Ware finding his way in Cowboys' 3-4
by Todd Archer
01:34 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
IRVING – DeMarcus Ware knows what some people are thinking and what a few are even saying: The Cowboys should have selected Shawne Merriman with the 11th overall pick last year.
After all, Merriman, picked one spot later by San Diego, started for the AFC in the Pro Bowl last season, finishing with 10 sacks. And on opening night against Oakland, Merriman had three sacks.
Even Ware, who had eight sacks as a rookie, is impressed by Merriman's play.
"Oh, man, I've seen how they blitz the passer, I love it," Ware said. "But we're a totally different 3-4, and this is how we play. When we blitz the passer we get the same pressure they do, but me being a pass rusher I always want to blitz and get pressure on the quarterback. But I do what they tell me to do."
There are distinct differences between how San Diego uses Merriman under coordinator Wade Phillips and the way the Cowboys use Ware under coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Philosophically, coach Bill Parcells does not like to blitz often. He prefers the game to be broken down to a winner-take-all battle royal. The Chargers will move Merriman around the defense, strong side to weak side, and tell him to get up the field. Scouts say he is not in coverage much.
"You think about it, and if you were able to rush the passer as much as you want, slant down, go side to side, rush on different guys," Ware said. "That creates a hard thing for offenses. They know you're coming, but you might have a matchup against the right tackle that's better than the left tackle, so you've got a better chance to get back there."
In Sunday's win against Washington, Ware spent more than a third of his time at his weak side linebacker spot. In passing situations, he put his hand on the ground as a defensive end about 20 times. He dropped into coverage close to 10 times. He moved to the left side five times.
"He's stronger right now physically than he was last year by quite a bit," Parcells said, "and he weighs more and doesn't run out of gas as soon."
Ware has learned to mix his array of moves for better results. Against the Redskins he used power, speed spin and even a fake spin to combat the tackles. He and Chris Canty combined on a twist that allowed Ware to speed by left guard Derrick Dockery and pressure Mark Brunell into an errant throw.
He was given a questionable roughing the passer penalty even as he appeared to stop when he moved close to Brunell.
"Don't get me started," Parcells said of the play.
Ware finished with four tackles, one sack (vs. Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels) and a quarterback pressure against the Redskins. He also forced two false start penalties and flooded the pocket twice to help lead to sacks.
"Even in the 4-3 we had here I had to explain to people that we don't rush like Simeon Rice or a Michael Strahan," defensive end-turned-linebacker Greg Ellis said. "It's the same situation with DeMarcus. He's a physical specimen, and he's doing exactly what they're telling him to do here."
01:34 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
IRVING – DeMarcus Ware knows what some people are thinking and what a few are even saying: The Cowboys should have selected Shawne Merriman with the 11th overall pick last year.
After all, Merriman, picked one spot later by San Diego, started for the AFC in the Pro Bowl last season, finishing with 10 sacks. And on opening night against Oakland, Merriman had three sacks.
Even Ware, who had eight sacks as a rookie, is impressed by Merriman's play.
"Oh, man, I've seen how they blitz the passer, I love it," Ware said. "But we're a totally different 3-4, and this is how we play. When we blitz the passer we get the same pressure they do, but me being a pass rusher I always want to blitz and get pressure on the quarterback. But I do what they tell me to do."
There are distinct differences between how San Diego uses Merriman under coordinator Wade Phillips and the way the Cowboys use Ware under coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Philosophically, coach Bill Parcells does not like to blitz often. He prefers the game to be broken down to a winner-take-all battle royal. The Chargers will move Merriman around the defense, strong side to weak side, and tell him to get up the field. Scouts say he is not in coverage much.
"You think about it, and if you were able to rush the passer as much as you want, slant down, go side to side, rush on different guys," Ware said. "That creates a hard thing for offenses. They know you're coming, but you might have a matchup against the right tackle that's better than the left tackle, so you've got a better chance to get back there."
In Sunday's win against Washington, Ware spent more than a third of his time at his weak side linebacker spot. In passing situations, he put his hand on the ground as a defensive end about 20 times. He dropped into coverage close to 10 times. He moved to the left side five times.
"He's stronger right now physically than he was last year by quite a bit," Parcells said, "and he weighs more and doesn't run out of gas as soon."
Ware has learned to mix his array of moves for better results. Against the Redskins he used power, speed spin and even a fake spin to combat the tackles. He and Chris Canty combined on a twist that allowed Ware to speed by left guard Derrick Dockery and pressure Mark Brunell into an errant throw.
He was given a questionable roughing the passer penalty even as he appeared to stop when he moved close to Brunell.
"Don't get me started," Parcells said of the play.
Ware finished with four tackles, one sack (vs. Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels) and a quarterback pressure against the Redskins. He also forced two false start penalties and flooded the pocket twice to help lead to sacks.
"Even in the 4-3 we had here I had to explain to people that we don't rush like Simeon Rice or a Michael Strahan," defensive end-turned-linebacker Greg Ellis said. "It's the same situation with DeMarcus. He's a physical specimen, and he's doing exactly what they're telling him to do here."
posted by The Gryphon at 9:49 AM
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