OXNARD, Calif. -- DeMarcus Ware is not only the best pass rusher on the Dallas Cowboys; he's one of the best pass rushers on the planet. So why, when he's about to turn 31, would you ask him to change positions?

Better ask the Dallas Cowboys.

They're the ones who hired defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to shake up a defense that last season ranked 19th overall and 24th in points allowed, and that's fine. Except Kiffin's specialty is the 4-3, Tampa 2 setup, and Dallas spent the past seven years drafting and signing players to fit the 3-4.

Moving to a four-man front means Ware shifts from outside linebacker to defensive end, and tell me why that works. On second thought, let's have Ware tell us.

"I'm still playing the same position," he said prior to Wednesday's practice. "Now, I'm just putting my hand down on the ground. I'm still containing everything against the run. I'm just rushing more; attacking more. I don't have to worry about dropping."

That's true. But he does have to worry about the run ... and direct hits by opposing tackles. Where he estimated he rushed the passer 90 percent of the time as a linebacker, as a defensive end he's responsible for getting to the passer and the ballcarrier -- and I don't see how that makes Ware more of a threat as a pass rusher.

That doesn't mean he can't continue to excel. Under Kiffin, defensive end Simeon Rice produced five straight double-digit sack seasons -- including 30.5 in consecutive years. But Rice had oversized defensive tackles in Warren Sapp and Booger McFarland to occupy opposing linemen; Ware does not.

"I don't know," said Kiffin, "with (Jason) Hatcher and (Jay) Ratliff in there I feel pretty good about our size. DeMarcus is really special, and he's worked hard.

"I can tell you when I coached at the Senior Bowl, and I was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he's got his hand down because he's coming out of college (where he was a defensive end). And a guy I know walks up to the fence and says, 'Would you stand him up and rush him to see what he looks like a couple of times?' It was Bill Parcells. He was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys."

Ware hadn't been drafted then. He's in his ninth season now. But, according to one scout here for this week's practice, that might make the move easier. Ware thinks so, and he's the guy whose career is affected.

"It's not like I'm going from defensive end to linebacker, where I'd have to change and figure out how to stand up and how to drop," he said. "I'm going from outside linebacker to defensive end, which I've been playing for eight years at least 50 percent of the time. So that makes it a lot easier for me.

"Career-wise, I still feel the same way. The majority of the time the tight end is still on the other side; I'm still facing the tackle, and I'm just putting my hand down in a three-point stance and playing."

That sounds good, provided that Ware isn't subjected to the persistent hammering most defensive ends absorb ... and he may not. First of all, most teams are right-handed running clubs, which lessens the contact for right defensive ends. Second, after Monday's workout, Kiffin and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli worked with Ware lining up wide of the left tackle, having him rush off his opponent's outside shoulder -- much like Simeon Rice.

The idea not only is to limit the punishment Ware absorbs, a wise move considering he's coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum, but to take advantage of his speed and quickness -- qualities that produced seven straight seasons with double-digit sacks, including a league-best 20 in 2008.

Nevertheless, Ware won't take chances. He not only underwent a rigorous offseason training program; he added 10 pounds (he weighed 265 on Wednesday) "to add a little more weight to my shoulder so I can protect it more." So far, so good, with Ware easily the most dominant defensive player in camp -- exploding past tackle Tyron Smith on consecutive inside and outside rushes during one-on-one drills Tuesday.

When I spoke to Minnesota's Jared Allen last month he named Ware as one of three candidates to break the league record of 22.5, and Ware sees no reason that can't happen -- especially now that he's a defensive end.

"Breaking the record is always possible if you have enough opportunities, and playing defensive end you will have enough opportunities. But you have to make the right decisions at the right time. I never put a limit on anything. The sky's the limit when you're playing defensive end."

We'll see.