Post by theericr on Dec 16, 2008 10:32:23 GMT -7
IRVING – As he stood in the hallway outside the locker room Monday, DeMarcus Ware could hear the chants as Jason Witten got closer to him.
"MVP, MVP, MVP."
"Stop all that," Ware said, smiling.
With two games to go, Ware is the NFL sack leader with 19, just 3 ½ away from tying Michael Strahan's season record.
"He should have 20," coach Wade Phillips said. "We had one earlier in the year where he ran the quarterback out of bounds, and they gave it to Zach [Thomas]."
Ware is one of 10 players to have at least 19 sacks in a season since 1982. The Cowboys' final two opponents, Baltimore (25) and Philadelphia (18), have allowed 43 sacks this season.
But Ware is not counting, even though he is so close to NFL history.
"I know where I am, but really what's gotten me there is not thinking about it and just playing and assessing it at the end of the game," Ware said.
The pass rush has been the big catalyst as the Cowboys make a push to the playoffs, and it has not been just Ware.
The Cowboys lead the NFL with 53 sacks. Thirteen different defenders have recorded at least one, compared to 10 last year.
Greg Ellis and Jay Ratliff are tied for second with seven apiece. Bradie James has six sacks, the most in the NFL by an inside linebacker and the most by a Cowboys inside linebacker since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
James is one of three players with a career high this season – along with Ware and Ratliff – and Chris Canty has equaled his career high with 3 ½ sacks.
"We're trying to actually make something happen defensively," James said. "That's been our big play. That's been our niche, our identity, rushing the passer."
And it's been Phillips' identity as a defensive coach. In his three years as San Diego's defensive coordinator, the Chargers' sack total went from 29 in 2004 to 46 in '05 to a league-high 61 in 2006.
Last year, the Cowboys had 46 sacks, up from 34 in 2006. They are nine sacks short of the team record of 62 set in 1985. The Cowboys have had eight games this season with at least four sacks.
Phillips said the pass rush success starts with the run defense.
"Once you realize they are not going to be able to run the football on you," Phillips said, "you can take more chances, you can attack more, you can go up the field more. ... I think that's part of it, and then just having some individuals like we have."
Like Ware.
He has increased his sack total each year, going from eight in 2005 to 111/2, then 14, and now 19. Only Harvey Martin (23 in 1977) has had more in a season for the Cowboys, but that was when sacks were not an official NFL stat.
"He's the kind of guy," Canty said of Ware, "that you're going to tell your kids about."
Source: Todd Archer - DMN
"MVP, MVP, MVP."
"Stop all that," Ware said, smiling.
With two games to go, Ware is the NFL sack leader with 19, just 3 ½ away from tying Michael Strahan's season record.
"He should have 20," coach Wade Phillips said. "We had one earlier in the year where he ran the quarterback out of bounds, and they gave it to Zach [Thomas]."
Ware is one of 10 players to have at least 19 sacks in a season since 1982. The Cowboys' final two opponents, Baltimore (25) and Philadelphia (18), have allowed 43 sacks this season.
But Ware is not counting, even though he is so close to NFL history.
"I know where I am, but really what's gotten me there is not thinking about it and just playing and assessing it at the end of the game," Ware said.
The pass rush has been the big catalyst as the Cowboys make a push to the playoffs, and it has not been just Ware.
The Cowboys lead the NFL with 53 sacks. Thirteen different defenders have recorded at least one, compared to 10 last year.
Greg Ellis and Jay Ratliff are tied for second with seven apiece. Bradie James has six sacks, the most in the NFL by an inside linebacker and the most by a Cowboys inside linebacker since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
James is one of three players with a career high this season – along with Ware and Ratliff – and Chris Canty has equaled his career high with 3 ½ sacks.
"We're trying to actually make something happen defensively," James said. "That's been our big play. That's been our niche, our identity, rushing the passer."
And it's been Phillips' identity as a defensive coach. In his three years as San Diego's defensive coordinator, the Chargers' sack total went from 29 in 2004 to 46 in '05 to a league-high 61 in 2006.
Last year, the Cowboys had 46 sacks, up from 34 in 2006. They are nine sacks short of the team record of 62 set in 1985. The Cowboys have had eight games this season with at least four sacks.
Phillips said the pass rush success starts with the run defense.
"Once you realize they are not going to be able to run the football on you," Phillips said, "you can take more chances, you can attack more, you can go up the field more. ... I think that's part of it, and then just having some individuals like we have."
Like Ware.
He has increased his sack total each year, going from eight in 2005 to 111/2, then 14, and now 19. Only Harvey Martin (23 in 1977) has had more in a season for the Cowboys, but that was when sacks were not an official NFL stat.
"He's the kind of guy," Canty said of Ware, "that you're going to tell your kids about."
Source: Todd Archer - DMN