The Sports Xchange

IRVING, Tex. — Quarterback Brandon Weeden completed 22 of 26 passes for 232 yards against the Falcons. It was the highest completion percentage of his career. Yet Weeden has been criticized for checking the ball down. He only had two attempts over nine yards and completed no passes to the outside receivers. Running back Lance Dunbar had a career-high 10 receptions in the game. Tight end Jason Witten had six catches for 65 yards.

“Obviously you guys are beating a dead horse, talking about throwing the ball underneath,” Weeden said. “That was our plan all along. You look back, was there a couple times I could’ve thrown a ball maybe to an outside receiver given the plays that were called? Maybe one or two I could’ve thrown it out there. But those were the matchups we liked and that’s what they were giving us in coverage.

“I never thought in my 31 years of life that I would be asked if I checked the ball down too much. That’s not how I play football. I was 22 of 26 with completions. I wanted to be efficient and get the ball to the right guy and I felt like that was my game plan and my mindset going into the game. Take a shot down the field or hit big in-cut on the backside, whatever it may be, be efficient and get a lot of completions tallied up and let those guys run.”

–Quarterback Matt Cassel has been learning the Cowboys’ playbook and trying to get his family adjusted to a new city after last week’s trade from Buffalo.

Neither are easy tasks.

Cassel and his wife, Lauren, have three young children and are expecting their fourth soon. So it’s been a whirlwind transition for the Cassel family, relocating and trying to settle into Dallas-Fort Worth.

“We’re in a hotel (right now),” Cassel said. “Got kids sleeping on air mattresses … it’s one big, cozy family right now.”

Cassel joked that he has his three children stand in different formations in the cramped hotel room to help him learn the offense.

“My two year old wants to come tackle me, so that’s helpful,” Cassel said, smiling. “I think I’m starting to put it all together. It just takes time and repetition and staying long hours and studying. That’s part of what we do and part of being a professional. You’ve got to go out and do it.”

–Wide receiver Terrance Williams had just three targets, a drop and no catches against the Falcons last Sunday. The drop came on the Cowboys’ last snap of the game.

“There is no excuse to not be ready when the ball is coming,” Williams said Wednesday. “I have to stay ready so I don’t have to get ready. Last week, it was just a mental lapse of me not paying attention. I have to be a man. I saw it on tape. I have to be ready no matter what the situation is. No matter if it’s the last minute or the last second. When Brandon Weeden throws me the ball, I have to catch it period.”

Williams, the Cowboys’ top receiver with Dez Bryant sidelined after foot surgery, insists he isn’t frustrated. He has caught nine passes for 144 yards and one touchdown this season.

“You have to be ready,” Williams said. “It’s my job to be ready no matter if it’s toward the end of the game, the beginning of the game or just the last pass. I have to be ready. There are no excuses for dropping passes or doing stuff like that, so whenever those times do come, I have to cash in on my chances. Whenever you have guys depending on you, it doesn’t matter if it’s the last quarter or the last minute or the last second, you have to fight throughout the whole game. That’s my job to continue to start putting that stuff on tape. I’ve got to keep concentrating on the ball and not worry about what’s going on.”

Notes: Defensive end Jeremy Mincey continues to be sidelined with concussion symptoms. He did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, although he sounded optimistic about his situation when the locker room was open to the media afterward. “Just getting back at it, conditioning and stuff like that,” said Mincey, who missed last week’s game against Atlanta. … Left guard Ron Leary, who missed last week’s game with a groin injury, was a full participant at practice and will start against the Saints Sunday. … Defensive end Randy Gregory (high ankle sprain) remains at least a week away from returning. He has missed the last two games after suffering the injury in the season opener. … Running back Lance Dunbar and tight end Jason Witten are tied for the team lead with 21 receptions, marking a season-best for Dunbar. He had 18 catches last season. Dunbar averaged 42 touches his first three seasons. He already has 29 this season. Dunbar’s 215 receiving yards leads the Cowboys. Only two other times in franchise history have running backs led the team in receiving yards after three games, with Preston Pearson (158 in 1978) and Herschel Walker (140 in 1987) also accomplishing the feat. Dunbar is on pace for 112 catches and 1,147 receiving yards. “It’s a whole lot of fun just to get out there and show what you can do and help your team win,” Dunbar said Wednesday. “I’ve been here three years, and I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.”