OXNARD, Calif. - Andre Holmes used his entire 6-5 frame, stretched out and brought down a catch to score Thursday afternoon. It's the kind of play a former undrafted free agent needs to make in a competition for a third wide receiver spot.
"I know I'm going to make those plays all the time," Holmes said. "I was just a little more fired up today. That's what I'm going to be doing every day. I'm not going to miss those plays."
On a day when talk of 6-6 free agent receiver Plaxico Burress was the talk of camp, the jump ball touchdown epitomized what the Cowboys want the Hillsdale product to do consistently. Holmes followed it with a diving catch on a throw from Kyle Orton just minutes later.
Holmes said Cowboys coaches don't single him out as a primary red zone target, but he's the only Cowboys receiver listed taller than 6-foot-3.
It appeared to be Holmes' best day of training camp, and he said it's the best he's felt since arriving in Oxnard. He's put the failed conditioning test behind him and said he's increased his focus.
"I'm just coming out ready to play," Holmes said. "I'm excited to go watch film."
Another standout in the two-minute drill was tight end James Hanna, who caught multiple passes, including a touchdown grab from Orton.
Hanna said he understands the system better every day. He said he's still trying to get comfortable with the playbook the way veterans like Tony Romo and Jason Witten know it.
"I caught a couple more balls today, but who knows if that's coincidental or what not," Hanna said. "I'm out here trying to do my best, and when the ball comes my way I'm going to do what I can with it."
