August 11, 2007
Live from Valley Ranch I
We're not in San Antonio anymore, but we've got another week of training camp.
The Cowboys are out in the heat at Valley Ranch, and man, do I miss the AC in the Alamodome.
Follow the jump, refresh and repeat to read about all the interesting development of the first home practice of the season.
11:21 -- Rookies WR Isaiah Stanback and RB Alonzo Coleman are practicing for the first time this summer. Guys working out on the side: OLB Greg Ellis, FS Ken Hamlin, DE Jason Hatcher and CB Quincy Butler. Cowboys are in helmets and no pads.
11:23 -- Not sure if Brad Johnson is senile or what, but he's wearing long sleeves and sweatpants, as he did during minicamps and OTAs. ... They're just doing warm-up positional drills now. ... Rookie LT Doug Free just walked by without a limp. As reported by Todd Archer, Free's sprained MCL in his right knee is expected to keep him out two weeks.
11:26 -- There's a new VIP suite overlooking the practice fields out here. Cowboys PR director Rich Dalrymple is down here bragging about how nice it is, but he has yet to extend an invitation for us media types to watch practice in the new digs.
11:29 -- Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo are working with first-team O against the scout-team D. Will try to find out later whether the plan is for Adams and Colombo to play against the Broncos this week after sitting out the preseason opener.
11:31 -- Training camp signee Pete Lougheed is working at LT with the second team, leaving Pat McQuistan at RT. McQuistan will back up both tackle spots, but the coaches probably want to get him more work on the right side, where he hasn't played since his junior year of high school.
11:36 -- Concerned about computer overheating. Relocated to shade under tree in corner of field. Rapid-fire updates will be difficult. ... Scout-team O now working against first- and second-team D. Nothing too exciting. Pat Watkins remains the starting FS with Ken Hamlin out.
11:47 -- Working on kickoff coverage. Anthony Spencer is the only rookie out there with the first group. Rookies with second group included LB Blair Phillips, CB Alan Ball, FB Deon "Cricket" Anderson and FS Courtney Brown.
11:51 -- Isaiah Stanback made a diving catch after running his first full-speed route as a Cowboy. Maybe. Would need instant replay to make sure the ball didn't hit the ground before he cradled it with both arms. It looked like Tony Romo and Stanback weren't on the same page on the play. Romo led Stanback on a 15-yard crossing route. Stanback sat down in a soft spot in the zone, which is why he had to dive for the ball.
11:55 -- Forgot to mention that Tony Romo's first pass -- a quick out to T.O. -- was picked off by Nate Jones. For the fashion-minded football nuts out there, T.O. is sporting white spandex today.
11:59 -- Highlight of scout-team O's work was Richard Bartel putting nice touch on a TD pass to Mike Jefferson. The undfrafted rookies hooked up on a flag route against the second-team D, with Jefferson beating seventh-round FS Courtney Brown. ... About to get more special teams work.
12:05 -- As usual, DeMarcus Ware is working with LB coach Paul Pasqualoni on pass-rushing hand technique during special teams drills. Flozell Adams is over there, too, perhaps giving Ware some pointers from a Pro Bowl LT's perspective.
12:18 -- Highlight of scout-team O vs. starting D in red zone was Ware batting a Matt Moore pass in the air, allowing Marcus Spears to show off his hops with a leaping rebound/interception.
12:24 -- Pat McQuistan got reps at LT with second team in last series, with James Marten at RT. Looks like they're giving McQuistan equal work on both sides.
12:31 -- Practice over. Will have much more after media access period in locker room and Wade Phillips press conference. Laptop should stop smoking by then.
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