Film Room: What DeMarcus Ware brings to the Broncos defense

DeMarcus Ware wants you to know he's still here. That he's still the pass-rushing menace that he's always been. That he can still run with the first-team.

He raises his right arm straight in the air, points his index finger straight at the sky and spins it. He stomps his left foot down inside the right hash. Slowly, he straightens his shoulders and sinks his hips. His arms swing by his left thigh as he awaits the first snap...

He's the first to move. He charges off the line diagonally into the backfield, blowing past the tight end trying to down block him and into the backfield, where the running back has taken the handoff. Ware charges across the face of the runner and forces him to cut outside three steps after getting the ball. Ware just misses him. The runner changes direction and is immediately met by more galloping Orange. Ware circles and comes to where the tackle was made, bouncing on his feet, pumped.

This was unexpected. Not only was his still playing well, he was wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.

The 32-year-old was cut by the Dallas Cowboys in March. They needed the money, saving $7.4 million against the salary cap. Suddenly, the face of the franchise and one of the best outside linebackers to ever play the game was a free agent.

He had multiple suitors. The Broncos quickly became interested in him and one day later signed him to a three-year, $30 million deal. Twenty-million guaranteed. They are also putting him back in a multiple front, one that incorporated the 3-4, which put him in a two-point stance again like he was before his final season in Dallas.

Like fellow star linebacker Von Miller, Ware will have flexibility to do more things than simply rush and play the run from the weak-side.

"They will do some similar things," defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio told Sports on Earth. "Within our system they both will be on the same side coming. They'll be on opposite sides coming. We're not afraid to drop them occasionally. But we won't make a living having them in coverage. When they are bringing all the protection over to them, they won't be coming. People have to account for them, we know that. So it allows you to be a little more creative."

Del Rio also said the Broncos will monitor Ware’s snaps. They know he’s getting older and can’t play 900 snaps this season like he once did. From 2007 to 2012, Ware played more than 900 snaps every year but one (2012). He finished in the top 10 in snaps every year among outside linebackers, including twice in the top five, according to Pro Football Focus. Those days are gone, but it doesn’t mean he can’t be effective.

Through the first two preseason games, he has a sack and a hurry in 15 pass rushing snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He still does it with heavy hands that pop tight ends and quickness that baits left tackles. He still demands extra attention.

Two plays into the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Ware lines up at strong-side defensive end and crouches across a tight end. The call is a play action rollout to the right, to his side.

Ware fires off with a natural forward lean and extends his arms, locking up the tight end and knocking him back. The tight end’s shoulders rock. The tight end has enough of it and escapes into the flat for a quick route. Ware plants off his left foot and cuts outside, sinking his hips and turning them as he stalks Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson. He closes fast and forces a hurried throw outside the left hash that sails high and crashes.

Three plays into the game, he’s at it again. He’s at weak-side defensive end this time and one-on-one with the left tackle. The Seahawks are in an empty set with receivers spread out all over the formation.

His first step is to his right and outside. He’s setting up the left tackle as if he’s rushing with a devastating speed-rush. The tackle sets wide and leaves a gaping hole in between him and the left guard, allowing Ware to lean in and snap his hips inside. He bull-rushes with straight arms and collapses the pocket, forcing Wilson to scramble up and out. The guard slides over to punch him, but Ware spins inside and wraps up Wilson for his first sack as a Bronco.

He raises his hand in the air and points his index finger, spinning it.