Scare tactics: Cowboys will turn Ware loose
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
SAN ANTONIO – Two plays show what kind of difference outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware can make.
The first one had quarterback Tony Romo scrambling. The second one ended with running back Marion Barber losing his helmet.
Lining up across from tight end Anthony Fasano, Ware's burst off the snap left Fasano helpless and forced Romo up the field, hough Ware quickly tracked him down from behind. Two plays later he forced Barber to bounce outside by stoning left tackle Pat McQuistan, which gave Bradie James time to make the helmet-popping tackle.
"Monster," new free safety Ken Hamlin said. "He's doing things in games you don't see from a lot of guys. He can stop the run, and he's definitely a helluva pass rusher. I'm glad he's on our side. I've seen him get our quarterback a little bit in the past. Now, that I'm a teammate I know the pressure he creates."
Ware made his first Pro Bowl last season, picking up 11 ½ sacks and scoring the first two touchdowns of his career – the first a fumble return 69 yards against Philadelphia and the second a glue-like interception of a pass from the Falcons' Michael Vick, which Ware returned 41 yards.
But this year promises to be a little different. Among the adjustments coach Wade Phillips is bringing to the defensive scheme this year is moving Ware around the field, allowing him to rush the passer more and cover tight ends and running backs less.
"I'm at the point now where I know what I'm supposed to do before the play, and I can just go," Ware said.
Ware's sacks last season are the most in team history by an outside linebacker, but he is not putting out a number for public consumption for this year's sack total. In Phillips, however, Ware has a coach with the ability to make pass rushers into game changers.
"He's a natural pass rusher," Phillips said. "You only have a few of those guys that really have a great feel and the quick feet and the speed – the things that he has ... I've had a few of them. Bruce Smith comes to mind. He had the great feet and the quickness and the speed. They play a little bit different position, obviously, but DeMarcus is going to be a really good player for a long time."
Relying more on his hands and speed to work around blockers than power, Phillips and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart have Ware opening his hips more on his pass rush to make it more difficult for tackles to get a hold of him.
It's difficult to argue with Phillips' success.
From 1989-93 in Denver, Simon Fletcher recorded 66 sacks. In Buffalo, Bryce Paup earned defensive MVP honors when he had 17 ½ sacks in 1995. The last three seasons in San Diego, three different linebackers (Steve Foley, Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips) posted double-digit sacks. Before Ware's sacks last season, the Cowboys had gone 10 years without a defender posting double-digit figure sacks.
"He gets you in matchups that for the guys blocking you don't usually see," Paup said of Phillips. "A bigger guy, stronger guy against a tight end or running back or maybe a guard popping out, most of the time if you're a decent pass rusher you'll have success. He just tries to find ways to put you in position to make plays and then it's up to you to make plays. He's found guys that can do that and do a very good job."
DeMarcus Ware's 11½ sacks last season are the most in team history by an outside linebacker. Ware is the next in line, but he is not going to be Merriman, with whom he has been compared to since they were selected in back-to-back picks in the 2005 draft. He is actually playing the same position as Shaun Phillips, who had a career-high 11 ½ sacks in 2006.
Besides, Ware and Merriman are two different personalities, according to Stewart. Merriman's brash, "Lights out," style contradicts Ware's easy-going smile.
Wade Phillips doesn't care if Ware is mean or not.
"He knocks them down and gets to the ball and gets to the quarterback," Phillips said. "I think the guys being hit feel like he's pretty mean."
tarcher@dallasnews.com
SAN ANTONIO – Two plays show what kind of difference outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware can make.
The first one had quarterback Tony Romo scrambling. The second one ended with running back Marion Barber losing his helmet.
Lining up across from tight end Anthony Fasano, Ware's burst off the snap left Fasano helpless and forced Romo up the field, hough Ware quickly tracked him down from behind. Two plays later he forced Barber to bounce outside by stoning left tackle Pat McQuistan, which gave Bradie James time to make the helmet-popping tackle.
"Monster," new free safety Ken Hamlin said. "He's doing things in games you don't see from a lot of guys. He can stop the run, and he's definitely a helluva pass rusher. I'm glad he's on our side. I've seen him get our quarterback a little bit in the past. Now, that I'm a teammate I know the pressure he creates."
Ware made his first Pro Bowl last season, picking up 11 ½ sacks and scoring the first two touchdowns of his career – the first a fumble return 69 yards against Philadelphia and the second a glue-like interception of a pass from the Falcons' Michael Vick, which Ware returned 41 yards.
But this year promises to be a little different. Among the adjustments coach Wade Phillips is bringing to the defensive scheme this year is moving Ware around the field, allowing him to rush the passer more and cover tight ends and running backs less.
"I'm at the point now where I know what I'm supposed to do before the play, and I can just go," Ware said.
Ware's sacks last season are the most in team history by an outside linebacker, but he is not putting out a number for public consumption for this year's sack total. In Phillips, however, Ware has a coach with the ability to make pass rushers into game changers.
"He's a natural pass rusher," Phillips said. "You only have a few of those guys that really have a great feel and the quick feet and the speed – the things that he has ... I've had a few of them. Bruce Smith comes to mind. He had the great feet and the quickness and the speed. They play a little bit different position, obviously, but DeMarcus is going to be a really good player for a long time."
Relying more on his hands and speed to work around blockers than power, Phillips and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart have Ware opening his hips more on his pass rush to make it more difficult for tackles to get a hold of him.
It's difficult to argue with Phillips' success.
From 1989-93 in Denver, Simon Fletcher recorded 66 sacks. In Buffalo, Bryce Paup earned defensive MVP honors when he had 17 ½ sacks in 1995. The last three seasons in San Diego, three different linebackers (Steve Foley, Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips) posted double-digit sacks. Before Ware's sacks last season, the Cowboys had gone 10 years without a defender posting double-digit figure sacks.
"He gets you in matchups that for the guys blocking you don't usually see," Paup said of Phillips. "A bigger guy, stronger guy against a tight end or running back or maybe a guard popping out, most of the time if you're a decent pass rusher you'll have success. He just tries to find ways to put you in position to make plays and then it's up to you to make plays. He's found guys that can do that and do a very good job."
DeMarcus Ware's 11½ sacks last season are the most in team history by an outside linebacker. Ware is the next in line, but he is not going to be Merriman, with whom he has been compared to since they were selected in back-to-back picks in the 2005 draft. He is actually playing the same position as Shaun Phillips, who had a career-high 11 ½ sacks in 2006.
Besides, Ware and Merriman are two different personalities, according to Stewart. Merriman's brash, "Lights out," style contradicts Ware's easy-going smile.
Wade Phillips doesn't care if Ware is mean or not.
"He knocks them down and gets to the ball and gets to the quarterback," Phillips said. "I think the guys being hit feel like he's pretty mean."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:44 PM
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