A few thoughts on the second day of training camp:
- Ask Rob Ryan what defensive player to watch this camp, and he will tell you Jason Hatcher. I thought that Hatcher and Victor Butler were outstanding in the OTAs and minicamps. Hatcher has carried that over to camp here in Oxnard. Hatcher has been the early starter at right end and has shown a great deal of quickness off the ball. He had an outstanding swim move on Tyron Smith that got him in the backfield to stop DeMarco Murray for a loss. Keep an eye on Hatcher as this camp wears on.
- Depth in the offensive line is already being tested. Center Bill Nagy went down with an ankle injury yesterday in the Blue practice and Kevin Kowalski is no closer to being ready to return to practice with some bruising in his ankle. So Tuesday, rookie Harland Gunn moves up to run with the two's, and it's possible guard David Arkin gets a look at center in the walk-through
- Jason Garrett always talks about stacking good days this time of the year. I'll be interested if wide receivers Saalim Hakim and Tim Benford come out with the same type of practice they had Monday. These receivers and defensive backs did a ton of running in the first practice, so we will see if that effects them at all.
- Punters Chris Jones and Delbert Alvarado did nothing Monday to make the coaches and front office forget Mat McBriar. Jones started out slowly last season in camp, so maybe we will see him rebound in the next few days. With both punters, there was no consistency in the way they were punting, but I do know that the coaches have a great deal of confidence in Jones' ability.
- In the battle at inside linebacker, Bruce Carter was getting two reps to Dan Connor's one, but when the defense went to team drills, Connor was with the one's in 7–on–7, and then later in team. I have a feeling that in Tuesday's afternoon practice, Carter and Connor will flop spots. There were also some reps during team when Carter and Connor were on the field at the same time.
