Rod Smith and the over for carries on Saturday against the Rams. Morris is the only other tailback scheduled to play against Los Angeles.
• Boston Stiverson is an offensive lineman by trade, but he showed some nice hands coming down with a deflected pass by DT Cedric Thornton. Stiverson even had some run after the catch. OK, it was like 3 yards.
• Rookie TE Rico Gathers had a tough start to routes-on-air drills. On his first attempt, he ran the wrong route. On the second route, he dropped the pass.
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- Since he arrived in 2010, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has made a lot of "no he didn't just do that" catches.
He added one to the highlight reel in team drills on Thursday, making the most ridiculous of one-handed catches while blanketed inside by Brandon Carr and outside by Byron Jones.
At the snap, Bryant lined up in between Cole Beasley and tight end Jason Witten, who was near the sideline. Witten did not run a route, hoping to clear space for Bryant in the end zone. It worked a little bit, but Jones dropped off Witten as Tony Romo was letting go of the pass. Romo put the ball only where Bryant could get it, but there is no way he expected Bryant to grab it only with his left hand for the score.
Or maybe he did.
"The biggest thing for Dez is taking 'batting practice,'" coach Jason Garrett said. "He's capable of making those plays that you're talking about, but just like with all our players you have to get steeped in the fundamentals. For him it's getting in the right stance, releasing off the line of scrimmage, running routes the right way, coming out of his breaks, attacking the football and just doing the basic fundamentals."
On to the observations:
• LB Sean Lee did not take part in team drills. Garrett said the veteran was "working through some things." Lee, who had minor offseason knee surgery, is doubtful to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. Orlando Scandrick (knee), who also didn't take part in team drills, is doubtful as well. Rookie DE Charles Tapper did not practice because of lower-back stiffness. Safety Jeff Heath left practice early to be evaluated for a concussion.
• RB Alfred Morris has worked hard in the passing game and he showed some nifty moves in open space after taking a checkdown from Romo, spinning away from LB Justin Durant for extra yards.
• RB Darren McFadden, who is on the non-football injury list while recovering from a broken elbow, caught passes off to the side for one of the first times in camp. The hope is McFadden is back for the final week of the preseason and ready to play in Week 1.
-• Both of Dak Prescott's incompletions came on screen attempts to RB Darius Jackson. DT Zach Wood appeared to deflect the first attempt and LB Derek Akunne kept the second attempt from getting to Jackson.
• Backup OT Chaz Green did a nice job handling the rip, pull, rip move DE Mike McAdoo tried to throw at him in the compete period. Green had a good punch, stayed strong with his base and was able to win the drill.
• If you're into these kinds of things, take Jackson and Rod Smith and the over for carries on Saturday against the Rams. Morris is the only other tailback scheduled to play against Los Angeles.
• Boston Stiverson is an offensive lineman by trade, but he showed some nice hands coming down with a deflected pass by DT Cedric Thornton. Stiverson even had some run after the catch. OK, it was like 3 yards.
• Rookie TE Rico Gathers had a tough start to routes-on-air drills. On his first attempt, he ran the wrong route. On the second route, he dropped the pass.