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Dallas Cowboys to take a break from artifical surfaces
06:35 PM CDT on Friday, August 6, 2010
BY GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
SAN ANTONIO – To the delight of ankles, backs and knees, the Cowboys finished the Alamodome portion of training camp Friday with a light session.
The Cowboys had 21 practices in 14 days on the hard turf surface. The Cowboys are the lone NFL team to have a significant portion of training camp practices on turf.
The club has scheduled 17 of the next 18 practices on grass fields at Valley Ranch and Oxnard, Calif. The only non-grass practice in that span will be on Tuesday, when the club will work out at Cowboys Stadium with the public invited. That practice starts at 5:30 p.m.
Players favored the move from turf to grass.
"We're a fast team on turf, but we do have to give our knees and ankles a rest on grass," wide receiver Roy Williams said. "It'll be good for us to get a chance to get off this surface and get outside."
Practicing inside allowed the Cowboys to get more accomplished than they would if working outdoors in the searing summer heat of Texas. The players are nonetheless ready to move away from turf.
"Absolutely, especially the linemen," tight end Jason Witten said. "If gives you a chance to avoid the aches a bit. This is a good surface, and it stays cool inside. But the joints feel it."
The Cowboys had eight players miss time because of injuries incurred during this portion of camp. Seven of the injuries were related to the legs.
"Getting outside and off the turf will be a change," coach Wade Phillips said. "But we had good practices here. We usually do when we go indoors at home."
Bennett doubtful for Bengals: Tight end Martellus Bennett worked with the first-team offense during the light morning practice, but he is unlikely to play in Sunday's Hall of Fame exhibition game against Cincinnati at Canton, Ohio.
Bennett missed the first nine practices because of a sprained ankle incurred during an unsupervised workout before camp opened. He participated in the next 12 practices but has had problems moving.
By practicing, Bennett has been unable to give the ankle more time for healing. He likely will get the break this weekend. Phillips said that by not using Bennett, he would have almost four full days off before the next practice.
"I'm still thinking about holding him out," Phillips said. "But he wants to play."
Briefly: Offensive tackle Alex Barron (dislocated left pinky finger) participated in practice and will be able to play against Cincinnati. ... Some items of note from the special-teams portion of practice: Wide receiver Manny Johnson will get a chance to show what he can do as a tackler. He was on the second kickoff and punt coverage teams. Johnson would be a "gunner," on the outside of punt coverage. Cornerback Teddy Williams, the sprinter who has not played football since high school, is listed as Johnson's partner as a "gunner." ... Phillips said the team finished this portion of camp on schedule. Red-zone offense, a weakness last season, was the most stressed element during the two-week stay. ... David Buehler finished the indoor part of camp at 33-of-38 on field-goal tries during the team portion of practices. Two of the misses came from more than 50 yards.
06:35 PM CDT on Friday, August 6, 2010
BY GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
SAN ANTONIO – To the delight of ankles, backs and knees, the Cowboys finished the Alamodome portion of training camp Friday with a light session.
The Cowboys had 21 practices in 14 days on the hard turf surface. The Cowboys are the lone NFL team to have a significant portion of training camp practices on turf.
The club has scheduled 17 of the next 18 practices on grass fields at Valley Ranch and Oxnard, Calif. The only non-grass practice in that span will be on Tuesday, when the club will work out at Cowboys Stadium with the public invited. That practice starts at 5:30 p.m.
Players favored the move from turf to grass.
"We're a fast team on turf, but we do have to give our knees and ankles a rest on grass," wide receiver Roy Williams said. "It'll be good for us to get a chance to get off this surface and get outside."
Practicing inside allowed the Cowboys to get more accomplished than they would if working outdoors in the searing summer heat of Texas. The players are nonetheless ready to move away from turf.
"Absolutely, especially the linemen," tight end Jason Witten said. "If gives you a chance to avoid the aches a bit. This is a good surface, and it stays cool inside. But the joints feel it."
The Cowboys had eight players miss time because of injuries incurred during this portion of camp. Seven of the injuries were related to the legs.
"Getting outside and off the turf will be a change," coach Wade Phillips said. "But we had good practices here. We usually do when we go indoors at home."
Bennett doubtful for Bengals: Tight end Martellus Bennett worked with the first-team offense during the light morning practice, but he is unlikely to play in Sunday's Hall of Fame exhibition game against Cincinnati at Canton, Ohio.
Bennett missed the first nine practices because of a sprained ankle incurred during an unsupervised workout before camp opened. He participated in the next 12 practices but has had problems moving.
By practicing, Bennett has been unable to give the ankle more time for healing. He likely will get the break this weekend. Phillips said that by not using Bennett, he would have almost four full days off before the next practice.
"I'm still thinking about holding him out," Phillips said. "But he wants to play."
Briefly: Offensive tackle Alex Barron (dislocated left pinky finger) participated in practice and will be able to play against Cincinnati. ... Some items of note from the special-teams portion of practice: Wide receiver Manny Johnson will get a chance to show what he can do as a tackler. He was on the second kickoff and punt coverage teams. Johnson would be a "gunner," on the outside of punt coverage. Cornerback Teddy Williams, the sprinter who has not played football since high school, is listed as Johnson's partner as a "gunner." ... Phillips said the team finished this portion of camp on schedule. Red-zone offense, a weakness last season, was the most stressed element during the two-week stay. ... David Buehler finished the indoor part of camp at 33-of-38 on field-goal tries during the team portion of practices. Two of the misses came from more than 50 yards.