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Cowboys practice report: Day 12, Pt. 1
August, 5, 2010
By Calvin Watkins
SAN ANTONIO -- The ungodly sight of the rookie offensive linemen's haircuts didn't scare the media from covering practice on Thursday. In fact, the fans hardly noticed.
The morning session of the last two-a-day in the San Antonio portion of training camp was almost a walkthrough as the players worked in shells. Here are the highlights:
*Montrae Holland (hamstring), Dez Bryant (ankle), Pat Watkins (knee), Stephen Hodge (knee) and Sean Lissemore (groin) missed practice. Bryant won't return until the end of the preseason and Hodge might practice when the team gets to Oxnard, Calif. Watkins, Holland and Lissemore are progressing and their returns are uncertain. Anthony Spencer, who left Wednesday's practice with a bruised Achilles tendon, worked with hardly any issues.
*Kicker David Buehler went 4-for-4 on field goal tries. He made kicks from 28, 31, 34 and 29 yards. There was a fake field goal try from 35 yards and a fumbled snap when John Phillips as the backup long snapper couldn't get a clean snap to backup holder Patrick Crayton. Phillips did get a clean snap to Crayton as Buehler converted the 29 yarder.
*Kevin Ogletree is struggling right now. We've said it a few times, but Thursday there were some obvious issues with him. He made a nice one-handed catch near the sidelines and he held the ball up for all to see. However, Terence Newman (more on him later) snatched the ball from him and ran it back for a score. Ogletree was down by contact, but he still must protect the ball from defenders. In another instance, Ogletree made a catch over the middle but was stripped by Orlando Scandrick. When Ogletree got back to the offensive group, receivers coach Ray Sherman had a little "chat" with him.
*Newman has practiced well the last few days. We talk a lot about Mike Jenkins and how good he is, but Newman is having some nice moments. He was in the right position, closing in on the ball when Lonyae Miller let a pass slip through his hands. Newman picked off the pass and took it for a touchdown. Newman also just missed a breakup when a Stephen McGee pass sailed over his fingers.
*Alan Ball is doing good things in practice. As the deep safety he's reading the quarterback and trying to make the right decisions in terms of where the ball is going. He's coming up well in run support, but there are times he's late on the ball. Dave Campo seemed a little irked by him on one play. On a deep pass to Ogletree, Ball reacted late but still had a chance at the INT. The ball squirted through his hands for an incompletion.
*Things of note: Marc Colombo did a fine job on slowing down Steve Octavien on a pass rush, allowing Tony Romo to step up in the pocket and complete a pass to Sam Hurd. ... DeMarcus Ware ran down Hurd on an end around. It seemed as if Hurd had some space, but Ware chased him down for a loss on the play.
August, 5, 2010
By Calvin Watkins
SAN ANTONIO -- The ungodly sight of the rookie offensive linemen's haircuts didn't scare the media from covering practice on Thursday. In fact, the fans hardly noticed.
The morning session of the last two-a-day in the San Antonio portion of training camp was almost a walkthrough as the players worked in shells. Here are the highlights:
*Montrae Holland (hamstring), Dez Bryant (ankle), Pat Watkins (knee), Stephen Hodge (knee) and Sean Lissemore (groin) missed practice. Bryant won't return until the end of the preseason and Hodge might practice when the team gets to Oxnard, Calif. Watkins, Holland and Lissemore are progressing and their returns are uncertain. Anthony Spencer, who left Wednesday's practice with a bruised Achilles tendon, worked with hardly any issues.
*Kicker David Buehler went 4-for-4 on field goal tries. He made kicks from 28, 31, 34 and 29 yards. There was a fake field goal try from 35 yards and a fumbled snap when John Phillips as the backup long snapper couldn't get a clean snap to backup holder Patrick Crayton. Phillips did get a clean snap to Crayton as Buehler converted the 29 yarder.
*Kevin Ogletree is struggling right now. We've said it a few times, but Thursday there were some obvious issues with him. He made a nice one-handed catch near the sidelines and he held the ball up for all to see. However, Terence Newman (more on him later) snatched the ball from him and ran it back for a score. Ogletree was down by contact, but he still must protect the ball from defenders. In another instance, Ogletree made a catch over the middle but was stripped by Orlando Scandrick. When Ogletree got back to the offensive group, receivers coach Ray Sherman had a little "chat" with him.
*Newman has practiced well the last few days. We talk a lot about Mike Jenkins and how good he is, but Newman is having some nice moments. He was in the right position, closing in on the ball when Lonyae Miller let a pass slip through his hands. Newman picked off the pass and took it for a touchdown. Newman also just missed a breakup when a Stephen McGee pass sailed over his fingers.
*Alan Ball is doing good things in practice. As the deep safety he's reading the quarterback and trying to make the right decisions in terms of where the ball is going. He's coming up well in run support, but there are times he's late on the ball. Dave Campo seemed a little irked by him on one play. On a deep pass to Ogletree, Ball reacted late but still had a chance at the INT. The ball squirted through his hands for an incompletion.
*Things of note: Marc Colombo did a fine job on slowing down Steve Octavien on a pass rush, allowing Tony Romo to step up in the pocket and complete a pass to Sam Hurd. ... DeMarcus Ware ran down Hurd on an end around. It seemed as if Hurd had some space, but Ware chased him down for a loss on the play.