The Myth of DeMarcus Ware's dropoff (Warning: contains actual facts)

[Nation]

Nobody has more unrealistic expectations put on them than pass rushers, especially with our "knowledgeable" fanbase. The #1 player in the league in terms of QB Sacks, Hits, and Hurries is Michael Bennett with 52 of them on 489 snaps. That means 10.6% of his plays he's harassing the quarterback, and the other 89.4% of the time he isn't. So when you see in a game thread someone say "Ware will have one big play and then 9 when he doesn't do anything" people should know that is legitimate elite performance. It might not be what you want to see as an irrational fan, but in comparison to his peers it is a high level of place.

DeMarcus Ware is still in the top ten in terms of Sacks/Hits/Hurries per snap played. Beyond stats he's grading out very favorably as a pass rusher and is amongst the top of the 4-3 ends in terms of run defense. For the more advanced stat crowd, he's 3rd in ProFootballFocus' Pass Rushing Productivity percentage.The film in no way, shape, or form fits the narrative of the message board, as hard as that may be to hear for some people that just want to plug their ears and blame Romo, Witten, and Ware for the current state of this team.

DeMarcus Ware Pass Rushing Productivity Snaps per PFF:
2013: 11.8 (3rd in the league amongst 4-3 DEs)
2012: 11.4 (3rd in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2011: 12.9 (4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2010: 12.7 (4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2009: 12.3 (2nd in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2008: 9.3(4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)

If you want to tell me it's become slightly harder for pass rushers to impact plays on a play-by-play basis because of more spread formations and quicker release times out of quarterbacks you probably have a point. But if you want to say that DeMarcus Ware has dropped off or is not performing at the level of an elite pass rusher in comparison to his peers you are 100% incorrect, and there is truthfully zero argument on the other side.

 

[Future]

I dont care what the stats say. The guy is not a gamebreaker. He was completely nonexistent last night, AGAIN. The guy is done.

 

[SDCowboy]

They must be pretty lax on what they consider pressuring the QB. He is an absolute non-factor out there anymore outside of the name on his jersey.

 

[Mattsdad]

sad to say, but cant disagree. Time to move on.

 

[Stash]

Nobody has more unrealistic expectations put on them than pass rushers, especially with our "knowledgeable" fanbase. The #1 player in the league in terms of QB Sacks, Hits, and Hurries is Michael Bennett with 52 of them on 489 snaps. That means 10.6% of his plays he's harassing the quarterback, and the other 89.4% of the time he isn't. So when you see in a game thread someone say "Ware will have one big play and then 9 when he doesn't do anything" people should know that is legitimate elite performance. It might not be what you want to see as an irrational fan, but in comparison to his peers it is a high level of place.

DeMarcus Ware is still in the top ten in terms of Sacks/Hits/Hurries per snap played. Beyond stats he's grading out very favorably as a pass rusher and is amongst the top of the 4-3 ends in terms of run defense. For the more advanced stat crowd, he's 3rd in ProFootballFocus' Pass Rushing Productivity percentage.The film in no way, shape, or form fits the narrative of the message board, as hard as that may be to hear for some people that just want to plug their ears and blame Romo, Witten, and Ware for the current state of this team.

DeMarcus Ware Pass Rushing Productivity Snaps per PFF:
2013: 11.8 (3rd in the league amongst 4-3 DEs)
2012: 11.4 (3rd in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2011: 12.9 (4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2010: 12.7 (4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2009: 12.3 (2nd in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2008: 9.3(4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)

If you want to tell me it's become slightly harder for pass rushers to impact plays on a play-by-play basis because of more spread formations and quicker release times out of quarterbacks you probably have a point. But if you want to say that DeMarcus Ware has dropped off or is not performing at the level of an elite pass rusher in comparison to his peers you are 100% incorrect, and there is truthfully zero argument on the other side.

Is that the same Michael Bennett that we could have signed this offseason for half of what we franchise tagged Spencer for?

 

[CATCH17]

I don't think he is done. He may be done this year but I think he can bounce back next year and be a top 5 rusher.

I would hope DL is the #1 priority next year and we get some help there and maybe take some of the pressure off of him.

 

[maxdallasfan]

don't even know he's out there half the time

 

[Hook'em#11]

Nobody has more unrealistic expectations put on them than pass rushers, especially with our "knowledgeable" fanbase. .

Tony Romo would like to speak to you..

What a bunch of "UNKNOWLEDGEABLE" crap.

 

[Future]

Is that the same Michael Bennett that we could have signed this offseason for half of what we franchise tagged Spencer for?

The guy has a whopping 6.5 sacks. They came against the Falcons, Bucs, Cards, Titans, Jags, and 49ers. 5 of those 6 teams are atrocious.

He must be a real playmaker.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Cowboys fans are pretty stupid, we deserve all the losing and bad Karma. We deserve Jerry Jones!

 

[dfense]

Nobody has more unrealistic expectations put on them than pass rushers, especially with our "knowledgeable" fanbase. The #1 player in the league in terms of QB Sacks, Hits, and Hurries is Michael Bennett with 52 of them on 489 snaps. That means 10.6% of his plays he's harassing the quarterback, and the other 89.4% of the time he isn't. So when you see in a game thread someone say "Ware will have one big play and then 9 when he doesn't do anything" people should know that is legitimate elite performance. It might not be what you want to see as an irrational fan, but in comparison to his peers it is a high level of place.

DeMarcus Ware is still in the top ten in terms of Sacks/Hits/Hurries per snap played. Beyond stats he's grading out very favorably as a pass rusher and is amongst the top of the 4-3 ends in terms of run defense. For the more advanced stat crowd, he's 3rd in ProFootballFocus' Pass Rushing Productivity percentage.The film in no way, shape, or form fits the narrative of the message board, as hard as that may be to hear for some people that just want to plug their ears and blame Romo, Witten, and Ware for the current state of this team.

DeMarcus Ware Pass Rushing Productivity Snaps per PFF:
2013: 11.8 (3rd in the league amongst 4-3 DEs)
2012: 11.4 (3rd in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2011: 12.9 (4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2010: 12.7 (4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2009: 12.3 (2nd in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)
2008: 9.3(4th in the league amongst 3-4 OLBs)

If you want to tell me it's become slightly harder for pass rushers to impact plays on a play-by-play basis because of more spread formations and quicker release times out of quarterbacks you probably have a point. But if you want to say that DeMarcus Ware has dropped off or is not performing at the level of an elite pass rusher in comparison to his peers you are 100% incorrect, and there is truthfully zero argument on the other side.

Last nights game was not the best comparison for Ware. The Bears WR's were so dominant, they could keep a TE in to help chip Ware. Plus, he's just coming off an injury. Having said that, Ware is not a DE. He's an speed rushing OLB. They should think about getting what they can for him while he still has something. The need lots of Dlineman. Lots. Draft: DE,DT,OLB,DE,DT

 

[Stash]

The guy has a whopping 6.5 sacks. They came against the Falcons, Bucs, Cards, Titans, Jags, and 49ers. 5 of those 6 teams are atrocious.

He must be a real playmaker.

By comparison, what are Spencer's numbers this year?

And if these stats are worth anything, Bennett is performing better than the rest of the field in terms of being disruptive to an offense. Unless your point is that the numbers are meaningless?

 

[burmafrd]

DeWare is nowhere near as healthy as he is trying to claim. That is clear.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Hes not the SAME Ware as before, but we've signed 17 different Dlinemen this year because he needs help. You have to be fair.

 

[SDCowboy]

DeWare is nowhere near as healthy as he is trying to claim. That is clear.

We keep hearing this every year though. Nobody is healthy this time of the year. Injured, old or a combination of the two, if this is who Ware is now as a player, it's time to move on.

 

[Future]

By comparison, what are Spencer's numbers this year?

And if these stats are worth anything, Bennett is performing better than the rest of the field in terms of being disruptive to an offense. Unless your point is that the numbers are meaningless?

PFF numbers are always meaningless, imo.

Spencer is a better player than Bennett, and has had very few injury problems. Saying that Bennett is having a better year b/c Spencer is out doesn't make sense. Nobody could foresee that.

 

[dmq]

I saw him and several others dogging it many times last night. That is what was so frustrating watching the defense last night.

 

[Wood]

Ware is not what I would call a 'timely' sack producer. He gets his numbers and will look awe-inspiring to some future cowboy fan who never watched him play. But I never got the sense he was a game changer like Haley. I will remember him more for being a gentleman on/off the field than a fierce competitor who elevated his game in critical situations.

 

[Parcells4Life]

I saw him and several others dogging it many times last night. That is what was so frustrating watching the defense last night.

How many snaps did Ware play last night? After the 1st quarter I don't think he played many if ANY full series the rest of the game. He's turning into a situational guy. This is the 2nd year in a row his body's given out on him after 8 games.

 

[Nation]

PFF numbers are always meaningless, imo.

Spencer is a better player than Bennett, and has had very few injury problems. Saying that Bennett is having a better year b/c Spencer is out doesn't make sense. Nobody could foresee that.

These are just actual official NFL rush statistics, not any of their per-play grading statistics.