Cowboys Need More Pressure from DeMarcus Ware

Shapecity · Sep 13, 2008

IRVING — A year after registering 46 sacks to rank third in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys kicked the season off with one paltry sack against Cleveland.

Reasons abound for the team’s lack of pressure, including the decision to split linebacker Greg Ellis wide as a bump-and-run defender on tight end Kellen Winslow. That left Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware as the team’s primary rusher, playing in the hands of a blocking scheme designed to stop him.

Against Philadelphia and quarterback Donovan McNabb on Monday, reasons/excuses will not be good enough.

If the Cowboys don’t pressure McNabb, who can make plays with his arm and feet, it will make for a long day.

"You have to make him be one-dimensional, make him pass the ball and not let him dictate the offense," Ware said.

That means Ware, who led the Cowboys with 14 sacks last season, has to pressure McNabb, double-teamed or not.

"That’s not an excuse if you got two guys. Eventually you have to figure out how to beat the chip," Ware said. "If they got two guys on you, it’s going to take them longer to get rid of the ball. That’s going to give you more time to rush the passer. You have to get there."

A chip is when the offense uses the running back to help the offensive tackle on Ware.

Ware expects to face the strategy all season because he plays on the weak side away from the tight end and that’s what teams usually do to offset an edge rusher such as Ware.

The thing that hurt Ware against the Browns, who held him to one sack, was the Cowboys’ decision to take Ellis out of the pass rush and use him to help cover the tight end.

That meant the Browns slid their protection toward Ware.

"The thing is you have no inside move because the guard is coming this way and the center is coming this way," Ware said.

"You have go out wider and then the running back is there to help out. If you have somebody coming from the other side, he is going to have a one-on-one the whole time. That’s what you want for Greg."

Ellis had 12.5 sacks last season.

Samuel effect

The Cowboys might be the only team in the NFC East that celebrated when the Eagles signed cornerback Asante Samuel in the off-season, mostly because it puts Lito Sheppard on the bench.

Sheppard is the Eagles’ No. 3 cornerback, but has been the No. 1 Cowboys killer. In 10 games against the Cowboys, Sheppard has eight interceptions and two touchdowns. Since 2003, Sheppard’s eight interceptions against the Cowboys are the most against an opponent in the NFL.

But now he’s their third cornerback. Much like the Cowboys, when healthy the Eagles have three solid cornerbacks — Sheldon Brown, Sheppard and Samuel.

"We see that with our team what a difference is when your third corner comes in the game and there is not much of a drop-off between No. 2 and No. 3," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said.

"Asante jumps a lot of routes. He’s very aggressive and comes up with interceptions. We have to be smart when we attack them because he’s very good."

Injury update

Receiver Miles Austin said he could play wearing a brace on his right knee, but he would not say whether he will play against the Eagles. He remains a game-time decision.

Of the Cowboys’ three injured players — Austin, defensive back Terence Newman and linebacker Anthony Spencer — coach Wade Phillips said Austin is the closest to playing.

Mac Engel contributed to this report.
Click to expand...

Source: Star-Telegram

Vintage · Sep 13, 2008

Anderson got sacked, what, like 14 times last year. And IIRC, Joe Thomas gave up 2 of those sacks.

Ware forced a fumble and notched a sack against Joe Thomas....facing a lot of chipping/double teams. He had a pretty good day.

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Cowboys Need More Pressure from DeMarcus Ware

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Cowboys Need More Pressure from DeMarcus Ware

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