Cowboys WLB DeMarcus Ware
By Nolan Nawrocki
Nov. 26, 2008
ROLB DeMarcus Ware, #94
Dallas Cowboys
Height: 6-4, Weight: 251, Speed: 4.57
Notes: Largely unrecruited as a 165-pound receiver coming out of high school but filled out physically and moved to defense at Troy. Named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Troy after notching 53 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 10½ sacks to lead the program to its first bowl appearance. Was selected 11th overall by the Cowboys in the 2005 NFL Draft and immediately entered the starting lineup as a rookie at the weak-side linebacker position in the Cowboys’ 3-4 front, notching 65-11-8 with three forced fumbles, all of which came after sacks vs. Carolina. Started all 16 games again in ’06, and one postseason contest, finishing with 82-16½-11½, setting the Cowboys franchise record for sacks by a linebacker while also recording five forced fumbles, three pass breakups and returning an interception of a Michael Vick pass 41 yards for a TD. Also returned a Donovan McNabb fumble 69 yards for a TD. Named a starter on the NFC Pro Bowl team following the season and again in ’07, when he broke his own club record for sacks by a linebacker by tallying 80-22-14 with four forced fumbles. Is on pace to break his own sack record again through 11 games in ’08, having already recorded 73-16-12 with three pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Is the first Cowboy to lead the team, or be tied for the lead, in sacks in his first three seasons.
Positives: Excellent first-step quickness, flexibility, body control and overall athletic ability to bend off the edge and leverage the corner. Comes off the ball very low to the ground and can rip underneath blockers with his long arms and win one-on-one matchups with his upfield edge burst. Has cat-quick hands and the strength to lock out and transfer his quickness into power, jolting defenders with his punch and bulling blockers into the quarterback. Explosive off the ball. Outstanding pass-rushing instincts with a great feel for the drop point and when to use inside moves, spins and counters to come free. Functional lower-body strength. Can sink his hips and play the run with strength, able to set the edge, quickly disengage from blockers and string out backs to the sideline. Very loose-hipped and fluid in his movement. Can man up and run with backs and tight ends in coverage. Outstanding work ethic, intelligence, durability and character.
Negatives: Not a glass-eater and will use a little too much finesse at times, playing too tall, not wrapping the quarterback and missing some tackles in the open field. Does not show great awareness in coverage or instinctively feel receivers in zones. Ball skills could improve.
Summary: Arrived on the scene as a rookie and made an instant impact, very quickly developing into one of the game’s most dominant pass rushers, serving as the prototype for what teams desire in a 3-4 rush linebacker. Has begun re-writing the Cowboys' record book in his very short career, starting every game and showing continued improvement. Has shown the playmaking, pass-rush ability to be enshrined in Canton if he continues playing the way he has and is every bit deserving of becoming the NFL’s highest-paid defender.
