Cowboys camp report: Day 7
A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Dallas Cowboys training camp:
Tony Romo returned to practice after sitting out on Tuesday and completed 12 of 18 passes in team and 7-on-7 drills. He was intercepted by cornerback Morris Claiborne, who did a nice job of going up for a slightly underthrown deep ball to wide receiver Terrance Williams. Romo and Dez Bryant had some difficulty connecting, with Bryant dropping a would-be touchdown pass in 7-on-7s. Later, Bryant was shallow with a route in the end zone with the throw just out of his grasp, and Romo overthrew Bryant on a double-move in the end zone. In team drills, however, they ended the drive with a back-shoulder touchdown where Bryant out-muscled Sterling Moore. Romo and Jason Witten continued what has been a near decade-long connection. Romo led Witten down the seam for a touchdown over Justin Durant, and he was able to lead Witten for a nice gain just out of the reach of a linebacker.
Every day the Cowboys go through drills to work on ball security or taking the ball away. For the offense, the running backs, receivers and tight ends had to run through a gauntlet of coaches, equipment managers and interns swinging bags or gloves at them through a 10-yard stretch. Only one player fumbled in the drill.
Running back Lance Dunbar could be a real mismatch player if he can stay healthy. He had a big gain on a swing pass to the flat and scored a touchdown on a little arrow route out of the backfield, breaking free from rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens with nothing but open space down the middle of the field in 7-on-7s.
Brandon Weeden’s prettiest throw of the day was his first throw of the practice. In play-action drills, Weeden was able to arc a pass over linebacker Rolando McClain and before the defensive back, allowing tight end James Hanna to come up with the long completion. In red-zone drills, however, Weeden was not as fortunate. His check down to Hanna was late and inside and fell incomplete, setting up a field goal.
Assistant coach Derek Dooley came out firing on his receivers. Unhappy at their effort early in drills, Dooley let loose with some fastballs in short-area drills along the sideline. He barked, “Get some energy and I won’t act like this.” The backup receivers came through. L'Damian Washington made a nice diving catch on a deep ball in one-on-one drills. LaRon Byrd caught two touchdown passes in red-zone drills. Jamar Newsome did a nice job in punt coverage, splitting a double team as a gunner.
