What's the deal with Demarcus Ware?

[Daudr]

From this perspective, he doesn't seem any better in the pass rushing department than he was last year, and I have yet to see him execute a move beyond his patented speed rush.

You haven't been looking too hard then. I saw him make several moves in this game alone, including the "Dwight Freeney spin" move.

 

[superpunk]

You haven't been looking too hard then. I saw him make several moves in this game alone, including the "Dwight Freeney spin" move.

He was real, real slow with it, though. It needs some work, lol.

 

[AdamJT13]

Thanks Adam, any stats on how many QB pressure's Ware has this season ?

According to the NFL Gamebooks, Ware leads the team with five QB hurries (not including sacks).

 

[AbeBeta]

Abersonc
It isn't about the fact we didn't play good defense.
People are looking for an impact Sackmaster.
We didn't need that against the Texans to beat them.
But we struggle at generating Turnovers and a Sackmaster is a big generator of those.
Ware just doesn't look like that kind of player right now.

FYI-there were actually several stunts called on the D-line yesterday.

You are right and wrong. You are right in that we do need an impact "sackmaster" -- however, you are wrong in describing that player's role. Ware's role ideally is to get sacks and cause turnovers -- WHEN the opposition puts him in a position to reasonably do so. The Texans spend a ton of time in max (or extra) protect schemes coupled with short drops. They picked their poison - they chose to go with a very conservative offense that would avoid sacks. We responded by only rushing 4-5 on each down which produced double coverage on most of the receivers.

If we didn't have a Ware on this team, the Texans would have played O differently.

 

[50cent]

Here's an idea. Switch Ellis and Ware's sides. Ware is stout enough against the run and pass. If Ellis ca pick that position up quick, I'm sure Ware can too. Ellis in his best years was able to get 8-9 sacks vs teams LT. Putting Ware on a supposedly weaker pass blocking TE may help his production. Plus he shouldn'y be a liability in the pass or rushing game.

 

[Stautner]

Here's an idea. Switch Ellis and Ware's sides. Ware is stout enough against the run and pass. If Ellis ca pick that position up quick, I'm sure Ware can too. Ellis in his best years was able to get 8-9 sacks vs teams LT. Putting Ware on a supposedly weaker pass blocking TE may help his production. Plus he shouldn'y be a liability in the pass or rushing game.

I don't think Ware really is a liability in the rushing game - even if he hasn't improved much as a pass rusher he clearly has pickedit up against the run.

Neither Ellis or Ware is particularly strong in coverage, that will be a continued issue for both of them as they learn their position.

I just don't see how a change of sides would really have an impact.

I think the reality is that at least up to this point Ware is just not the pass rushing machine that fans rushed to make him. Fans were blinded by his "potential" - his physical traits and skills - and annointed him as a sack machine before he even proved anything.

 

[Org1]

I think he did

Even without the sacks his presence is felt

 

[50cent]

I don't think Ware really is a liability in the rushing game - even if he hasn't improved much as a pass rusher he clearly has pickedit up against the run.

Neither Ellis or Ware is particularly strong in coverage, that will be a continued issue for both of them as they learn their position.

I just don't see how a change of sides would really have an impact.

I think the reality is that at least up to this point Ware is just not the pass rushing machine that fans rushed to make him. Fans were blinded by his "potential" - his physical traits and skills - and annointed him as a sack machine before he even proved anything.

I'm not saying he is a liability in the rushing game. I think he can hold his own on the other side in the run game and still rush the passer vs. the RT. Ellis can play the ROLB and still create havoic in the passing game.

 

[Stautner]

I'm not saying he is a liability in the rushing game. I think he can hold his own on the other side in the run game and still rush the passer vs. the RT. Ellis can play the ROLB and still create havoic in the passing game.

I assume your point is that you expect the RT to be less of a pass blocker than the LT, so Ware will have a better opportunity to get to the QB if he plays LOLB.

Even if that's true, then by giving one OLB a better opportunity to get to the QB you have given the other a lesser opportunity.

This may make sense if one OLB were clearly a better pass rusher than the other, but Ware has not proven that.

 

[sillycon]

He was real, real slow with it, though. It needs some work, lol.

Yeah, when I first saw that I was like, "what the hell was that?!". It was more of a slow rotation than a spin and when he was done he was still on the same spot and no closer to the qb. It was like he was thinking he would be magically transported to the qb with that move...

 

[Stautner]

Yeah, when I first saw that I was like, "what the hell was that?!". It was more of a slow rotation than a spin and when he was done he was still on the same spot and no closer to the qb. It was like he was thinking he would be magically transported to the qb with that move...

The spin move doesn't work if you stay in the same spot - then it becomes a pirouette (sp?). Can't outplay many OT's with a pirouette ......

 

[Marktui]

I think it's becoming very clear that DeMarcus Ware isn't a sackmaster.

I think he's a very good player, but if you're expecting a Julius Pepper then he Ware is not.

I keep hearing fans say, he's not suppose to sell-out for the pass rush or he's suppose to drop back in pass coverage, and that's all well and good.

But when we need a sack, and I see him moving towards the QB, and he doesn't get the sack and the QB completes the pass for a first down, that tells me something no matter how one tries to spin it.

From this perspective, he doesn't seem any better in the pass rushing department than he was last year, and I have yet to see him execute a move beyond his patented speed rush.

But I'm sure I'll get the obligatory, "He does what the defensive staff tells him to do."

Well, the staff better tell him to sack the quarterback on 3rd and 15 when he's rushing or we need a new staff.

Ware and Peppers are nothing alike. Peppers is a 290 lbs freak of nature. Ware has the same speed as Peppers, but no where near the strength of JP. So if he does not beat the tackle initially with the first few steps, he is going to get stoned. I think he is still raw and will develop in the long run. He does other things really well, he is stout against the run, if they try to run outside on his side he can run down RB's. He is getting better in pass coverage, so I think he is becoming a well rounded LB. Instead of just being a one trick pony. Ware is an asset on defense, not a liability.

 

[Jaxonsdaddd]

I was expecting a little bit more out of Demarcus this year than he has showed so far. I like him, think he's a good player but I thought this year he would emerge as our best defensive player... Dont think he has done that

 

[AdamJT13]

Ware has the same speed as Peppers, but no where near the strength of JP.

Ware's bull rush can be extremely impressive at times.

 

[ZeroClub]

Even though Ware is asked to play contain more than I might like, I gotta say that Ware typically does an outstanding job with his contain assignments.

He's very hard to block in space and it's very difficult to get passed him.

 

[BlueStar22]

I swear folks here, they just can't be happy with playing good team defense.

blame fantasy football.

 

[Eskimo]

Thus far Ware looks like a good but not a great player - will be interesting to see how much further he develops. He rarely seems to commit to an all-out speed rush which is interesting considering that is his greatest strength as a pass rusher. His bull rush is okay for a smaller player but all his secondary moves are ineffective.

 

[BlueStar22]

I guess if all he was asked to do is rush the passer like you know who.........

 

[Stautner]

I guess if all he was asked to do is rush the passer like you know who.........

He still rushes the passer a lot - he just hasn't proven that he is the player in that regard fans seem convinced he is.

Ware is certainly an upgrade as a pass rusher over Ekuban and others, but he doesn't appear to be much more than "above average" at this point - much like Ellis, a decent pass rusher, but not a standout.

 

[Vintage]

Ware's bull rush can be extremely impressive at times.

At times. Brilliant.