when he went in for a series or two in the second half. Problem in that first half was Ware allowing himself to get collapsed inside.
The tendency for that linebacker, who must either turn the play back inside where his middle-linebacker and safety pursuit will arrive or penetrate to the point of forcing the ball carrier further outside, is to peek inside. Bad move. Once his head gets inside the offensive tackle, he's toast.
Now he gets, as they say, "washed" inside, which means if the wide receiver is doing his job on the corner, the running back has a whole lot of space to operate in against a linebacker and or safety. Ideally, if the linebacker holds his ground or better yet sheds the block, the back now has to cut inside or try to turn the corner.
"Force and fill," Glover said of the run defense fundamentals.
These are the growing pains of changing defenses; of changing a guy's position at the NFL level. But the tradeoff is this: Ware will get pressure on the quarterback. He did against the mobile Drew Brees. While the Cowboys' first draft choice didn't record a sack and had just two tackles, he was a step away from recording like three sacks in his first NFL game.
Also, his athletic ability might further come into play this game since Washington quarterback Mark Brunell is left-handed. That means, if the Redskins roll out Brunell, chances are he's rolling to his left - into Ware territory - so he's not throwing against his body. The Cowboys probably like their chances with the 23-year-old Ware running with the 35-year-old Brunell, providing he reads the play correctly.
Now it's only a matter of time before Ware begins to show up. You should hear how his teammates marvel at his speed and quickness; at his uncanny ability to make plays.
And when he gets here, that bull's-eye just might change sides of the ball.
MICK SHOTS
