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News from Camp....
Erin Bolen
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 18, 2004, 1:02 p.m. (PDT)
What's The Scoop:
With only two practices and a walk-through left in Oxnard, the Cowboys spent Wednesday morning focusing on special teams drills. The team ran through every kicking play as well as every special situation they'd practiced so far in camp at least once. Special teams coach Bruce DeHaven spent the early part of practice on his portable microphone before turning the reins over to Parcells. After practice, DeHaven said that some of these scenarios, such as the free kick following a fair catch that he's never witnessed, hadn't taken place in several years, but that they had to be prepared for every situation because "if one happens, it'll win the game for you."
Quick Shots: Wednesday afternoon's practice has been moved to 2 p.m. (PDT).
The place-kickers were much improved Wednesday morning. Recent acquisition Matt Bryant was six-for-eight while incumbent Billy Cundiff was six-for-nine, including a missed free kick. The team also practiced a variety of fake field goals.
The Cowboys also made the offense practice how to take a safety from various yard lines. Once, with Tony Romo at quarterback and the ball on the five, Romo turned and threw the ball directly behind him, through the end zone and out of bounds. The ball ended up flying straight a fan, who quickly threw up his roster to protect his face from the incoming football.
Rookie running back Julius Jones had a nice day returning kickoffs except for one drop that occurred early in practice. Similarly, receiver Dedric Ward was also performing well until he fumbled a punt return.
Mike Wallace from CBS' 60 Minutes was at practice to tape an interview with Parcells. Wallace interviewed Parcells once before during his time in New York.
<LI>Gennaro DeNapoli is starting to do some resistance work without his protective boot. It was the first time at camp that the injured center has done anything other than basic conditioning and strength work to rehab the stress fracture in his right ankle.
You Should've Seen:
During one of the special situations drills Wednesday morning, Testaverde threw an apparent completion to Ward on the sideline. Instead of letting the play continue as he'd initially asked, Parcells said the play was under review. Testaverde started to reset the play, but Parcells told him to hold it and then pretended to be an official looking into the replay monitor, actually holding his hands up to simulate the protective covering. After about a minute, Parcells walked slowly back onto the field and announced that under further review, the play was indeed in bounds.
Who's Hot:
Right tackle Jacob Rogers spent all of Wednesday morning working with the first team offense. Parcells has been high on Rogers in his recent press conferences as well, saying that the only thing Rogers lacks is the "wherewithal to employ (his technique) consistently." Rogers is competing with Torrin Tucker for the starting job, and actually began camp working with the third team behind Javiar Collins, too. Who's Not:
Although DiNapoli did work a little without his protective boot, it's looking more and more like he might be placed on the physically unable to perform list. Parcells said DiNapoli isn't progressing as fast as he'd like, and that if he's not ready to play Aug. 30 against the Tennessee Titans, then there would be a good chance he'd be placed on PUP, which would cause him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.
BATTLE OF THE WEEK
Al Johnson vs Tyson Walter for starting C -- The common assumption going into training camp was that Johnson would take over at center. He was drafted in the second round last season to be the center of the future but suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Now healthy, he has supposed to finally take over. Walter, however, has been up to the challenge. He has followed up an impressive offseason with a strong training camp. The Cowboys rewarded his efforts by starting him with the first team in the preseason opener against the Texans.
OTHER BATTLE FRONTS
Jacob Rogers, Torrin Tucker and Javier Collins are battling at right tackle. Tucker seems to have the lead in the battle. He got the first start against the Texans in the preseason opener. However, his performance was less than sterling. Look for Rogers, who has made steady progress, to make a move up the chart this week. ... Pete Hunter, Jameel Powell and rookie Bruce Thornton at right corner. Hunter has the leg up because he is a three-year veteran. However, he has yet to distinguish himself. He didn't do anything spectacular in the passing game against the Texans and had trouble tackling in the game. Powell will get a longer look this week.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LB Dat Nguyen -- Last season Nguyen gained Parcells' respect as football player with a Pro Bowl worthy performance. Parcells, known to prefer bigger linebackers, was won over by Nguyen's ability to get the football and make plays. He called him a football playing dude. Apparently, Nguyen is still a football playing dude. Parcells said last week that Nguyen could play on any of his teams in any era, including the great Giants teams of the early 80's that included such notable linebackers at Pepper Johnson, Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. Parcells said Nguyen just makes plays.
ROOKIE REPORT
The signing of veteran running back Eddie George was supposed to allow the Cowboys to bring rookie second-round pick Julius Jones along slowly.
Jones' performance against the Texans, one of the few bright spots in the 18-0 loss, may force the Cowboys to rethink their plan.
Jones led the Cowboys in rushing with 57 yards on eight carries, including a long of 16 yards. He did this despite entering the game at tailback behind George and first-year man ReShard Lee.
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said playing against backups in the third and fourth quarter shouldn't take away from Jones' effort.
--The Cowboys have been hyping receiver Patrick Crayton's versatility ever since they made him a seventh round draft pick out of Northwest Oklahoma State.
On Saturday he showed why.
Crayton returned four punts for 52 yards, including a long of 26. He caught one pass for 26 yards. He had one carry on a reverse for six yards and he had a tackle on special teams.
--Cornerback Nate Jones, a little known seventh round pick, has been quietly having a good camp. So much so that he played with the first team in the dime defense. That is, when the Cowboys add two extra defensive backs on obvious passing downs, Jones came on the field along with regular nickel corner Donald Mitchell.
--Guard Steve Peterman didn't have a good showing against the Texans and gave up a bad sack.
Erin Bolen
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 18, 2004, 1:02 p.m. (PDT)
What's The Scoop:
With only two practices and a walk-through left in Oxnard, the Cowboys spent Wednesday morning focusing on special teams drills. The team ran through every kicking play as well as every special situation they'd practiced so far in camp at least once. Special teams coach Bruce DeHaven spent the early part of practice on his portable microphone before turning the reins over to Parcells. After practice, DeHaven said that some of these scenarios, such as the free kick following a fair catch that he's never witnessed, hadn't taken place in several years, but that they had to be prepared for every situation because "if one happens, it'll win the game for you."
Quick Shots: Wednesday afternoon's practice has been moved to 2 p.m. (PDT).
The place-kickers were much improved Wednesday morning. Recent acquisition Matt Bryant was six-for-eight while incumbent Billy Cundiff was six-for-nine, including a missed free kick. The team also practiced a variety of fake field goals.
The Cowboys also made the offense practice how to take a safety from various yard lines. Once, with Tony Romo at quarterback and the ball on the five, Romo turned and threw the ball directly behind him, through the end zone and out of bounds. The ball ended up flying straight a fan, who quickly threw up his roster to protect his face from the incoming football.
Rookie running back Julius Jones had a nice day returning kickoffs except for one drop that occurred early in practice. Similarly, receiver Dedric Ward was also performing well until he fumbled a punt return.
Mike Wallace from CBS' 60 Minutes was at practice to tape an interview with Parcells. Wallace interviewed Parcells once before during his time in New York.
<LI>Gennaro DeNapoli is starting to do some resistance work without his protective boot. It was the first time at camp that the injured center has done anything other than basic conditioning and strength work to rehab the stress fracture in his right ankle.
You Should've Seen:
During one of the special situations drills Wednesday morning, Testaverde threw an apparent completion to Ward on the sideline. Instead of letting the play continue as he'd initially asked, Parcells said the play was under review. Testaverde started to reset the play, but Parcells told him to hold it and then pretended to be an official looking into the replay monitor, actually holding his hands up to simulate the protective covering. After about a minute, Parcells walked slowly back onto the field and announced that under further review, the play was indeed in bounds.
Who's Hot:
Right tackle Jacob Rogers spent all of Wednesday morning working with the first team offense. Parcells has been high on Rogers in his recent press conferences as well, saying that the only thing Rogers lacks is the "wherewithal to employ (his technique) consistently." Rogers is competing with Torrin Tucker for the starting job, and actually began camp working with the third team behind Javiar Collins, too. Who's Not:
Although DiNapoli did work a little without his protective boot, it's looking more and more like he might be placed on the physically unable to perform list. Parcells said DiNapoli isn't progressing as fast as he'd like, and that if he's not ready to play Aug. 30 against the Tennessee Titans, then there would be a good chance he'd be placed on PUP, which would cause him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.
BATTLE OF THE WEEK
Al Johnson vs Tyson Walter for starting C -- The common assumption going into training camp was that Johnson would take over at center. He was drafted in the second round last season to be the center of the future but suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Now healthy, he has supposed to finally take over. Walter, however, has been up to the challenge. He has followed up an impressive offseason with a strong training camp. The Cowboys rewarded his efforts by starting him with the first team in the preseason opener against the Texans.
OTHER BATTLE FRONTS
Jacob Rogers, Torrin Tucker and Javier Collins are battling at right tackle. Tucker seems to have the lead in the battle. He got the first start against the Texans in the preseason opener. However, his performance was less than sterling. Look for Rogers, who has made steady progress, to make a move up the chart this week. ... Pete Hunter, Jameel Powell and rookie Bruce Thornton at right corner. Hunter has the leg up because he is a three-year veteran. However, he has yet to distinguish himself. He didn't do anything spectacular in the passing game against the Texans and had trouble tackling in the game. Powell will get a longer look this week.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LB Dat Nguyen -- Last season Nguyen gained Parcells' respect as football player with a Pro Bowl worthy performance. Parcells, known to prefer bigger linebackers, was won over by Nguyen's ability to get the football and make plays. He called him a football playing dude. Apparently, Nguyen is still a football playing dude. Parcells said last week that Nguyen could play on any of his teams in any era, including the great Giants teams of the early 80's that included such notable linebackers at Pepper Johnson, Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. Parcells said Nguyen just makes plays.
ROOKIE REPORT
The signing of veteran running back Eddie George was supposed to allow the Cowboys to bring rookie second-round pick Julius Jones along slowly.
Jones' performance against the Texans, one of the few bright spots in the 18-0 loss, may force the Cowboys to rethink their plan.
Jones led the Cowboys in rushing with 57 yards on eight carries, including a long of 16 yards. He did this despite entering the game at tailback behind George and first-year man ReShard Lee.
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said playing against backups in the third and fourth quarter shouldn't take away from Jones' effort.
--The Cowboys have been hyping receiver Patrick Crayton's versatility ever since they made him a seventh round draft pick out of Northwest Oklahoma State.
On Saturday he showed why.
Crayton returned four punts for 52 yards, including a long of 26. He caught one pass for 26 yards. He had one carry on a reverse for six yards and he had a tackle on special teams.
--Cornerback Nate Jones, a little known seventh round pick, has been quietly having a good camp. So much so that he played with the first team in the dime defense. That is, when the Cowboys add two extra defensive backs on obvious passing downs, Jones came on the field along with regular nickel corner Donald Mitchell.
--Guard Steve Peterman didn't have a good showing against the Texans and gave up a bad sack.
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