SAN ANTONIO - Last year's undisputed special teams leader, safety Keith Davis, was known for flying all over the field.

But with Davis allowed to leave through free agency, the vocal leader of the special teams unit is no longer running all over the field. He's actually on the sideline: new special teams coach Joe DeCamillis.

"Joe D., I think," head coach Wade Phillips said when asked who will step up without Davis. "And in some ways I'm serious about that. He's a real vocal guy and they have an understanding of what they're supposed to do and what it means."

DeCamillis, who served as special teams coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars before coming to Dallas in the off-season, was injured when the Cowboys' indoor practice facility collapsed in early May. He underwent surgery soon after to stabilize a fractured cervical vertebrae but has not let his recovery slow him down. During OTAs and mini-camp, he was out there with a megaphone directing special teams practice.

His perseverance has inspired the special teams unit to work harder, according to receiver Sam Hurd

"He's got a neck brace on," Hurd said. "A lot of people use that as an excuse not to be out here, just to collect the paycheck and everything. But he's out here working as hard as he can, working as hard as us. I feel like I should give my full effort."

When the neck brace eventually comes off, it won't make DeCamillis any less audible, either. The Cowboys brought him in because of his loud, hands-on style.

Still, DeCamillis can't do all the work himself. It's still up to the players to get themselves going, and Hurd is more than happy to get on players who need some pushing.

"I can't always speak for the others' side, because I don't see what they're doing except on film, but if you're on my side, I make sure you're going to work," Hurd said, acknowledging that fellow special teams studs Bobby Carpenter and Pat Watkins do the same. "I make sure you know I'm coming."

Guess What

When asked to describe second-year cornerback Orlando Scandrick on Monday, wide receiver Patrick Crayton offered one word: "Guesser."

Crayton meant that Scandrick looks for certain routes sometimes, allowing him to get there faster if he's right. It's a description that secondary coach Dave Campo doesn't necessarily disagree with.

"He guesses a little bit, but he's really a disciplined player," Campo said, pointing out that Scandrick's never so out of position that he gives up a score. "I wouldn't have him out there if he was a riverboat gambler. He's a guy that makes some decisions based on what he sees, and he's got real good eyes."

Judging by the Scandrick's rate of success during the first week of training camp, there's no guessing involved.

"I don't really think it's a guess," Campo said. "It's a read and an instinct and he has that. He has the ability to go get the football and make a play."

First Fight of Camp

They say it isn't training camp until somebody gets in a fight. So as of Tuesday, it's training camp.

It all started on a good play by linebacker Bobby Carpenter. The fourth-year linebacker intercepted a pass from Tony Romo during team drills, but it was what happened on the return - nose tackle Jay Ratliff blindsiding tackle Marc Colombo - that captured everyone's attention, even Carpenter's.

"I kind of dropped the ball. Roy batted at it, and I started laughing so hard because I saw the hit out of the corner of my eye," Carpenter said. "I wanted to stop and see what was going to happen. At that point, I didn't really care about moving up the field anymore. Those were two of the toughest guys on the team, so if they were going to fight, I wanted to watch."

Colombo landed a few right-handed haymakers against Ratliff's helmet before teammates pulled them apart. For Carpenter, and most of the Cowboys, that was a Dallas version of Ali-Frazier.

"If I had to take one guy on the offense and one guy on the defense - they may not necessarily be the most enjoyable to fight," Carpenter said. "You'd have to kill them to beat them."