Where do you rank Ware?

[Vintage]

A friend of mine and I were discussing this the other day.....

When thinking of 3-4 OLB's, where do you rank Ware?

 

[superpunk]

Ware's my boy. I can fully homer out on him, and say you can make at least aan argument for him being the best. He's a beast against the run, he can cover, he's made athletic INTs, and he's a freak as a passrusher.

What's his competition, really? I disregard Merriman, for better or worse, so you're not going to convince me that he's a better player. Who could anyone really make a case for being an all-around better player than Ware? Wimbley had a hell of a year last year. Porter has been down, and is going to a different system. Who is there, really, who can be compared to Ware? He made FO's all-pro team last year, was a pro-bowler and notched duoble digit sacks and had a litany of big plays, in run and pass defense. Stopping Jacobs on a critical short-yardage play, single-handedly ending the Colts, his athletic INTs.

If there's someone better, I'm blanking on who it might be. Unless you're including Jason Taylor.

 

[Chuck 54]

Too early for me to say.

At this point, he's not as good as Merriman or Joey Porter in his prime.

He's not even in the conversation with LT.

He's got the athletic ability, but he's still got some developing to do before we name him one of the great ones...he needs more consistancy, imo.

 

[theogt]

Among current, pure 3-4 OLBs:

Sheer athleticism: #1
Pass-rushing: #2

 

[Chuck 54]

Ware's my boy. I can fully homer out on him, and say you can make at least aan argument for him being the best. He's a beast against the run, he can cover, he's made athletic INTs, and he's a freak as a passrusher.

What's his competition, really? I disregard Merriman, for better or worse, so you're not going to convince me that he's a better player. Who could anyone really make a case for being an all-around better player than Ware? Wimbley had a hell of a year last year. Porter has been down, and is going to a different system. Who is there, really, who can be compared to Ware? He made FO's all-pro team last year, was a pro-bowler and notched duoble digit sacks and had a litany of big plays, in run and pass defense. Stopping Jacobs on a critical short-yardage play, single-handedly ending the Colts, his athletic INTs.

If there's someone better, I'm blanking on who it might be. Unless you're including Jason Taylor.

Why would you disregard Merriman, who clearly has been better up to this point in time and was still a beast after his suspension.

 

[superpunk]

Why would you disregard Merriman, who clearly has been better up to this point in time and was still a beast after his suspension.

I don't think it's that obscure. He's a cheater. Everything he's done to this point is tainted. It's not like the benefits he reaped from the anabolic steroids just disappear overnight. Let's see how he does this year before considering him for anything. JMO.

 

[YosemiteSam]

In the new defense. If Ware can produce 15+ sacks. I will rank him the best 3-4 OLB in the league. His ability to cover, play the run, and pass rush. Merriman (cheater or not) dropped 17 sacks even after being suspended. That is still very impressive. Ware is clearly better than Merriman against the run or in coverage. If I were watching a game and I wanted excitement? Merriman is your man. Lets see what Ware can do this year with that very same coach. (Kind of ironic isn't it?)

 

[adamknite]

A friend of mine and I were discussing this the other day.....

When thinking of 3-4 OLB's, where do you rank Ware?

Right now, I'd say he is atleast a top 3 OLB in the league. He may not be the best pass rushing LB/OLB but he is great against the run and he tackles very well. He is good in coverage, he's a linebacker so he is never going to be "great" in coverage but when he's asked to cover he covers very well espcially for a LB. So he is definetly one of the best "overall" OLB's in the league no doubt. Unlike Merriman, Ware actually has other Linebacker duties other then rushing the passer every down.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I would like to see Ware "Let loose" before I really comment... overall I like him.... great athleticism(see the Vick SN-INT=SNapped INT out of air) LOL


I believe in 2007 he passes right by Merriman... in stats, in news(not steroid news) sports news and overall play.... I saw Merriman burned for TD that cost them the game and then I saw Merriman "pancaked" easily by Todd Light

 

[CF74]

He's in the top 3 and probably the most balanced of all with the exception of pass coverage where he might be average at best...:starspin

 

[dmq]

I love Ware. I don't know of any Cowboys fans that don't. The only thing is I wish he would develop more rushing moves. He improved greatly from his first year to his second IMHO. This I think is the year he arrives as a dominant play.

 

[smarta5150]

For those Merriman guys don't forget about the Pro-Bowl.

Looked like the steroids were finally affecting him negatively with injuries.

They aren't just illegal because of the performance enhancement but also for your own well being.

 

[dargonking999]

Ware is the best OLB in the game, and will be the best to ever play the game at the end of his career.

Now, argue away

 

[DallasEast]

Ware is the best OLB in the game, and will be the best to ever play the game at the end of his career.

Now, argue away

Let's hope so, but you do know that you were five when Lawrence Taylor retired, right?

 

[dargonking999]

Let's hope so, but you do know that you were five when Lawrence Taylor retired, right?

So, doesn't mean that Ware can't be as good, or better than him.

 

[pgreptom]

He's not #1. You just can't label him that, yet. He's yet to top Merriman in doing what his position is supposed to do - rush the passer. He can cover better than Merriman.. but he doesn't have that "lights out" effect on passing games, as Merriman usually does when he rushes. Now, let's see if that was because Merriman is a better pass rusher.. or because of Phillips scheme.

 

[JBS]

Ware is definitely in the top 3-4 OLBs in the NFL. I can understand those who think merriman is better, I can also understand those who say merriman is not better. I believe this year will indeed determine who is the greater of the 2. 1) Merriman should be off of the roids...should be...#2 and most importantly Ware has proven he can do it without a beast Dcoord like wade phillips pass rushing him 90% of the time...We will see this year how well Merriman does now that phillips is gone.. However, what is most surprising to me is that Adalius Thomas' name has yet to come up. He is definitely Ware's biggest competition when discussing the leagues best OLB.

 

[Vintage]

Ware is definitely in the top 3-4 OLBs in the NFL. I can understand those who think merriman is better, I can also understand those who say merriman is not better. I believe this year will indeed determine who is the greater of the 2. 1) Merriman should be off of the roids...should be...#2 and most importantly Ware has proven he can do it without a beast Dcoord like wade phillips pass rushing him 90% of the time...We will see this year how well Merriman does now that phillips is gone.. However, what is most surprising to me is that Adalius Thomas' name has yet to come up. He is definitely Ware's biggest competition when discussing the leagues best OLB.

Agreed. He has very good cover skills, so much so, he occasionally lines up in the secondary.

He is a good pass rusher to boot.

Dunno how he is against the run though...

 

[tomson75]

Agreed. He has very good cover skills, so much so, he occasionally lines up in the secondary.

He is a good pass rusher to boot.

Dunno how he is against the run though...

Ask Brandon Jacobs...he'd probably say Ware is pretty damn good.

 

[tomson75]

...and for those of you whom are pimping Merriman, do yourself a favor and look up some of Adamjt13's old posts on the subject. I can't recall exactly, but the majority of his sacks came against RB's trying to block him...its called scheme. It also helped that he had an accompaniment of pass rushers on the field with him...where as Ware did not. One on one against a DE, I believe Adam's stats showed Ware was just as succesful as SM. Those are two very important factors to consider before comparing the two. That being said, now that we seem to have corrected those two problems, and Ware will be using the same scheme Merriman has been using, Ware needs to perform. Personally, I'm bettting he does.

IMO, Ware is also a superior overall player, and a better overall athlete. Merriman can't cover like Ware, and I'd have to say Ware's play against the run is becoming unmatched. I'm going to let Ware play another year before I crown him OLB royalty, however.