Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer 11y

Camp observations: Two-minute work brings out D

OXNARD, Calif. – Day 4 of Cowboys training camp brought the most competitive part of a practice with two-minute and final-minute situations.

The first-team offense had a drive end on an interception and a game-winning field goal by Dan Bailey. The second-team offense had its lone drive end on a pick by rookie cornerback B.W. Webb.

  • WR Dez Bryant was not pleased with the defense after LB Ernie Sims hit TE Dante Rosario so hard that the tight end’s helmet came off. Bryant screamed to the defense for all to hear, causing some defenders to yell back.

  • The defense got off to a 5-nil start in the one-on-one drills, as coach Jason Garrett was quick to let everybody know Brandon Carr threw off Bryant; Morris Claiborne stuffed Miles Austin; Sterling Moore did the same to Dwayne Harris, Devin Smith stayed with Terrance Williams and Anthony Armstrong had a drop.

  • Williams, the third-round pick, had the prettiest of routes later in the one-on-one period, with a perfect stutter-go-stop that gave him five yards of space from Smith for the easy catch.

  • G David Arkin still has trouble anchoring when he faces power moves. DE Ben Bass simply extended his arms and rocked Arkin back on their first rep in one-on-one pass-rush moves. G Kevin Kowalski did a nice job of stunting DT Jason Hatcher on his first rep.

  • After missing his first kick Tuesday, Bailey made all six Wednesday, ranging from 40 to 47 yards. He is 16 of 17 in camp.

  • Rookie P Spencer Barton handled all of the punts and was forced to kick into a pretty good wind. His first punt was knocked down after maybe 15 yards. Maybe. He had a hard time driving the ball into the breeze. With the wind, he was much better.

  • WR Dwayne Harris was a terrific punt returner by the end of last season and he was able to break free to the right on his one try Wednesday. Harris received a nice wall from his blockers that left him one on one with Barton.

  • S Barry Church missed all but three games last year because of an Achilles injury. He must like the pads because he met RB DeMarco Murray two or three times with some semi-big hits.

  • LB Sean Lee seems to break up at least one pass in every practice. He swatted away a seam pass to TE Jason Witten from Tony Romo; on Tuesday he stuck with Austin down the seam for a breakup.

  • Romo over-shot Witten on a seam throw in seven-on-seven drills. Witten bent his route to the outside and when LB Justin Durant moved to the outside, Witten came back inside. The throw, however, was high.

  • The offense went with the hurry-up a few times in team drills and caught the defense by surprise. Some of it might have been the defense’s sub patterns, but when the offense picked up the tempo a few times for specific plays they were able to make positive yards.

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