During a prolific 12-year NFL career, DeMarcus Ware made his impact by sacking the quarterback in 3 to 4 seconds.
It took him about that much time to jump into his new role as the Broncos’ pass rush consultant on Wednesday.
At the Broncos’ mini-camp he worked with the outside linebackers, showing Bradley Chubb his rip move, clapping after Von Miller’s rep and encouraging Shaquil Barrett.
Later, he worked with Chubb off to the side about hand placement, gathered the defensive linemen to show them certain techniques and even made time to hug punter Marquette King.
“When you’re on the field, you need to go 100 percent and that’s my mentality when I’m out here coaching the guys,” Ware said.
It equaled a busy first day for Ware, whose playing career ended with the Broncos in 2016. Coach Vance Joseph said Ware will be around throughout the season and the hope is he attends home games, too.
“Watching him teach pass (rushing) is special,” Joseph said after the Broncos’ second minicamp practice. “He has so much knowledge in the pass rush (game). When he speaks, they listen.”
Ware also worked with the Cowboys this offseason but chose to join the Broncos in an official capacity.
“It’s a great opportunity to be a part of this organization and help where I can,” Ware said. “In (full-time) coaching, you have 90-hour weeks but I really get to pick and choose the groups I get to work with and can really hone in on the technique and not have to worry about the scheme, but instilling the championship mentality in the guys.”
All Broncos like Miller and Barrett have to do is remember Ware as a teammate. And all Broncos like Chubb and nose tackle Domata Peko need to do is look at Ware’s record. He knows of what he speaks.
Ware, 35, looked in playing condition as he bounced around the field Wednesday. He is eighth all-time with 138 1/2 sacks – a sure bet to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, potentially on the first ballot when he becomes eligible in 2022.
Ware said joining the Broncos as a part-time coach will not lead to a comeback on the field.
“(Playing is) way out of my system,” he said.
Ware spent his first nine years in Dallas before finishing with three seasons on the Broncos (21 1/2 sacks), an equally impactful player off the field as on.
“He was a great player, still could come out here if he needed to, and is a great teacher,” Chubb said. “He breaks things down to simple terms.”
Ware worked with the Broncos earlier this month and Chubb was impressed.
“He knows the game inside and out,” Chubb said. “When we’re watching film, he’s seeing things and all of us are like, ‘What are you talking about?’ He has a presence – you just want to follow him.”
Ware played Chubb’s position – 3-4 outside linebacker – throughout his career.
“He’s great; a phenomenal athlete,” Ware said. “He’s one of those players that come in – they don’t know the scheme yet, but they have the athleticism and measureables to be a great player.”
The Broncos figure Ware will be a boon helping Chubb, the fifth overall pick in April’s draft, but Joseph also sees it benefitting Miller.
“It’s great for Von,” Joseph said. “D-Ware was the guy that Von followed and he became a great player under D-Ware’s watch and the coaches. It’s great to have him here for all of our guys. Our scheme is built around rushing the passer.”
Ware said he will be around for training camp to coach the players.
“Those days are done,” he said of his playing career. “But I can still put the cleats on and help the guys in other ways.”
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