Denver Broncos: Defense is No Worse for Ware

Repeating as Super Bowl champion is not an easy task. Of course, either is avoiding the potent pass rush of the Denver Broncos.

There have been plenty of doubters (and it’s only June) when it comes to the chance of the Denver Broncos repeating as Super Bowl champions in 2016. It’s somewhat understandable given the departures from the team’s championship roster.

But the league’s top-ranked defense from ’15, with the exception of starting defensive end Malik Jackson and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, returns basically intact. Yes, general manager John Elway still has to get Super Bowl 50 Most Valuable Player Von Miller under contract. But this is a unit that should once again be among the formidable in the league.

It took 11 NFL seasons but defensive stalwart DeMarcus Ware is finally an NFL champion. The 11th overall pick in 2005 by the Dallas Cowboys from Troy University has spent the past two seasons in the Mile High City. His 2015 consisted of only 11 games due to back issues but he still managed 7.5 sacks and was a vital part of the NFL’s top-ranked defense – one that led the NFL with 52 quarterback traps.

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Shane Ray (56) against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 20-18 to advance to the Super Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Ware spent his first nine campaigns with the Cowboys, earning seven Pro Bowl invitations while totaling 117 sacks and 32 forced fumbles in only 141 regular-season contests. He’s added 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions in 27 games with the Broncos.

So what can we expect from the veteran defender this season? “I wouldn’t think my role will be different. I mean, my role is always sacking quarterbacks, so that’s going to stay the same,” said the veteran defender back in late April to Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com. “The coaches are staying the same, the trainers are the same, the strength guys are the same, so I don’t think my role is going to change.

“I think maybe the way we’ll approach the season (will change)…,” added Ware. “This is my 12th year now; it’s not like I don’t know what to do – especially in Wade (Phillips)’ defense. Just protecting your body and making sure that you’re ready for the opportunities to come during the season.”

In eight of his 11 years in the league, the 6’4”, 247-pound professional has amassed 10 or more sacks. As Ware mentioned, he’s more than familiar with Phillips during the duo’s days in Dallas, the pair was reunited this past year and it resulted in a Super Bowl title for the coach and the player.
Paired with Miller, this is one of the most potent pass-rushing tandems in the game.

And you can be sure that Ware still has plenty left to give as he enters his 12th NFL season. Just ask young outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett (5.5 sacks) and especially Shane Ray (4.0 sacks), who no doubt benefitted via some words of experienced wisdom.

“I told (Ray), ‘You can use your athleticism to a certain point, but when you can think about the mental aspects of the game, the fundamentals, the techniques, that’s what’s going to get you over the top. And how consistent can you be for a whole game, instead of a play here, a play there. When it comes to crunch time, are you going to show up?’” said Ware to Mason. “I think that’s how those guys are going to mature this year, and they have a whole other year – all of us together.”

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Miller, Ware, Barrett and Ray for more than half (28) of the club’s aforementioned 52 sacks. All of them together has a pretty scary sound to it if you’re an opposing quarterback.

And here’s a fact that might startle you. Dating back to the merger in 1970, no NFL team has led the league in sacks in consecutive seasons. There’s something for the defending champs to aim for as well.

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