Webb Faces Tough Matchup vs Pierre-Paul

Webb facing tough matchup with Giants' Pierre-Paul

Winning 1-on-1 battles more about technique than overall skill sets


http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...8/64141676.jpg Offensive tackle J'Marcus Webb (73) and center Roberto Garza (63) during training camp. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune / August 11, 2011)


Matt Bowen Scouting the Bears 5:18 p.m. CDT, August 21, 2011


The Bears' J'Marcus Webb had issues in the preseason opener against the Bills' Shawne Merriman. The Buffalo linebacker manipulated and took advantage of poor technique from the left tackle, using speed and power to get to the quarterback.

Monday night, Webb faces another threat off the edge in New York. Even with Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora out with a knee injury, the Bears tackle is going to draw the matchup of former first-round pick Jason Pierre-Paul.

Pierre-Paul abused Carolina left tackle Jordan Gross — a two-time Pro Bowler — last weekend in the exhibition opener for both clubs. He had two sacks and another quarterback pressure that resulted in an interception.
However, winning at the NFL level in one-on-one situations is more about technique than overall skill sets. And that's where Webb has to take Monday's game working against Pierre-Paul in space.

Start with footwork. Webb has to kick back off the line, square his shoulders and get enough depth in his drop to cut off any speed rush from Pierre-Paul.

No different than blocking on punt protection as a wing. Staying square with a quick first step gives Webb the initial advantage in the matchup.

The next phase centers on balance and hand placement. Pierre-Paul was productive working against the Panthers because he has a variety of moves on contact. All the best rushers do. The swim move, arm-over, bull rush, rip, etc.

How does Webb counter? Keep his feet under control, don't overextend (or reach) and "punch" with his hands on contact — using power.

We often see offensive lineman get beat in the NFL because they lose balance, widen their feet and give up the inside path to the quarterback. There is no margin for error in this league when the quarterback is sitting in the pocket.

But by staying square, playing low in his pass set and only turning his shoulders once Pierre-Paul has declared up the field, Webb can control the situation in New York.

Remember, technique wins no matter how one-sided a matchup may look in pregame warm-ups. Give the edge in speed and athletic ability to Pierre-Paul, but focus on the technique of Webb on Monday.

After playing at Glenbard West and Iowa, Matt Bowen spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety with the Rams, Packers, Redskins and Bills, including playing for Lovie Smith and Mike Martz in St. Louis. When he's not writing for the Tribune, you can find his work at nationalfootballpost.com.

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5.00 from 1 ratings

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I'll be watching this matchup very closely on almost every play on Monday night. I want to see just how polished Webb is in his pass blocking technique. I'm hoping Tice will be doing the same and if Webb continues to struggle with another good pass rusher then I hope he takes the hint and makes a change.

Webb can be the greatest athlete the Bears have ever seen at LT but if he doesn't have the technique down. If he simply doesn't know how it's done then he's useless to us until he does and LT in the NFL is no place for a guy still working on a learner's permit. If Webb just isn't doing it then the very first thing Tice needs to do, like it or not, is to shift Carimi to LT and Webb back to RT and sit back and take stock of how that works before he goes off the deep end an puts OMG in there. That's a bigger recipe for disaster then leaving Webb to learn IMO.

Yeah I don't want to see Frank the tank in there for any reason. Webb may be lucky Osi is nursing an injury. I really hope to see improved technique this week and Tice riding him all season to improve. I think Spencer will be ok as will Garza back to RG but also hope to see if Louis can redeem himself somewhere during the game.

I don't care if it is a pre-season game ... he needs to really show up and play well. The notion that he may be a dud, is one that many of us have, and if he can't play well in a pre-season game he may just be one.

This is a make or break game for both Webb and Louis. There probably isn't a team we'll face with any better pass rush than the Giants so if they can hold up against these guys they're on their way but if they get embarassed like they did last week then the time for change is now while they still have three weeks to go before the opener.

Webb dominated Pierre-Paul and it was nice to see.

Only thing Pierre-Paul seemed to do all night was shred his teammates knee, good on ya Webb!!

glad everyone saw what I saw. we gave up some pressure now and again, but I think only 1 sack and there were times when cutler had all day. what a change from last year. still got a ways to go, but Atlanta is still a couple weeks away and two more weeks to clean up the few things we need to on both sides of the ball.

I'm getting really excited about this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

glad everyone saw what I saw. we gave up some pressure now and again, but I think only 1 sack and there were times when cutler had all day.

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And the sack was Cutler's fault too (unless there was another one I don't remember). He left the pocket. I don't think anyone was open, so it's not 100% on Cutler, but he should have chucked it out of bounds.

There's still work to be done. But that was definite progress.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butka

And the sack was Cutler's fault too (unless there was another one I don't remember). He left the pocket. I don't think anyone was open, so it's not 100% on Cutler, but he should have chucked it out of bounds.

There's still work to be done. But that was definite progress.

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Would've been tough for him to get his arm back to throw running to the left, and he had a guy coming from the backside, may have lost the ball on a strip. I was saying he should have flipped it out of bounds though. Shows up as a sack on the sheet but I wouldn't call it that.