OXNARD, Calif. –The Cowboys continued their 2013 training camp Tuesday on the week of the Hall of Fame game. This year, Jason Garrett's new schedule gives even more time between the lighter morning walk-through and the afternoon practice.
Each night, DallasCowboys.com will feature the second practice of the day with the big news, the highs and lows and notable standouts.
Main Story:
The red zone and goal line issues that tormented the Cowboys' offense last season continue to be emphasized at camp this year.
The offense has done a better job of finding targets near the goal-line thus far, but on Tuesday, the first-team offense was stymied on four downs by the first-team defense on goal-line drills. Running back Joseph Randle made sure that wouldn't happen for the second group.
Randle scored two touchdowns on three goal line plays for the second team, while Gavin Escobar caught a touchdown pass on the other play.
"He did well," head coach Gary Brown said of Randle. "He got his pad level down, read the run the way it was supposed to be blocked, and he ran hard. So it was encouraging."
Brown said Randle's getting where he needs to be after missing the offseason. He demonstrated that Tuesday, pushing through defenders to cross the goal line while absorbing would-be tacklers on one of the runs.
Randle could earn himself goal line carries this year if he can continue to find the end zone with that aggression. While he was going against the second-team group, he ran with force and used his blockers well. Randle totaled 40 rushing touchdowns while at Oklahoma State.
"Every time I get in there, I'm just trying to score," Randle said. "The offensive line did a great job today."
The Cowboys elected to hold out DeMarco Murray from contact for that period. Phillip Tanner took his reps and was stuffed on the first down run. Escobar nearly scored on the last attempt on a throw from Tony Romo, who rolled to his right, but Escobar's back foot was out of bounds after he secured the catch.
Quick Hits:
- Head coach Jason Garrett said earlier in the day that he expected Romo to get one of the veteran off days for the afternoon period, but Romo was out on the field and practicing fully. The quarterback, who slid to avoid contact on one of the goal line drills, likely convinced the coaches to be on the field.
"With a guy like Romo, that's what we need to see – a guy that's out there working when he shouldn't be working and doing what he needs to do when he doesn't have to," said defensive end DeMarcus Ware.
- The Cowboys worked out four players, including three defensive linemen. Defensive end Toby Jackson seemed to draw some attention, but the Cowboys can't add anyone until they release another player.
- Ware continues to demonstrate that his injuries at the end of last season haven't carried over to 2013. Dwayne Harris had the ball in the backfield and tried to get to the corner on the sideline on an end around, but Ware tracked and yanked him down to make the tackle.
- Ernie Sims got work with the first group at linebacker with Durant sitting out. Guard Ronald Leary got work with the first-team yesterday, but today it was mostly David Arkin and Nate Livings. Leary will likely still figure into that starting mix. With Kowalski hurt, Arkin also got work with the second team.
- The wide receiver screen was a focal point of practice, with Miles Austin, Dwayne Harris and Terrance Williams all getting involved.
- A total of 2,272 fans attended Tuesday's practice, bringing the total for camp to 34,178.
Notable Standouts:
Edawn Coughman – The right tackle for the second-team offense, Coughman paved the way for two touchdown runs by Joseph Randle in the goal-line drills. Coughman is getting more reps with Jermey Parnell (hamstring) out of action for at least another week.
Goal-line LBs – The first-team defense had a nice showing on the goal-line drill. The four linebackers in that defense – Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, DeVonte Holloman and Alex Albright – all seemed to be active and around the ball in the three plays they held the offense from the 2. Justin Durant (veteran day) would've likely been in that rotation for Holloman.
Jared Green – The son of former Redskins standout cornerback Darrell Green, Jared had a few nice grabs in the team period, including a long pass from Kyle Orton that had Green weaving through defenders for about a 40-yard gain.
Injury Report:
Returned to Practice:
WR Cole Beasley (quad)
Left Practice:
G Kevin Kowalski (leg)
Missed Practice:
LB Justin Durant (rest)
DB Morris Claiborne (migraines)
WR Dez Bryant (quad soreness)
G Ray Dominguez (shoulder)
C/G Ryan Cook (back)
DT Landon Cohen (eye)
DE Cameron Sheffield (groin)
T Jermey Parnell (hamstring)
DE Anthony Spencer (knee)
WR Danny Coale (knee swelling)
DT Ikponmwosa Igbinosun (ankle)
TE James Hanna (hamstring)
DE Tyrone Crawford (Achilles)
DT Jay Ratliff (hamstring)
G Mackenzy Bernadeau (hamstring)
OT Demetress Bell (conditioning)
Transactions:
July 21 –Signed T Demetress Bell, QBAlex Tanneyand Lavasier Tuinei. Placed G Mackenzy Bernadeauand DT Jay Ratliff on the active/physically unable to perform list and placed the following players on the active/non-football injury list: T Demetress Bell, C/G Ryan Cook, LS Louis-Philippe Ladouceur, G Ronald Leary, G Nate Livingsand WR Lavasier Tuinei.
July 23 – C/G Ryan Cookpassed his physical and returned to practice.
July 24 –Released WR Lavasier Tuinei.*SignedDT Landon CohenandDE George Selvie*.
July 26 – G Nate Livingspassed his physical and returned to practice.
July 29 – LS Louis-Philippe Ladouceurand Ronald Learypassed their physicals and returned to practice. [embedded_ad]
Upcoming Schedule:
Wednesday, July 31
No practice
Thursday, August 1
10:30 a.m. (PDT) Walk-Thru
12:00 p.m. (PDT) Coach Garrett press conference
4:00 p.m. (PDT) Practice
Friday, August 2
10:30 a.m. (PDT) Walk-Thru
12:00 p.m. (PDT) Coach Garrett press conference
4:45 p.m. (PDT) Practice
