FoxSports: Ware Embracing New Role in Dallas
IRVING, Texas - Call it a Freudian slip.
During his Wednesday news conference, I accidentally asked Dallas head coach Wade Phillips to offer his thoughts on San Diego's Shawne Merriman when I actually meant Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware.Phillips and the other assembled media at Cowboys headquarters enjoyed a good chuckle over the mistake. But to Ware, the subject is no laughing matter.
Being compared to Merriman has grown as old to Ware as one of Tom Landry's trademark hats. In the same vein as quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, Ware and Merriman are forever linked in NFL lore because they were back-to-back selections (Nos. 11 and 12 respectively) as the first pass-rushing specialists chosen in the 2005 draft.
"It's what happens when two guys get drafted together," said Ware, the tone of his voice growing edgy for the only time during a FOXSports.com interview. "Regardless of how I play and he plays, there's always going to be a comparison.
"When somebody asks me about that, I'm like ... He's a great player. But the thing is I don't play the same position he plays."
That fact is often overlooked. Ware is being deployed primarily as a weak-side linebacker in the Cowboys' 3-4 defensive scheme, while the bulkier Merriman has made his mark on the strong side because of his ability to effectively handle blocking attempts from tight ends.
But there also are plenty of similarities between the two. In two seasons, Ware and Merriman have emerged as the NFL's top young "elephants" (i.e. hybrid defensive ends/linebackers). And now that Phillips has installed the same defensive scheme in Dallas that helped mold Merriman into the NFL's reigning sack leader with the Chargers, Ware could be ready to push for that title in 2007.
Unlike in the conservative 3-4 system run last season by departed Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Ware will no longer be aligned in the same spot on almost every play or drop as frequently into pass coverage.
"Now you can be a lot more aggressive," said Ware, who still notched 11.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in 2006. "Last year, I rushed more on the right. Now, I'm rushing on the left and the right. I might slant a little in the middle and create those mismatches on a tight end or a running back.
"That's what you want. We didn't get a lot of that last year. This year, it's going to happen."
Ware teased what may be to come eight days ago during Dallas' preseason opener against Indianapolis. While he didn't register a sack, Ware made Colts rookie left tackle Tony Ugoh's NFL debut a rough one by being able to effectively pressure Manning on several occasions. Ware also registered three tackles in just two series of action.
During his 31 NFL seasons, Phillips said he has never coached an outside linebacker with the combination of size and speed that the 6-foot-4, 252-pound Ware possesses.
"Sometimes that makes up for things technically that he's not real sound at yet," Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said.
Ware, who didn't always face the highest level of college competition while attending Troy State, spent this off-season trying to become a more complete player. Ware said he watched video of elite pass rushers like Simeon Rice, Jason Taylor and teammate Greg Ellis for moves to emulate. Ware also joined Ellis, Spears and defensive end Jay Ratliff in attending training sessions at Applied Sports Martial Arts in Dallas.
"What we do is sort of like a taekwondo that incorporates football moves into it," Ware said. "It works on your hand-eye coordination. When you're running, you're not used to moving your hands left and right and everywhere. You've got to be able to work those moves against guys to get around a blocker."
Ware has continued those techniques this preseason working with Cowboys linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni, who wears padding over his arms as protection.
Opposing quarterbacks may soon be wishing for that same luxury.
"He's going to be one of the best players on this defense," Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James said. "He knows it. We know it. We need him. I think he takes that role and is doing well with it."
During his Wednesday news conference, I accidentally asked Dallas head coach Wade Phillips to offer his thoughts on San Diego's Shawne Merriman when I actually meant Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware.Phillips and the other assembled media at Cowboys headquarters enjoyed a good chuckle over the mistake. But to Ware, the subject is no laughing matter.
Being compared to Merriman has grown as old to Ware as one of Tom Landry's trademark hats. In the same vein as quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, Ware and Merriman are forever linked in NFL lore because they were back-to-back selections (Nos. 11 and 12 respectively) as the first pass-rushing specialists chosen in the 2005 draft.
"It's what happens when two guys get drafted together," said Ware, the tone of his voice growing edgy for the only time during a FOXSports.com interview. "Regardless of how I play and he plays, there's always going to be a comparison.
"When somebody asks me about that, I'm like ... He's a great player. But the thing is I don't play the same position he plays."
That fact is often overlooked. Ware is being deployed primarily as a weak-side linebacker in the Cowboys' 3-4 defensive scheme, while the bulkier Merriman has made his mark on the strong side because of his ability to effectively handle blocking attempts from tight ends.
But there also are plenty of similarities between the two. In two seasons, Ware and Merriman have emerged as the NFL's top young "elephants" (i.e. hybrid defensive ends/linebackers). And now that Phillips has installed the same defensive scheme in Dallas that helped mold Merriman into the NFL's reigning sack leader with the Chargers, Ware could be ready to push for that title in 2007.
Unlike in the conservative 3-4 system run last season by departed Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Ware will no longer be aligned in the same spot on almost every play or drop as frequently into pass coverage.
"Now you can be a lot more aggressive," said Ware, who still notched 11.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in 2006. "Last year, I rushed more on the right. Now, I'm rushing on the left and the right. I might slant a little in the middle and create those mismatches on a tight end or a running back.
"That's what you want. We didn't get a lot of that last year. This year, it's going to happen."
Ware teased what may be to come eight days ago during Dallas' preseason opener against Indianapolis. While he didn't register a sack, Ware made Colts rookie left tackle Tony Ugoh's NFL debut a rough one by being able to effectively pressure Manning on several occasions. Ware also registered three tackles in just two series of action.
During his 31 NFL seasons, Phillips said he has never coached an outside linebacker with the combination of size and speed that the 6-foot-4, 252-pound Ware possesses.
"Sometimes that makes up for things technically that he's not real sound at yet," Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said.
Ware, who didn't always face the highest level of college competition while attending Troy State, spent this off-season trying to become a more complete player. Ware said he watched video of elite pass rushers like Simeon Rice, Jason Taylor and teammate Greg Ellis for moves to emulate. Ware also joined Ellis, Spears and defensive end Jay Ratliff in attending training sessions at Applied Sports Martial Arts in Dallas.
"What we do is sort of like a taekwondo that incorporates football moves into it," Ware said. "It works on your hand-eye coordination. When you're running, you're not used to moving your hands left and right and everywhere. You've got to be able to work those moves against guys to get around a blocker."
Ware has continued those techniques this preseason working with Cowboys linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni, who wears padding over his arms as protection.
Opposing quarterbacks may soon be wishing for that same luxury.
"He's going to be one of the best players on this defense," Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James said. "He knows it. We know it. We need him. I think he takes that role and is doing well with it."
posted by The Gryphon at 10:30 AM
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