By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
7:17 PM on Sat., Aug. 6, 2011 | Permalink
OBSERVATION DECK:
Here's what I saw from the ninth Cowboys training camp practice Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio:
• Starting RB Felix Jones had his best practice yet. He caught a screen pass and darted down the left sideline for a big gain. Later, Jones took a handoff and broke into the secondary quickly, faking out safety Gerald Sensabaugh to get to the sideline. He then cut back toward the middle of the field, eluding safety Abram Elam for a long touchdown run.
• In wide receiver drills, rookie Dwayne Harris, Jesse Holley and undrafted rookie free agent Tysson Poots each had drops.
• The Cowboys struggled executing their trick plays. On a flea-flicker, QB Tony Romo's pass came up well short to WR Dez Bryant, who never turned around for the football. Rookie WR Dwayne Harris' reverse was stopped for a loss by DE Jason Hatcher. Later, Hatcher would have sacked Romo.
• Safety Abram Elam intercepted two poorly thrown Tony Romo passes in team drills. On the first, Romo overthrew TE Jason Witten. Elam got one hand on the football and as it twisted in the air, grabbed it with both hands along the sideline. Romo then overthrew WR Dez Bryant, and Elam picked off the pass just before it hit the field. Elam also broke up a pass to WR Dwayne Harris in the middle of the field by hitting him from behind as the ball arrived.
• Two other Cowboys defensive backs had good plays. Safety Barry Church stopped a running back for a loss and CB Orlando Scandrick stepped in front of WR Raymond Radway to tip away a pass.
• LB Victor Butler recorded another good practice Saturday. Early in team drills, he jumped at the line of scrimmage to tip away a pass from Stephen McGee. He then beat rookie OT Tyron Smith badly for a would-be sack of McGee. Later, he drove inside off the snap to stop RB Lonyae Miller for a loss.
• QB Tony Romo's grandparents attended practice Saturday afternoon. One wore a white "GRANDPA" No. 9 Romo jersey and the other wore a blue "GRANDMA" No. 9 Romo jersey. They signed some autographs, posed for a few photos and set in chairs not far from the sideline. Romo struggled with his accuracy Saturday, a rough day for the offense.
• Rookie FB Shaun Chapas had a long gain on a catch near the right sideline in which he was open.
• Undrafted rookie free agent LB Alex Albright (Boston College) was constantly in the backfield. Twice he would have sacked QB Stephen McGee after breaking through the line of scrimmage. He also stopped RB Frank Warren at the line of scrimmage on a run.
• Starting kicker David Buehler and undrafted rookie free agent Dan Bailey (Oklahoma State) each went 2-for-4 on field goal attempts. Buehler missed wide left on attempts from 48 and 42 yards. Bailey missed wide right on attempts from 53 and 48 yards. Buehler is now 23-of-34 in camp, and Bailey is 28-of-32 overall.
• In team drills, WR Kevin Ogletree dropped a pass that came in a little high and TE John Phillips dropped a pass down the right seam. WR Raymond Radway had a false start.
• LB Sean Lee continued his solid start to camp and would have sacked Jon Kitna.
• Late in team drills, WR Jesse Holley made a diving catch on a pass from Jon Kitna, who was rolling to his right after being forced from the pocket by pressure up the middle.
• WR Miles Austin dropped a pass in the left seam. Austin jumped to make the catch but didn't have to leave his feet.
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
7:17 PM on Sat., Aug. 6, 2011 | Permalink
OBSERVATION DECK:
Here's what I saw from the ninth Cowboys training camp practice Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio:
• Starting RB Felix Jones had his best practice yet. He caught a screen pass and darted down the left sideline for a big gain. Later, Jones took a handoff and broke into the secondary quickly, faking out safety Gerald Sensabaugh to get to the sideline. He then cut back toward the middle of the field, eluding safety Abram Elam for a long touchdown run.
• In wide receiver drills, rookie Dwayne Harris, Jesse Holley and undrafted rookie free agent Tysson Poots each had drops.
• The Cowboys struggled executing their trick plays. On a flea-flicker, QB Tony Romo's pass came up well short to WR Dez Bryant, who never turned around for the football. Rookie WR Dwayne Harris' reverse was stopped for a loss by DE Jason Hatcher. Later, Hatcher would have sacked Romo.
• Safety Abram Elam intercepted two poorly thrown Tony Romo passes in team drills. On the first, Romo overthrew TE Jason Witten. Elam got one hand on the football and as it twisted in the air, grabbed it with both hands along the sideline. Romo then overthrew WR Dez Bryant, and Elam picked off the pass just before it hit the field. Elam also broke up a pass to WR Dwayne Harris in the middle of the field by hitting him from behind as the ball arrived.
• Two other Cowboys defensive backs had good plays. Safety Barry Church stopped a running back for a loss and CB Orlando Scandrick stepped in front of WR Raymond Radway to tip away a pass.
• LB Victor Butler recorded another good practice Saturday. Early in team drills, he jumped at the line of scrimmage to tip away a pass from Stephen McGee. He then beat rookie OT Tyron Smith badly for a would-be sack of McGee. Later, he drove inside off the snap to stop RB Lonyae Miller for a loss.
• QB Tony Romo's grandparents attended practice Saturday afternoon. One wore a white "GRANDPA" No. 9 Romo jersey and the other wore a blue "GRANDMA" No. 9 Romo jersey. They signed some autographs, posed for a few photos and set in chairs not far from the sideline. Romo struggled with his accuracy Saturday, a rough day for the offense.
• Rookie FB Shaun Chapas had a long gain on a catch near the right sideline in which he was open.
• Undrafted rookie free agent LB Alex Albright (Boston College) was constantly in the backfield. Twice he would have sacked QB Stephen McGee after breaking through the line of scrimmage. He also stopped RB Frank Warren at the line of scrimmage on a run.
• Starting kicker David Buehler and undrafted rookie free agent Dan Bailey (Oklahoma State) each went 2-for-4 on field goal attempts. Buehler missed wide left on attempts from 48 and 42 yards. Bailey missed wide right on attempts from 53 and 48 yards. Buehler is now 23-of-34 in camp, and Bailey is 28-of-32 overall.
• In team drills, WR Kevin Ogletree dropped a pass that came in a little high and TE John Phillips dropped a pass down the right seam. WR Raymond Radway had a false start.
• LB Sean Lee continued his solid start to camp and would have sacked Jon Kitna.
• Late in team drills, WR Jesse Holley made a diving catch on a pass from Jon Kitna, who was rolling to his right after being forced from the pocket by pressure up the middle.
• WR Miles Austin dropped a pass in the left seam. Austin jumped to make the catch but didn't have to leave his feet.