Here’s some very, very good news to hear.
Wide receiver Terry Glenn made an appearance on the practice field for the first time since undergoing right knee surgery. Glenn is hoping to play in the final preseason game at Minnesota on Aug. 30.
Just come back healthy, Terry. We need the other half of TNT. Also, Ken Hamlin returned to practice, Doug Free says he’s feeling good even though he will be out for a while, and Jason Hatcher hopes to get back soon and play in the 3rd preseason game. Greg Ellis is...Greg Ellis. Insert your own return date for him.
Tyson Thompson gets the once over from Nick Eatman. Sounds like he’s finally becoming a rounded back, learning to add other elements of the game to his speed.
"I think Tyson has grown a lot since the first day he came in here," Sparano said. "When we got him, he was a pretty raw player. All of his upside at that point was in his legs. He ran really well and that's what we saw. But this guy has become a lot better player. He's becoming more efficient as a blocker in the blitz, which was really his Achilles - protection and protecting the blitz."
And Thompson knew that, too. Former head coach Bill Parcells often said it was hard to keep Thompson in the game on offense because he was unsure if Thompson could recognize the blitz and protect his quarterback.
"I had to work on my protections," Thompson said. "I had to recognize fronts and seeing where guys were coming from. But I think all of that comes with experience. And being able to have a little experience and know the game a little more and being able to study more, it helps you get comfortable and be able to play fast, like the game is."
Here’s to Tim McMahon over at the DMN blog who is our only real source for coverage of the actual practices. Even though his laptop melted down, he did get to hang out in Jerry’s new air-conditioned playhouse. I’d be sweating out there with you Tim, if only the Cowboys would give me press credentials. But as of now, they haven’t seen their way to do that. So what’s Tim got to say about Isaiah Stanback?
Stanback made two highlight plays. Working as a gunner, he dived to kill a punt at the 1-yard line. Later, he caught a short touchdown pass with a leaping grab over Jacques Reeves on a fade route.
Sherman has no doubt that the 6-2, 213-pound Stanback, who has strong hands and excellent quickness, has the potential to be a playmaking receiver. Stanback has impressed Sherman by knowing where to line up and what routes to run despite not practicing until Saturday. But Stanback needs a lot of technical work (nuances of route running, how to get off line vs. different coverage techniques, etc).
Nice, I can’t wait to see the kid play. But I also heard he dropped a punt, which is a no-no.
Junior Glymph gets some positive ink.
Junior Glymph gave Pat McQuistan a tough time in pass-rush drills. Wade Phillips praised Glymph without prompting Saturday. Glymph was called offsides once against the Colts, but Phillips said the film showed that Glymph just got a great jump off the ball and shouldn't have been flagged.
I’ve been talking Glymph up throughout camp; I hope he can keep it up.