Bears' J'Marcus Webb firmly lacing up a spot at right tackle
Bears' J'Marcus Webb firmly lacing up a spot at right tackle
by neil hayes
Perhaps the greatest measure of how far seventh-round draft pick J'Marcus Webb has come isn't that he has become the Bears' starting right tackle, but the pile of shoes in the bottom of his locker.
There are running shoes, cross trainers, cleats, turf shoes and shower shoes -- a cornucopia of footwear for someone who has always struggled to remain shod.
''It's not easy finding things,'' said the 6-7, 328-pounder who wears a size-22 shoe. ''With money, you can almost get anything. Now that I do have a little change in my pocket, I can find some things to wear and things to get by on.''
It was more complicated as a kid growing up in a blue-collar Dallas suburb. Finding shoes to fit was next to impossible. Finally, his mother found a pair of tennis shoes in a big-and-tall store. For the next two years, they were the only shoes Webb owned. They were his practice shoes, game shoes, school shoes and dress shoes.
''We couldn't get shoes for him,'' said Steve Bragg, Webb's coach at Mesquite North High. ''The kid had a size-20 shoe when he was in high school. We couldn't find his size at sporting-goods stores and were told we couldn't order them because we weren't a Division I or pro team. The other kids had practice shoes and game shoes, turf shoes and grass shoes. He just wore those tennis shoes.''
Despite all the uncertainty on the offensive line this season, one thing seems increasingly certain: Not only does Webb appear entrenched at right tackle for the short term, but given his rare size and ability, the West Texas A&M product could end up anchoring the Bears' line for the next decade.
His rapid ascent surprises no one who knows his story. He was a gangly 6-6, 235-pounder when Bragg first spotted him. The coach was changing to a spread offense, and he knew a dominating left tackle when he saw one. During Webb's junior and senior years, Bragg's offense attempted 800 passes, and Webb allowed just one sack. He was named a Parade All-American.
Webb was a can't-miss kid if there ever was one. He accepted a scholarship to Texas and started 12 games as a true freshman.
''The dude can eat,'' said Bears defensive lineman Henry Melton, who played with Webb at Texas. ''He went through two semesters worth of meal cards in a month.''
Webb left the Texas program because of academic problems, and suddenly his future was in doubt.
''It was a tough time for me,'' Webb said of his brief time at Texas. ''I was just doing some immature things. I had to grow up a little bit and mature and move forward.''
Webb transferred to Navarro Junior College, where he ran into an old problem.
''I come from a lot of big people,'' said former Navarro coach Ray Woodard, who played briefly with the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. ''I'm 6-6 myself, and I've never seen a foot that big before. He said it was a size 22, and I said we don't have any shoes to fit you. I had to get on the phone and call Texas and find out where they got his shoes.''
After a year of junior college, Webb transferred to West Texas A&M, where he was a dominant starter for two years. But the circuitous route he took to the NFL isn't the one most would have predicted when he was a senior in high school or at Texas. It was a humbling experience, one that motivates him to this day. Webb wants to prove he can be the player everybody assumed he would be then.
A big test awaits him Sunday at Soldier Field against former Texas teammate Brian Orakpo. The Washington Redskins' 6-4, 255-pound outside linebacker had 11 sacks during his Pro Bowl rookie season, and he has five this year.
Starting so early in his rookie season has taken some of the sting out of not being selected higher in the draft. Webb has the physical ability to be a dominating player at right or left tackle once he gains more experience.
However, he still has trouble finding shoes that fit his feet, which are the same size as current and former basketball stars Shaquille O'Neal and Bob Lanier.
''I don't get a new pair of shoes every practice like some of the guys,'' he said. ''I just thank God for what I have.''
