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DeMarcus Ware plans to be disruptive
IRVING — Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware doesn’t have a sack total in mind for 2009. He just wants to improve on last season’s league-leading 20.5, and, of course, lead the league in sacks again.
Doing that would certainly put Ware in a class all his own. Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, no defender has had back-to-back seasons of 20 or more sacks. If he does that, he likely will again threaten the NFL’s single-season sack record of 22.5 by Michael Strahan.
But when Ware talks about improving on last season, it’s not just about his sack totals. His goal is to be more disruptive, which, in addition to more sacks, means creating more turnovers.
"The main thing for me is takeaways," Ware said. "Takeaways for me, takeaways for the defense, because the great defenses have a lot of takeaways, and they’re giving their offense back the ball."
For him to do that, he knows he has to keep getting to the quarterback. To combat expected double teams and possibly new schemes opponents will devise to contain him, Ware has worked all summer on adding new pass-rushing moves to his arsenal.
"I’m a pressure guy," Ware said. "That’s something that I always harp on. If I don’t get any pressure in the game, I feel like I didn’t play well. I can have 10 tackles, but I’ve just got to smell the quarterback."
Injury updates
The Cowboys moved up practice Wednesday to avoid the heat. They practiced at 9:45 a.m. instead of 1:15 p.m. after two days in the Texas heat took its toll on the players. The Cowboys will be back inside today when they practice at Cowboys Stadium.
"It’s still hot, but I don’t think you have to practice in the sweltering heat and not get anything accomplished," coach Wade Phillips said. "I thought we pushed through it two days in row. ... You do have to get used to the heat, which we are doing."
Tight end Martellus Bennett has missed practice the past two days with a stomach virus. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter missed Wednesday’s practice after he had an eye swollen shut by poison ivy. Sam Hurd (thigh bruise) also sat out. But all three could play in Saturday night’s exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Defensive end Marcus Spears (thigh contusion) returned to practice, but he said he was not sure if he would play Saturday.
Butler moves
The Cowboys have moved outside linebacker Victor Butler from weakside, where he had been playing, to the strongside after a season-ending injury to Brandon Williams. Butler will be DeMarcus Ware’s backup for now.
"He’s playing two positions right now, so it’s really hard for him," Ware said.
"He’s playing SAM [strongside], and then he converts to the WILL [weakside], where he’s rushing a lot more. He has to be in really good shape, and he has to have his mind ready. He’s getting his mind ready right now."
With Justin Rogers (knee) out and Stephen Hodge (knee) not 100 percent, the Cowboys are thin at linebacker. Hodge might not play in Saturday night’s preseason game against the 49ers, Wade Phillips said.
Center added
The Cowboys have agreed to terms with with veteran center Duke Preston, who was released by the Packers on Tuesday. Preston spent the past four years with Buffalo before signing with the Packers in March.
FanFest
While admission to the team’s open practice session tonight at Cowboys Stadium is free, parking is $10. The Cowboys begin practice at 6 p.m.
The plazas will open at 3 p.m. with the building opening at 5 p.m.
An alumni autograph session in the Miller Lite Plaza starts at 5 p.m. and will include Cowboys alums Drew Pearson, Charles Haley, Walt Garrison, Larry Brown, Dixon Edwards, Preston Pearson and Tony Casillas.
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1561341.html
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IRVING — Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware doesn’t have a sack total in mind for 2009. He just wants to improve on last season’s league-leading 20.5, and, of course, lead the league in sacks again.
Doing that would certainly put Ware in a class all his own. Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, no defender has had back-to-back seasons of 20 or more sacks. If he does that, he likely will again threaten the NFL’s single-season sack record of 22.5 by Michael Strahan.
But when Ware talks about improving on last season, it’s not just about his sack totals. His goal is to be more disruptive, which, in addition to more sacks, means creating more turnovers.
"The main thing for me is takeaways," Ware said. "Takeaways for me, takeaways for the defense, because the great defenses have a lot of takeaways, and they’re giving their offense back the ball."
For him to do that, he knows he has to keep getting to the quarterback. To combat expected double teams and possibly new schemes opponents will devise to contain him, Ware has worked all summer on adding new pass-rushing moves to his arsenal.
"I’m a pressure guy," Ware said. "That’s something that I always harp on. If I don’t get any pressure in the game, I feel like I didn’t play well. I can have 10 tackles, but I’ve just got to smell the quarterback."
Injury updates
The Cowboys moved up practice Wednesday to avoid the heat. They practiced at 9:45 a.m. instead of 1:15 p.m. after two days in the Texas heat took its toll on the players. The Cowboys will be back inside today when they practice at Cowboys Stadium.
"It’s still hot, but I don’t think you have to practice in the sweltering heat and not get anything accomplished," coach Wade Phillips said. "I thought we pushed through it two days in row. ... You do have to get used to the heat, which we are doing."
Tight end Martellus Bennett has missed practice the past two days with a stomach virus. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter missed Wednesday’s practice after he had an eye swollen shut by poison ivy. Sam Hurd (thigh bruise) also sat out. But all three could play in Saturday night’s exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Defensive end Marcus Spears (thigh contusion) returned to practice, but he said he was not sure if he would play Saturday.
Butler moves
The Cowboys have moved outside linebacker Victor Butler from weakside, where he had been playing, to the strongside after a season-ending injury to Brandon Williams. Butler will be DeMarcus Ware’s backup for now.
"He’s playing two positions right now, so it’s really hard for him," Ware said.
"He’s playing SAM [strongside], and then he converts to the WILL [weakside], where he’s rushing a lot more. He has to be in really good shape, and he has to have his mind ready. He’s getting his mind ready right now."
With Justin Rogers (knee) out and Stephen Hodge (knee) not 100 percent, the Cowboys are thin at linebacker. Hodge might not play in Saturday night’s preseason game against the 49ers, Wade Phillips said.
Center added
The Cowboys have agreed to terms with with veteran center Duke Preston, who was released by the Packers on Tuesday. Preston spent the past four years with Buffalo before signing with the Packers in March.
FanFest
While admission to the team’s open practice session tonight at Cowboys Stadium is free, parking is $10. The Cowboys begin practice at 6 p.m.
The plazas will open at 3 p.m. with the building opening at 5 p.m.
An alumni autograph session in the Miller Lite Plaza starts at 5 p.m. and will include Cowboys alums Drew Pearson, Charles Haley, Walt Garrison, Larry Brown, Dixon Edwards, Preston Pearson and Tony Casillas.
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1561341.html
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