IRVING, Texas – With two more days of minicamp action still to come from Valley Ranch, let’s take a quick look at come observations from Day 1:
Since Morris Claiborne was out with a migraine, rookie CB B.W. Webb worked with the first-team nickel package. He came up with a sack and was able to stick with WR Anthony Armstrong on a go-route in seven-on-seven drills.
Nate Livings missed practice with a sore knee, so Ronald Leary took all of the left guard snaps with the first team. Don’t be surprised if Leary is in that mix with Livings early in training camp.
Practices are supposed to be noncontact, but LB Brandon Magee isn’t shying away from contact. The undrafted rookie knows he has to make an impression. He knocked down TE Andre Smith in an OTA practice and wiped out RB Kendial Lawrence near the sideline Tuesday.
WR Cole Beasley was beaten badly while blocking in the slot on a running play in which his defender made the tackle. That’s one of the cons of having the undersized Beasley on the field a lot.
LB Sean Lee was able to meet RB DeMarco Murray in the hole after C Travis Frederick was slow to get to the second level. But maybe it was less about Frederick being slow and more about Lee diagnosing the play quickly.
TE Jason Witten had another excellent practice, with his best catch coming down the middle of the field as he made space between safeties Matt Johnson and Barry Church by arcing his route some to give QB Kyle Orton more room.
CB Sterling Moore had good back-to-back plays, first breaking up a Nick Stephens throw to Eric Rogers and then intercepting a Stephens throw to Armstrong. In two-minute work, however, he tempted Dez Bryant close to the line and was beaten badly on a slant that eventually led to a winning field goal by Dan Bailey.
It was a good day for the interior defensive linemen in terms of getting pressure. Jay Ratliff participated in more team drills than he has this offseason and was difficult to block, as was Jason Hatcher. Even Sean Lissemore came up with a would-be sack.
Orton’s best throw came on a deep ball in seven-on-seven drills when he perfectly led Bryant, who got past Brandon Carr. But later Orton was off on an in-cut to Bryant and forced a throw into double coverage when Bryant was bracketed by Justin Durant and Orlando Scandrick.