A few observations for Saturday evening:
- Each day I have been trying to find a receiver other than Miles Austin and Bryant who can take a positive practice one day, then build on that for the next. The one receiver that is putting good practices back to back has been Raymond Radway. I really believed that Andre Holmes was going to be that guy when camp started but because of the failed conditioning test, he has been playing catch up the last two practices. Radway did something in the practice that Holmes was not able to do and that was go and get the ball at its highest point. In Friday's practice, Holmes took his route up the sideline, but as the ball was in the air, he didn't extend to make the catch. Instead, he tried to make a body catch but the corner was able to knock it away. Radway working in the red zone, ran a pretty route to the corner which Kyle Orton was able to read as well. Orton threw the ball in the perfect spot and Radway went to go get it for the score. Holmes and Radway both have the size to make those kinds of adjusting catches it's just Holmes needs to do it more often.
- Thought that cornerback Brandon Carr did a much better job of handling receivers across the middle of the field during practice. There were times early in camp when there was separation and he wasn't able to drive quick enough or show the burst to make the play. In the one-on-one, Dez Bryant carried Carr inside and he was in outstanding position throughout the route, there was no window for Romo to fit the ball in and Carr was able to knock the pass away.
- Watching the one on one pass rush drills, have been a little surprised that outside linebacker Kyle Wilber has not shown as much pass rush moves or quickness as Adrian Hamilton. Wilber has not been able to sharpen the edge or get the corner like Hamilton has but Saturday was a much better day. Wilber for the first time in this camp showed some quickness off the edge. In his previous practices it was like he was playing in sand. In team period he was able to work around Pat McQuistan on an explosive up-field move where McQuistan was left in his stance.
- The offensive line situation has been a mess but the one thing it has allowed is for some of the young guys to line up at different positions. Jason Garrett spoke of carrying seven offensive linemen to the game each week, which would mean that two or three extra guys could make the team. The guys that haven't moved positions have been starters Phil Costa, Tyron Smith Doug Free and Nate Livings, but all the other linemen have either take reps at center, guard or tackle. David Arkin has played both guards and center, Pat McQuistan has played guard and tackle, Jermey Parnell has played both tackle spots and Levy Adcock has played guard and tackle. The club signed Derrick Dockery and Daniel Loper to try and provide a little depth and some possible help. In talking to some front office members on the field, don't look for any more help to arrive anytime soon. I brought up a couple of different names for the line and didn't get any positive answers. They are going to roll with what they have and hope that Livings and Bernadeau will be back soon.
- As much as I was sorry to see Phillip Tanner miss some time with a broken bone in his right hand, I was happy to see Lance Dunbar and Ed Wesley would be getting more work, but now Dunbar has a hamstring injury and will be missing some days, so the team is really light in this area. Felix Jones worked back into practice and has looked quick and physical with the ball in his hands. Jones has carried the ball inside and was bouncing off defenders, so his shoulder looked fine. DeMarco Murray looks to be in outstanding shape and to his credit has improved on his pass protection from last season, where I thought he was pretty solid. There was some talk from Stephen Jones that the club may be looking to add a running back to the mix to help with the depth, but until then, I like to see the work that Jones and Wesley have been receiving.
