What's The Scoop: Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips never expected to find a new secondary as qualified as Dave Campo in the off-season.
"When he said to me at the Senior Bowl that he might be interested in coming, I was really surprised, but excited about it," Phillips said.
That excitement arose because Phillips knew exactly what Campo, who previously spent 14 years with the Cowboys in positions ranging from secondary coach to head coach, could bring to the table.
Phillips has already noticed marked improvement in what has become a Cowboys secondary loaded with talent.
"You can see improvement in the secondary already as far as their footwork, as far as their fundamentals," Phillips said of the star-studded group including
starters Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, but also partially reinstated Adam Jones and the Cowboys' first-round pick Mike Jenkins, who arrived midway through Saturday's afternoon practice.
Campo hasn't had a difficult time adjusting to Phillips' philosophy and coaching style, partially because some of the schemes Phillips is implementing are ones that Campo helped devise in his first stint with the Cowboys.
"Some of the schemes that we're using, he actually, way back when he was the secondary coach here, they started using those things and did quite well with them," Phillips said. "And we've copied those over the years, some of the coverages, so it's really things that have come from him anyway."
And while Phillips considers himself fortunate to have Campo as an assistant, Campo likewise is happy to have such a talented group of players to work with.
"They really enjoy being out here, they enjoy practicing, they want to get better, they're working to get better, and in that situation as an assistant coach, you can't buy that,"
Campo said. "We're just very fortunate."
Quick Shots:
Before Saturday's afternoon practice officially started, a few players practiced catching punts and kickoffs. Catching kickoffs, propelled in the air by the Jugs machine so as not to wear out kicker Nick Folk, were wide receivers Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback, cornerback Quincy Butler, and newly-arrived Felix Jones, fresh off signing his first rookie contract. Butler also joined Anthony Henry, Terence Newman, Adam Jones, Patrick Crayton and Danny Amendola in fielding punts.
The Cowboys don't seem to be easing their second round pick, tight end Martellus Bennett, into the grind of things. Bennett, considered a raw talent by many scouts, has had to face outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis back-to-back in pass rushing and blocking drills. As bookends, Ware and Ellis had 26.5 sacks last season, and they seemed to be a little more than Bennett could handle.
On the other side of the pass rushing drill, last year's first-round pick, Anthony Spencer, seems to have hit a rough patch. On consecutive reps he jumped offsides, and then slipped while rushing the edge against Cowboys Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams.
With the starter far from determined, everyone seemed to be watching the kickers last year during field goal practice. This year, after Nick Folk booted his way to the Pro Bowl, fewer people are paying attention. But while eyes were focused elsewhere, Folk went 5-for7, knocking one off the upright.
Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens has been practicing well, but he seems to be having trouble with his footing. On three separate occasions in the morning and afternoon practices, Owens has slipped while running a route, without being touched by anyone.
You Should've Seen: Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff is known for being one of the feistier players in practice, and it showed during pass rush drills. Ratliff was lined up against guard Leonard Davis, but Davis false started, and Ratliff didn't want to lose his rep, yelling, "Run that back! Run that back!" On his second try, the two Cowboys went as hard as they could at each other, apparently not to the satisfaction of Ratliff, who wanted yet another go. But at that point, the coaches stepped in to let some of the younger players have a chance.
Who's Hot: Jason Witten. The Cowboys Pro Bowl tight end dropped maybe one pass all day, and has had a slew of spectacular grabs, most notably an over-the-shoulder catch down the middle of the field while covered by linebacker Justin Rogers and safety Pat Watkins. It's the same exact catch he made to beat Detroit in the final minutes last season.
Who's Not: Mike Jenkins. It's not his fault he falls into this category, but after arriving late to practice after contract negotiations finally ended, Jenkins did not participate in any team or one-on-one drills. Instead, he stood by Campo and watch last year's seventh-round pick Alan Ball took reps with the first team as the nickel corner.
Injury Update: None.
Missed Practice: None.
Returned to Practice: RB Felix Jones (contract negotiations)
CB Mike Jenkins (contract negotiations)
Transactions: WR Terry Glenn, waived (7/25)
QB Jeff Terrell, signed (7/25)
LB Khari Long, waived (7/24)
Wade's Best: Wade Phillips: "I do have some things going for me experience-wise, so they think I know what I'm doing anyway, with 25 years experience, or whatever it is."
Cowboys PR Director Rich Dalrymple: "31."
Phillips: "I know."
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