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Todd Archer's Cowboys camp observations: Practice 1
Posted at 6:50 PM on Sat., Jul. 24, 2010


**The first part of practice was dedicated to special teams and field goal protection and field goal block in particular. The guys in the block drill had to dive on a mat to knock down either a volleyball or soccer ball, while player had to scoop up a football and go in for a touchdowns.

** It took Joe DeCamillis all of a few minutes to stop the aforementioned drill and scream at the second-team unit for being too slow to get into position. The special teams coach has a way of grabbing the players' attention, let's just leave it at that.

** David Buehler made both of his field goal tries during the team portions of drills. They were from 20 and 23 yards. The other two attempts called for a simulated poor snap that left Mat McBriar throwing a pass and a long field goal try that was able to be returned.

** You know what the first team offensive line looks like. The second team line went like this, from left to right: Alex Barron, Montrae Holland, Travis Bright, Pat McQuistan and Robert Brewster. McQuistan's time as a tackle looks to be done. He worked the entire session at guard.

** Bum Phillips was on hand to watch practice and spent a good amount of time talking to Jerry Jones. Baylor coach Art Briles, whose daughter Jancy works in the team's PR department, was also in attendance.

** The biggest hand of the day went to wide receiver Jesse Holley. No, we kid. It only appeared that way because he jogged out to the field behind Tony Romo. Second loudest: Jason Witten. Third: DeMarcus Ware. Completely unofficial, of course.

** As he has done since being the coach, the Cowboys were not in pads on opening day but that doesn't take away from the intensity. The reps broke up this way: Tony Romo took 12 snaps in seven on seven and team. Jon Kitna took eight on each and Stephen McGee took four on seven on seven and three on team.

**Romo didn't take long to try and get things going with Miles Austin. The first pass was a deep ball to the Pro Bowl wide receiver, who was blanketed by Terence Newman. The ball was overthrown and almost looked like Austin was surprised the pass went his way.

** Wade Phillips mentioned after practice he thought the timing of the passing game was off on the first day and he was right. Not too extreme but just enough to throw off some completions. Romo's first completion of camp went to Jason Witten, sitting down between linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking. In fact, the linebackers sort of ran into each other on the play.

** Safeties Pat Watkins and Mike Hamlin had the plays of the day within three snaps on Romo throws. Looking for Austin deep again, Watkins used his 6-5 frame to leap and swat away the pass with his right hand. Then Hamlin showed excellent range when Romo attempted to bullet a throw between the corner and safety to Roy Williams on the sideline. Hamlin knocked the pass away after sprinting from the middle of the field. Hamlin had a good day, much like he did last year as a rookie early in camp.

** Not sure what this means, but the first seven throws Jon Kitna had Saturday were to his left, with one checkdown to the middle. Might be something to keep an eye on to see if he is making all of the reads.

** While the safeties came up with the pass breakups, outside linebackers Victor Butler and Anthony Spencer had the interceptions. Butler made an excellent leaping grab of a Romo throw to Witten over the middle. Spencer was in perfect position on a throw to the flat to John Phillips by Kitna.

** Hard to read much into the line play without pads. Marcus Spears said he checked in at 307 pounds. He expects to be down to 302 by the time the season starts because of all the work they do during camp.

**McGee's first two throws in seven on seven drills were broken up by Newman (deep cross to Terrell Hudgins) and James (check down to Chris Gronkowski).

** Dez Bryant was eager all day. He was the first on the field and the last to leave because he signed so many autographs. After a leaping grab of a Romo pass near the sideline, owner and GM Jerry Jones turned to the media and asked, "Did y'all get that?" We did, but I think in the season there might have been a replay challenge. I wasn't sure Bryant got both feet down. It was a great athletic play leaping over the defender to attempt to get inbounds.
 
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