Cowboys Corner

Wednesday's practice underway

Stretching is over and we are ready to get rolling on Day 6, the first of two practices today. No Terence Newman for awhile as he's out 3-4 weeks....

Temperature 65 degrees and a little overcast.

- Rick Herrin

Wednesday's practice underway

Stretching is over and we are ready to get rolling on Day 6, the first of two practices today. No Terence Newman for awhile as he's out 3-4 weeks....

Temperature 65 degrees and a little overcast.

- Rick Herrin

Photo gallery: Day 5

Click here for a slide show of images from staff photographer Ron Jenkins on Day 5 of the Dallas Cowboys training camp.

Wade rockin the elliptical machine

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he didn't feel a thing when the Los Angeles-area earthquake hit this morning. He was busy rockin the elliptical machine at the Residence Inn.

Phillips said he never really felt a tremor when he was in San Diego because he was driving.

"I was on the elliptical and I was going. I thought, ‘Man, I’m really going now, shaking this place down.' So I didn’t even notice it. I didn’t know," Phillips said. "I thought I was really working out."

- Rick Herrin

Photo: Ron Jenkins

Oxnard Observation Deck: Tuesday edition

Just one practice on Tuesday after noon on Day 5 of training camp in Oxnard....Camp Earthquake. The team was shaken by the earthquake in the Los Angeles area at 11:42 a.m. Practice went ahead though.

* Catch six: This is actually pretty amazing. Pacman Jones caught six consecutive punts juggling each catch while still holding the ball from the previous catch. He did it on Monday. Patrick Crayton did it on Tuesday.

* False starting: Guess who? Flozell Adams during the team drills, yes.

* Offensive player of the day: WR Patrick Crayton. He was impressive in the 1-on-1 drills with the defensive backs. He has trouble seperating on corners but he will get the ball when it's in the air.

* Defensive player of the day: CB Pacman Jones. Blanket coverage on Terrell Owens and only gave up a short route. He also abused Mike Jefferson the receiver couldn't get into his route and he produced a pass breakup.

* Bad day and bad move: Cornerback Alan Ball was getting toasted all afternoon, mostly by Patrick Crayton. He was even so frustrated he threw his helmet down on the sidelines right there next to Jerry Jones.

* More play-making: OLB DeMarcus Ware blew up a running play during teams drills late in practice. The can get QBs and RBs.

* Overworker: WR Sam Hurd just can't get enough practice. He was doing push ups on the field after practice and then spent another 15-20 minutes catching passes on the jugs.

* LB Justin Rogers (stomach virus) returned to practice and a new player out was WR Daniel Polk (hamstring).

- Rick Herrin

Photo: Ron Jenkins

Wade thinks Pacman is staying

The Cowboys are giving Pacman Jones plenty of repetitions and plenty more will now come with the first team with Terence Newman out at least three weeks.

Seems a little odd considering Jones is not a sure thing for the season opener on Sept. 7 at Cleveland. Why take reps away from other guys who you know will be here. But listen to Wade Phillips he believes Pacman has done everything right to be reinstated. The decision is set for Sept. 1.

“The guy came in to all our OTAs and there’s been no problems that I know of and worked with the team and now he’s working all of training camp,” Phillips said. "To me, I am kind of counting on that he will be here for the first game."

- Rick Herrin

Photo: Ron Jenkins

Spears in the middle

The Cowboys are trying a different look on the defensive line. What do you fans think of this? With the first team the look is --- DE Chris Canty, NT Marcus Spears and DE Jay Ratliff.

This is just a way to diversify the look, not a switch in starting positions. Ratliff has played end before and was actually switched to nose from end. Spears, who Wade Phillips said has a good "anchor," moves into the middle and could be a decent clogger. Spears hasn't done much as a pass rusher so why not. The move might pay off and maybe moreso for Ratliff. His burst off the line of scrimmage can be fierce and he has a motor that never stops.

This is a big year for Spears. He needs to produce because Jason Hatcher could be waiting to take his defensive end spot.

- Rick Herrin

Photo: Ron Jenkins

Newman out 3-4 weeks

CB Terence Newman had an MRI on his injured groin today, revealing a slight tear. Newman will miss 3-4 weeks, keeping him out of most of the preseason action. The Cowboys final preseason game is against the Vikings on Thursday, Aug. 26 at Texas Stadium.

Photo: AP

Newman out two weeks?

Word is trickling around practice CB Terence Newman could be out two weeks with his strained groin. He was supposed to have an MRI today. We'll see, practice is about to end.

- Rick Herrin

Little WR-DB action

Good stuff to start off the real portion of practice....oh, and there's CB Terence Newman. He just arrived to watch practice. Not sure when he can come back. The injury is not believed to be serious.

First play, receiver Terrell Owens barely beat Pacman Jones on an out route with the pass from Richard Bartel. Jones slapped Owens with both hands after the completion in front of the fans.

More highlights...

* Richard Bartel looked good during the drill with nice touch on the long ball and good precision on his out routes.

* CB Alan Ball struggled and even threw his helmet down after getting beat by veteran Patrick Crayton. Problem with this is he did it in front of Jerry Jones on the sidelines. Ball recovered with a nice breakup on Crayton to end the drill.

* CB Mike Jenkins looks like he might have tweaked something in one of his legs. He is having trouble keeping up with the WRs and making breaks.

* Roy Williams absolutely mauled TE Rodney Hannah at the line of scrimmage and right when the ball arrived.

* Patrick Crayton doesn't have the speed to break away from people, but he sure knows how to get the ball when it's in the air.

* Pacman allowed one completion to Owens, but had very tight coverage on both matchups. He dominated Mike Jefferson on one route and he never had a chance. One thing I have noticed, Pacman is strong when it comes to jamming WRs at the line.

- Rick Herrin

Photo: Ron Jenkins