Day 3 observations from Dallas Cowboys training camp practice: Short form

Here’s what stood out from Day 3 of Dallas Cowboys’ training camp practices Tuesday in Oxnard, Calif.:



•           The Cowboys wore full pads in practice for the first time in three days of training camp practices. Players had to practice in knee and thigh pads, several for the first time since college, after an NFL rule change made them mandatory.

•           There were 1,972 fans in attendance Tuesday, bringing the three-day total to 10,917.

•           After the defense dominated Monday, the offense came back and had the better practice Tuesday.

•           The practice was particularly dominated by WR Dez Bryant. After missing a catch to start, he was phenomenal the rest of the way in 1-on-1 and team drills.

•           In 1-on-1 drills between receivers and cornerbacks, Bryant took second-year CB Morris Claiborne to school. He beat him four consecutive times for catches, including a head-first, diving grab.

•           In team drills, Bryant’s two best catches came late in the session. Bryant caught what would have been a touchdown pass over CB Brandon Carr and safety Barry Church on a seam route. Later, Bryant made a one-handed catch along the sideline against Carr, who had tight coverage against Bryant’s body that kept him from using two hands.

•           The offense didn’t start out smoothly in team drills early, having to re-huddle several times.

•           In 1-on-1 drills between receivers and cornerbacks, speedy WR Anthony Armstrong ran past rookie CB B.W. Webb on a go route. Webb was well behind Armstrong when he caught the pass. Later, Webb came back with a pass breakup against WR Tim Benford.

•           WR Tim Benford beat CB Devin Smith for a catch in 1-on-1 drills, and rookie WR Terrance Williams beat CB Sterling Moore for a deep catch.

•           Other than Bryant, undrafted WR Eric Rogers looked the best in 1-on-1 drills. He made several nice catches and has had three good days to start training camp. His best catch in the 1-on-1 drill was against rookie CB B.W. Webb.Rogerswent up to catch the pass with Webb draped all over him.Rogersalso made a juggling catch in team drills on a crossing route and followed that with a catch on a slant.

•           WR Anthony Amos dropped a pass in 1-on-1 drills after beating CB Xavier Brewer.

•           Safety Micah Pellerin was flagged for pass interference in 1-on-1 drills defending WR Jared Green.

•           Coach Jason Garrett was back to his quarterbacking ways Tuesday, throwing passes in a linebacker/defensive backs drill.

•           On the first play of team drills in the afternoon practice, DL Ben Bass – playing at defensive end with the first-team – was flagged for encroachment when he jumped too soon.

•           CB Sterling Moore played tight coverage on WR Dez Bryant early in team drills but could have been called for pass interference on an incomplete pass. Bryant yelled at the official on the sideline after he didn’t throw the penalty flag.

•           DE DeMarcus Ware was flagged for offsides in team drills. Earlier, he was dominant in 1-on-1 drills and continues to give LT Tyron Smith a hard time. Later in team drills, Ware wasn’t happy when TE Jason Witten wasn’t penalized for holding, yelling for a flag.

•           WR Miles Austin made a bobbling catch on a slant route in team drills.

•           WR Cole Beasley face-planted attempting to field a punt, missing the ball as it went past him.

•           Kicker Dan Bailey finally missed a field goal attempt. From about 40 yards, the attempt went wide right.

•           Two of the biggest hits on the first day of pads were delivered by safeties. Rookie J.J. Wilcox delivered a hard blow to RB Phillip Tanner on a run up the middle. Later, Barry Church popped WR Dez Bryant after he made a catch on a bubble screen.

•           For the second time in training camp, rookie center Travis Frederick and QB Tony Romo had a bad center-QB exchange on a snap.

•           LB Ernie Sims also had a hard hit in team drills against WR Tim Benford on a slant route in team drills.

•           WR Anthony Armstrong dropped a pass late in team drills along the left sideline while being defended by CB Brandon Underwood.

•           The Cowboys cut their morning walk-through practice short by 15 minutes and primarily just did special teams drills throughout the session.
Day 3 observations from Dallas Cowboys training camp practice: Short form Day 3 observations from Dallas Cowboys training camp practice: Short form Reviewed by Mr. DCStands4 on 8:36:00 AM Rating: 5

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