DeMarcus Ware

OLB, PASS RUSH END · Troy
Demarcus is an excellent edge rusher with outstanding speed and change of direction agility. He lacks the ideal frame you look for in an every-down end and could be limited to situational duties in the NFL because of his lack of bulk. However, if one should watch his battles against 344-pound tackle Nate Griffin (Marshall) and 330-pounder Andrew Whitworth (LSU) in 2004, you will see a player that compensates for a lack of size with a relentless motor and excellent lateral agility. He is a fluid and flexible runner who plays at a low pad level and has proven to be very successful playing off the edge. Even with his long arms, when he works in-line, he struggles to disengage when the larger blockers lock on to him. However, he shows excellent snap anticipation ability and easily eludes blockers with his initial burst into the backfield. When he gets an edge on an offensive lineman's shoulder, he is quick to turn the corner and shows urgency closing on the passer. Ware can make opposite field plays due to his acceleration and has exceptional ability to come off the edge to collapse the pocket and reach the quarterback. He is a superb chase guy who moves easily coming from the backside. Despite giving up considerable bulk to offensive linemen, he has the strength to get a good push off blocks, redirect and string plays out. He is relentless in pursuit and does a nice job of staying low in his pads to deliver crunching tackles on the move. Demarcus is instinctive and plays with good field vision. Ware shows nice flexibility to leverage at the point of attack and has the lateral slide to avoid blocks on the move. He is a solid wrap-up tackler who can punish runners with his hitting ability. He shows good hand usage and extension to stave off the blockers trying to get into his chest, but if they lock on, he can be neutralized. He will then try to overcompensate, taking wrong angles to the ball or fail to control his momentum by getting too far upfield to make the play. Ware has a very strong hand punch and good arm extension. He is strong at the point and knows how to squeeze and leverage blockers. He has raw pass rush technique and needs to develop better counter moves, as he relies mostly on his sudden burst to make plays in the backfield. He lacks polish in his backpedal and is not experienced in dropping back while in man coverage. Demarcus knows how to use his hands to reroute tight ends and backs in the short area, but will bite on play action and eyes the quarterback too long when having to play in zone coverage. He is better suited playing in space and on the move. He will make a lot of his plays coming from the backside, but when he gets too high in his stance, he will struggle to disengage trying to shoot the inside gaps. He looks more like a Jason Taylor clone, as he is best working off the edge. Some liken him to Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, but from film review, I do not think that he has the pass coverage ability to drop back and handle zone assignments (best when making tackles in front of him). Still, his explosion and desire to make the play will make this guy one that will have to be accounted for on the field. He will need to add bulk in order to remain a down lineman, but his frame may be at maximum growth potential. If he moves to linebacker, he is better suited to operate as a weak-side rush linebacker in a 3-4 alignment in order to get value from him immediately.

Recent DeMarcus Ware Notes

Syracuse alum Tom Coughlin among semifinalists for Football Hall of Fame

Recent DeMarcus Ware Features

Week 15 Answers to NFL Jeopardy

NFL Week 11: Scores, stats, facts & Stuff

Broncos' Harris: Chubb looks like a young Khalil Mack

NFL Notebook: Bucs QB Winston reportedly facing suspension

Ware compares Broncos' Chubb to himself