Thread: Webb will likely protect Cutlers blind side

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

Meh, he looked better at LT last PS than he did RT, and I'm positive I noted that in gamethreads or chats. Though I believe Carimi has perennial Pro Bowl potential on the right side, I do think we have to give him first crack at LT until he proves he can't handle it.

That's the way it should go down IMO. Like I said I really don't care who winds up where just as long as the blocking improves. If my intuiton is right I think Tice has got his bookends now and my guess is that so far they may be somewhat interchangeable. Both played LT in college and both are proven run blockers so what it may come down to is who has the better feet and technique at LT. He could probably shift them back and forth in camp and in the preseason games until one or the other seems to nail it.

I'm more concerned right now with how we'll improve at OG. Depending on who we bring in it means that either Garza or CWill will sit. Garza with his experience and run blocking talent gives us an advantage but if CWill doesn't play it only hurts his development even more. If they use him a swing man at OT and a backup at OG once again he spends another season as the man without a home. The quandry seems to more inside than out.

I fear a short camp is going to retard Carimi's progress and will send the false signal that Webb will be better at LT.

Originally Posted by short faced bear

I fear a short camp is going to retard Carimi's progress and will send the false signal that Webb will be better at LT.

But does it really matter as long as one of them gets the job done? Webb has the size and wingspan that makes him tough to get around once he knows how to set up and position himself. Carimi is tough as nails and if the kind who's gonna get in your face and dare you to beat him. I think that both will have problems with smaller speed rushers to begin with so they'll both need to learn the position at the NFL level. Carimi may have an edge because of his college experience but I don't really care who plays where. The way I see it is they're kind of interchangeable anyway.

If Webb gets the job done then yes. I just don't see Webb with a full camp making some kind of huge technical jump w/technique. I don't know if I could posit that Webb would allow more sacks or hits but it just does not seem sound to move him until he's proven his footwork has improved. Do not want to see a Omiyale v.2 out there is all.

Originally Posted by short faced bear

If Webb gets the job done then yes. I just don't see Webb with a full camp making some kind of huge technical jump w/technique. I don't know if I could posit that Webb would allow more sacks or hits but it just does not seem sound to move him until he's proven his footwork has improved. Do not want to see a Omiyale v.2 out there is all.

Well one advantage Webb has over OMG is size. It'll take a lot longer for rushers to get around him with that body and that wingspan, LOL.

No one knows yet which one will do a better job. Sox is of the opinion that Webb looked better or at least more comfortable at LT last year than RT. Since he was a LT in college that's not hard to believe and maybe some of his difficulties earlier last season came because of the switch. I'd start with Carimi at LT but it has been traditional to let rookie OT's begin there NFL careers at RT before moving over so it wouldn't surprise me it they flip flopped. I'm still of the mind that Carimi will win out but whichever way it goes we should be better off this year than last.

I'll drink to that

Originally Posted by WindyCity

I agree with you that OG is a far bigger concern than Webb and Carimi.

The real question is how much better would Webb look at LT with Logan Mankins or Harvey Dahl beside him?

Well the Pats franchised Mankins so we won't be seeing him. Dahl is my odds on favorite but he's a RG as are Yanda and Davin Joseph my other two choices. Of the guys we've been discussing only Justin Blalock is a LG.

I really don't think it makes all that much difference. If we sign one of the top three then Garza will move over to LG and compete with CWill for the starters job. Any way you look at it either Webb or Carimi will have whoever we sign starting next to him.

Originally Posted by soulman

Well the Pats franchised Mankins so we won't be seeing him. Dahl is my odds on favorite but he's a RG as are Yanda and Davin Joseph my other two choices. Of the guys we've been discussing only Justin Blalock is a LG.

I really don't think it makes all that much difference. If we sign one of the top three then Garza will move over to LG and compete with CWill for the starters job. Any way you look at it either Webb or Carimi will have whoever we sign starting next to him.

I tend to agree with short faced. I just don't know how the Bears can expect much out of Webb at LT when he struggled at a position that is perceived to be largely easier to man. I don't know man. Mike Tice is awfully good at what he does, so I'll trust him to figure out what we will do with this mess.