Imagine if you will Demarcus Ware still on this defensive line

[gimmesix]

There were more than a few unhealthy players on the team THIS season. While they were younger than Ware, many had greater injury concerns near career threatening in fact. None of them have the pro bowl pedigree however. Melton and Spencer are flashes in the pan. Financial argument is the only real reaso for getting rid of Ware, quality of play is fallacy.

We went for the wave approach to mitigate those unhealthy players this year, adding better bodies than we were able to find off the streets last year in the hopes that we wouldn't be decimated if Spencer or Melton was unable to go.

But I agree with your last sentence: Money was the reason Dallas didn't keep Ware, not level of play.

 

[BAT]

So we didn't wast the years when Ware was contributing 20 sacks, 19 sacks, 15.5 sacks, etc.? A few supremely talented individuals cannot make a bad team great. It took all that they had just to make it average.

As far as health goes, are you saying they are healthy because they left Dallas? If so, we really need to find out what we're doing wrong. It's most likely the fact that this is just a tough game that takes a major toll on the body so players are always subject to injury and more so the more wear and tear they get. It doesn't mean they are going to get injured each year, just that it's more likely to happen ... which is why we had to let players like Ware and Austin go, with Austin being an even greater risk because of persistent hamstring issues.

Wade actually improved this D when he took it over from Parcells/Zimmer. Imagine what Marinelli could have done with those guys: Rat, Canty, Hatcher, Ware, Spencer, Newman, Roy, etc.

 

[Galian Beast]

I wouldn't say considerable better. Fewer sacks, and about the same yards per play. Pretty sure it's not more turnovers either. The main differences between this year and last year are 1.) Time of possession, 2.) Rob Marinelli > Monte Kiffin, 3.) Rolando McClain

Losing Demarcus Ware did not make us better in any way

You're focusing on entirely the wrong numbers.

Time of possession matters, but I bet if you looked up big plays per game (20+) you would see that we have a lot less.

It's not that losing Ware helps us, but by focusing on each player doing their part as opposed to relying on just one guy, we have improved. Everyone on this defense has a role. And that is new.

 

[Crad|e]

Losing Demarcus Ware might cost us a lot more than money.. I watch Denver just to see him and yes I miss his presence. The guy was consistent and made the Broncos a legit contender.

 

[Crad|e]

There were more than a few unhealthy players on the team THIS season. While they were younger than Ware, many had greater injury concerns near career threatening in fact. None of them have the pro bowl pedigree however. Melton and Spencer are flashes in the pan. Financial argument is the only real reaso for getting rid of Ware, quality of play is fallacy.

Thank you, finally someone says it. I can't believe all the Ware haters here.. I'd take his 7 sacks with a smile on my face.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

You're focusing on entirely the wrong numbers.

Time of possession matters, but I bet if you looked up big plays per game (20+) you would see that we have a lot less.

It's not that losing Ware helps us, but by focusing on each player doing their part as opposed to relying on just one guy, we have improved. Everyone on this defense has a role. And that is new.

The two are very much related. The longer we hold the ball, the fewer plays the opposing offense gets to run. The fewer plays, the fewer opportunities for big plays. Not to mention fatigue and it's effects on big plays given up.

As far as everyone having a role and it being a new thing, I again disagree. When we had defenses better than this year, everyone had a role. It's just our fans weren't happy with the roles. Anthony Spencer's role for example, involved him in coverege, so people got upset that he wasn't producing like Ware. Jason Hatcher's, while we played in a 3-4, involved him taking double teams and not always attacking the QB. Either way, that's a coaching issue, not a Demarcus Ware issue. I'm certain everyone in Denver, where he plays now, has a role and it isn't just the Demarcus Ware show over there.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Just like we saw the improvement in our offense when we spent multiple first round picks on the O-line, the same would've happened if we spent multiple first round picks on the D-line. Canty, Bowen, Hatcher, Ratliff, Coleman all played a ton of snaps on our d-line and none were high draft picks. Yes you miss on some, like a Marcus Spears, but there's no reason to let that stop you from trying again.

 

[NickZepp]

Ware needed a change of scenery. He just wasn't being productive when he was playing last year. Didn't now his role in the defense. I'm not sure he would have figured a role out yet if we somehow got him to stay. Denver is a far better fit for him and he seems to know what he is doing in the role they are putting him in. We do need to get better on the front 7. Really we might need to find LBs that can be speed rushers as much as better DEnds. I know we've switched back to the 4-3 but we need to find speed at the edges of our front 7.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Thank you, finally someone says it. I can't believe all the Ware haters here.. I'd take his 7 sacks with a smile on my face.

Not worth the money he wanted. And we don't play the 34 defense anymore. When we switched to 43, his days were numbered.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

So we didn't wast the years when Ware was contributing 20 sacks, 19 sacks, 15.5 sacks, etc.? A few supremely talented individuals cannot make a bad team great. It took all that they had just to make it average.

As far as health goes, are you saying they are healthy because they left Dallas? If so, we really need to find out what we're doing wrong. It's most likely the fact that this is just a tough game that takes a major toll on the body so players are always subject to injury and more so the more wear and tear they get. It doesn't mean they are going to get injured each year, just that it's more likely to happen ... which is why we had to let players like Ware and Austin go, with Austin being an even greater risk because of persistent hamstring issues.

I disagree. Ware may have had 19 sacks and all of that but there were times....for instance in all those win and get into the playoff games we've played? How many plays can you recall Ware making? And I'm not just singling out Ware. Hatcher, Romo and Witten and Miles as well. I still remember the big game where we were facing the Giants a few years back and either Romo over threw Austin or Austin mistimed the pass. It was just a consistent trend going on around here. Our franchise players weren't showing up in key situations. Somewhere down the line I believe they just lost their hunger. I'm not even upset about it because they are human. Its easy to get paid 10 million a year and just sort of get caught in what the culture is around here.

I can't stress how great of a player Ware was for us here. But he contributed to his "wasted" years here. This whole team did.

In regards to their health......I personally think its more coincidental if anything. Maybe they're taking care of their bodies better now such as not taking unneeded contact. Demarco and Dez have done a good job of this too.