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Coming in at number six was DeMarcus Ware. Selected as a team captain in just the first few months with the Denver Broncos, it is obvious his age has nothing to do with his ability to play at an elite age just yet. He and Von Miller are poised to become one of the best pass rushing tandems in the NFL with aspirations to break sack records.
If these MHR player rankings were grouped closely together at #7, they begin to separate between each other here with the next couple of players each getting more consensus on rankings. DeMarcus Ware is definitely a solid sixth place on our rankings.
Why is He a Top Bronco?
For one, consistent greatness. Ware has been a double-digit sack master in all but two seasons - his rookie year and an injury-plagued 2013 season. I'll take double-digit sacks from a player every year if they have it to give, so when John Elway brought Ware in it was like I just saw a home run whacked out of the park.
With Jared Allen being a hot name out there, it was easy for some fans to overlook the fact that Allen was a year longer in the tooth than Ware and a full sixteen games more played, but just 11.5 more sacks than Ware, but two fewer forced fumbles and exactly the same number of tackles in their respective careers. At the end of the day, Elway wins and the Broncos will win.
DeMarcus Ware Career Stats
YR | GM | SK | TKL | AST | FF | FR | YDS | TD |
2005 | 16 | 8.0 | 47 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2006 | 16 | 11.5 | 57 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 69 | 1 |
2007 | 16 | 14.0 | 60 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | 16 | 20.0 | 69 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2009 | 16 | 11.0 | 45 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | 16 | 15.5 | 56 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 1 |
2011 | 16 | 19.5 | 47 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | 16 | 11.5 | 33 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | 13 | 6.0 | 28 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 141 | 117.0 | 442 | 132 | 32 | 7 | 91 | 2 |
Do you see that? 117 sacks and 32 forced fumbles in nine seasons. That is called consistent greatness. With Von Miller back to his old self lining up opposite of Ware, how well do you think either will do on a weekly basis in 2014? I shudder the thought. I excluded interception stats because Ware has only had one in his career, which was returned 41 yards for a touchdown. I figure that is at least worth mentioning here.
Given how talented this defense is, we may be in for a very special treat for the next two years Broncos fans.
Projecting DeMarcus Ware in 2014
So what will DeMarcus Ware do in 2014? Honestly, it is hard to gauge this as Ware has never been the "other guy" to worry about from a pass rush. He has trended downward a little over the last few seasons, but appears to be completely healthy now. Let's go with an even 15 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. That's a Pro Bowl season right there and puts he and Von Miller on equal footing to break some NFL sack records as a duo.
At the end of the day all that matters is winning the Super Bowl and for the first time in his career, Ware has found himself on one of the most stacked rosters in recent history. It is Super Bowl or bust now.