Ware, Wade and Finding a Cowboys Pass Rush

[T-RO]

There has been a number of posts lately critical of the Cowboys release of Demarcus Ware. It's quite understandable in light of our ongoing failure to field pass rushers and Ware's role after his departure for an elite Super Bowl champion Bronco team.

That's where we need to go back and look at the context of the decision and the impact of coach Phillips, both on past Cowboys teams and with the Broncos.

In 2008 Ware was a terror, tallying 20 sacks. The Cowboy defense led the entire league in sacks by a huge margin with 59.

And who was the coach that master-minded that defense? Wade Phillips.

Consider this quiet man's resume and accomplishments...

Phillips has been part of 19 top-10 defenses during his coaching career. Starting in 1989, when the Broncos hired him as defensive coordinator, every team he coached made the playoffs in his first season on staff.

And do his teams ever get to the passer! I did a random sample of different seasons. Here's how his pass rush performed:

Wade's defenses:
Saints, 55 sacks
Eagles, 57 sacks
Broncos, 52 sacks
Bills, 48 sacks
Chargers, 61 sacks
Falcons, 47 sacks
Cowboys, 59 sacks
Texans, 44 sacks
Broncos, 52 sacks

The Cowboys by comparison in years after Wade's departure:
2015, 31 sacks
2014, 27 sacks
2013, 34 sacks
2012, 34 sacks
2011, 42 sacks
2010, 35 sacks


There is much more to say on W&W....but I'll have to continue a little later today....

 

[Fletch]

Marinelli uses smoke and mirrors. Whole different level. Lol

 

[Joe Realist]

Ware lead league in sacks in 2008 and Cowboys finished 9-7, including that 44-6 debacle in Philly.

 

[T-RO]

Marinelli uses smoke and mirrors. Whole different level. Lol

I dont think Marinelli is a bad coach, just not a genius like Wade.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Good coordinator. Average at best Head Coach. If sacks were the biggest factor for defense then Wade would be all world. Go back to those teams and tell me did the sacks correlate with Super Bowl success? It did in Denver, with several exceptional pass rushers. How about the other places?

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I loved Ware.. I have his Jersey, one of only two I own, but let's not re write history. He was often injured and his production was way way down. It didn't match what he was being paid. Even in Denver, he hasn't been all world.. His first year there was pretty dang good but other than that, a non factor.

 

[MileyDancer]

I don't think most reasonable people had a problem letting ware go based on the fact it was a business decision.

We didn't do jack **** to replace him, or even Hatcher. Gregory? Lol. Lawrence and his 1 good game a season?

 

[KJJ]

Our sacks and pressures have gone down since Ware's departure. Our lack of pressure is our #1 issue.

 

[MRV52]

Bring Ware back the guy still can play and we have his #94 waiting since Gregory will get the boot.

 

[T-RO]

Good coordinator. Average at best Head Coach. If sacks were the biggest factor for defense then Wade would be all world. Go back to those teams and tell me did the sacks correlate with Super Bowl success? It did in Denver, with several exceptional pass rushers. How about the other places?

Wade is obviously not a good head coach.

But to try to diminish his record because of super bowls is beyond silly. Defense is 40-45% of the sport.

Wade's defenses have been elite overall...not just in terms of sacks.

The greatest "free agency" signing Jerry could do is to bring Wade back. Throw the bank at him. Wade has never failed to deliver. He's succeeded in building top defenses 9 out of 9 times with 9 franchises.

 

[Doomsday101]

I like Ware but outside of the 2014 season the injury bug once again has Ware playing less than great ball. He has 3 sacks this season and those came in the 1st 2 games since then even when he is in the lineup he is not getting to the QB. Add to that he has Von Miller on the other side. Again I loved having Ware but not at the price tag he was getting coupled with low production. Cowboys tried to get him to lower his salary and Ware was not willing to do that. I don't hold that against Ware after all it is business but by the same token Cowboys were not going to keep him at that pay

 

[T-RO]

Our sacks and pressures have gone down since Ware's departure. Our lack of pressure is our #1 issue.

Ware had 6 sacks while playing his last year with the Cowboys. He was due a salary of $18 million and the Cowboys were in a major salary cap bind.

There was little the team could do. They had to let him go.

As for bringing Ware back...if the price is right...sure. But he'll be 35 and isn't the same athlete anymore. Expectations for Ware moving forward should be scaled way back.

 

[KJJ]

Bring Ware back the guy still can play and we have his #94 waiting since Gregory will get the boot.

Should have never let him go, our pass rush has diminished ever since.

 

[VietCowboy]

I loved Ware as a Cowboys, but I remember the last years many of his sacks were in garbage time. Of course, we've done nothing to improve things since he's left.

 

[CATCH17]

Dallas needs to start getting more takeaways. We were good at it early on in the year but the last month it has been bad.

I don't see us losing to anybody if we win the takeaway battle.

 

[Fletch]

I dont think Marinelli is a bad coach, just not a genius like Wade.

Agree, with less talent until next offseason.

 

[Dale]

Wade is obviously not a good head coach.

But to try to diminish his record because of super bowls is beyond silly. Defense is 40-45% of the sport.

Wade's defenses have been elite overall...not just in terms of sacks.

The greatest "free agency" signing Jerry could do is to bring Wade back. Throw the bank at him. Wade has never failed to deliver. He's succeeded in building top defenses 9 out of 9 times with 9 franchises.

Is his contract in Denver up? Don't think coaches can make lateral moves, unless their team approves it. Don't know why Denver would want to let Wade walk.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

Ware was a luxury we could not afford at that time.

He would be a huge boost to the defense we have now no doubt, and I think it would go a long way towards feeling better about our defense going into the playoffs.

 

[KJJ]

Ware had 6 sacks while playing his last year with the Cowboys. He was due a salary of $18 million and the Cowboys were in a major salary cap bind.

There was little the team could do. They had to let him go.

As for bringing Ware back...if the price is right...sure. But he'll be 35 and isn't the same athlete anymore. Expectations for Ware moving forward should be scaled way back.

Four of Ware's sacks came in the first three games in 2013 and he had an INT. He was off to one of his best seasons ever but suffered an injury and it hampered him the rest of the season. There's ways of massaging the cap to keep valuable players and he was a very valuable player because he had to be accounted for and doubled teamed many times. Our lack of a consistent pass rush is going to get us beat in the playoffs if we don't get it going by then.

Bringing Ware back now at this point in his career wouldn't make much sense. Like you mentioned he'll be 35 and has to be spelled a lot. We need a young pass rusher and we blew a couple of great opportunities of coming up with a couple by gambling a pick on Gregory who's virtually done with the Cowboys and Smith who hasn't played a down for us this season.

 

[aikemirv]

Letting Ware go was the absolute right decision. Gregory is obviously ending up to be a bad pick and we spent a lot of high picks on the offense lately. Hardy was a Free agent disaster(cheap one though)

Freeney would have been a great pickup for this team. A free agent pickup with a first rounder on the line should be the move next year. Hopefully Jaylon is able to play and the LB position is solidified. Mo getting hut will make his free agent value affordable IMO because he just can't stay healthy. I think the secondary is solid. Get some edge rushers and our defense will be in good shape next year.

I think Romo retires or is traded so that may free up cap space for a good FA signing.(but I am not a cap expert at all so maybe it would not)