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Just in case anyone was still under the impression we'd be using that 1st round pick on a LT.
Chicago Bears Report
Webb remains part of the Bears' future
February, 23, 2012 Feb 23
6:57
PM CT
By Michael C. Wright
AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhJ'Marcus Webb didn't exactly shine at left tackle in 2011. (Michael C. Wright = Capt. Obvious)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bears coach Lovie Smith joined offensive coordinator Mike Tice in support of left tackle J’Marcus Webb, who remains “a part of our future” despite an up-and-down 2011 season.
“J’Marcus is a heck of a football player,” Smith said Wednesday from the NFL Combine. “I’ll just start out with that. We like him. As far as having a couple bad games, I had a lot of bad games. I think everybody on our team had more bad games than we needed to this past year.” (A COUPLE of bad games??? Lovie he graded out as the worst OT in football. To accomplish that you'd have to have more than just "a couple" of bad games. And now of course you've jinxed him forever with those magical word, "We like him", but you forgot to add, "And will go from there". Aieeeee Caramba, el jefe es muy loco)
Webb seemed to experience more shaky outings than the rest of his offensive line counterparts in 2011. But late in the season Tice lauded Webb for his play against some of the game’s best pass rushers, while acknowledging the rising third-year tackle’s penchant for technical lapses. (Penchant a definition; "a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: a penchant for outdoor sports".. So are you saying Webb likes having technical issues?" If we're gonna use fancy words how about "disposition towards" or the simpler plain old English version we like to use around here, "has a habit of fucking up")
According to Pro Football Focus, Webb ranked as the league’s worst full-time starter at left tackle as he allowed 38 pressures. Webb also racked up a team-high 15 penalties for 82 yards, which resulted in eight stalled drives. (All that in just "a couple of bad games". Whew, just think what it would have been like if he'd had a whole season of bad games!)
Still Smith -- like Tice -- seems to think that Webb’s natural talent combined with experience and a full offseason with the team might lead to the tackle elevating his game in 2012. Webb’s prowess as a run blocker should give him a leg up on the team’s new offensive system, which will feature more of an emphasis on the rushing attack than in years past. (Sorry boys but even talent and experience can't overcome dumb, or maybe we should refer to it in the more politically correct term, "football challenged")
Smith said that Tice won’t “get too far away from the offensive line” in the new role as offensive coordinator, which could also pay dividends for Webb’s development. Here’s what Tice said about Webb’s development back in December:
“I thought he's having a good year. Last week I thought he had a little bit of a setback. He struggled a little bit in the pass protection. I think he's been blocking extremely well in the run game, especially on the back side of runs. On the back side of runs, he's cut out the backside of the defense time and time again; the whole season. He's developed into a solid run blocker, and an excellent run blocker on the backside, which is what we do. Pass-wise, he got beat inside on that first third down [against Seattle], and he kind of went into a little funk. I couldn't get him to snap out of it. It was some technique things that fell apart on him.” (Setback??? Then he must have one of those every Sunday Mike because he struggled in pass protection all season long! "Pass-wise, he got beat inside". Mike watch the game tapes, he always gets beat inside. Some technique things fell apart on him. Like he even had them to begin with? Well, is he still under warranty and if so can we return him for better model? One that won't fall apart this fall)
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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I have the feeling this is a grow up or get out season for Webb. I think they will see what he can do with an offseason of full ota and full camp but if we dint see a vast improvement by, oh say week 7 I hope there is someone else pushing him for the job. Wouldn't shock me one bit to see carmi move to LT with Webb at right
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Something needs to shakeout this year. Either he becomes a solid LT or as Lovie say, "we have to go in a different direction". He's already cursed him with the dreaded,"we like him".
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Soul, thanks for that post as disheartening as it is. I LMAO'd at your commentary in red, but otherwise was shaking my head in amazement that Tice and Lovie continue in this delusion. What is the plan if Webb fails (again) or gets hurt?
Flop Carimi to LT?
Give CWill a shot there?
Omiyale? Please kill me...
Why do I have this sinking feeling that it is going to take a 1-4 start with 25 sacks allowed to go to "Plan B" this year? I really, really hope I'm very, very wrong.
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High Fives / Like - 2 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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I just hope they have a plan b that's is not named frank omyeal(sp)
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Plan “Webb-at-LT-on-a-wing-and-a-prayer”
It seems that Webb is going to be the starter at LT this year, like it or not. Tice and Lovie have all but given him the job, with no competent backup yet on the roster, despite his inadequacies we are all familiar with. In all fairness though, since Mike Adams hasn’t exactly received rave reviews yet at the Combine, there probably isn’t an LT available to us in the draft that would be an immediate upgrade. This is my stopgap offseason plan to make the best of the situation.
Free Agency
The same as in my original post at the top of this thread. I’m assuming that there will be no significant OL signings for the Bears in FA this year.
Draft Strategy
In FA, the Bears have secured a dominant DL and upgraded the WR corps to respectability. There is no longer a need to draft a DE, no reason to take a risk on a 1st round WR, and no plausible LT option available near #19. Instead, the Bears focus on making a “safe” pick to bolster the interior of the OL where they have 3 OGs who are competent but unspectacular and all 3 become free agents after the 2012 season. Adding a DOMINANT young player at LG upgrades the position immediately & for the future, improves the OL as a whole, allows Chris Williams to become a backup OG/OT option, and should help stabilize J’MarcusWebb at the LT position.
Draft
{The italicized scouting report summaries are from NFPost}
Trade [1st-19] + [3rd-80] to move upto [1st-15]
[1st-15]: David DeCastro (OG-Stanford)
2011 GRADE: 8.5HT: 6-5 WT: 310
Impression: The best offensive line prospect I've evaluated since Maurkice Pouncey in 2010. He showcases the ability to get a push in-line and is a dominant move player as well. He's fluid/natural in pass protection and with a little more power in his base he's got the skill set to become on of the leagues best guards early in his NFL career.
Trade [2nd-50] for [2nd-63]and [3rd-94]
[2nd-63]: Stephen Hill (WR-Georgia Tech)
2011 GRADE: 6.6 D HT: 6-5WT: 206
Impression: Has a unique skill set, can pluck off his frame, track the football and is the next big time talent from the Georgia Tech program. Is going to need some time to develop, but can come in and track football vertically early on. Has a lot of upside to his game and skill set says he's an NFL starter.
[3rd-74]: Josh Norman (CB-Coastal Carolina)
2011 GRADE: 6.8 HT: 6-0WT: 190
Impression: Talent says he's a top-60 pick, but there are some character concerns that could cause him to fall. Either way he has the talent to quickly match-up with NFL receiver at the next level.
[3rd-94]: Demario Davis (LB-Arkansas St.)
2011 GRADE: 6.5 HT: 6-3WT: 230
Impression: One of the biggest surprises on tape this draft season. Was explosive, instinctive and always making plays on the football. Looks like a starting caliber linebacker either inside or out in a 4-3 scheme.
[4th-111]: Matt McCants (OT-UAB)
2011 GRADE: 6.4 B HT: 6-7WT: 295
Impression: McCants possesses a great looking frame that has the ability to get bigger and mature physically.Athletically, all the tools are there for this kid to play left tackle in the NFL, he just needs some time to make the jump in competition and mature physically.
[5th-143]: Winston Guy, Jr. (S-Kentucky)
2011 GRADE: 5.9 HT: 6-1WT: 216
Impression: Still has some upside at the position, as he can tackle, displays solid range in space and above-average instincts in all areas of the game. Should be a heck of a special teams player early and looks like a guy who should fight for playing time.
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Drafting a guard in the first, IMHO, would be very stupid. Trading up for one would be el tarded.
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Originally Posted by
lklrlolnlilklsox 
Drafting a guard in the first, IMHO, would be very stupid. Trading up for one would be el tarded.
Can you explain why it would be stupid to take the best OG prospect in years and the best overall player on the board if available?
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Originally Posted by
MPBears68 Can you explain why it would be stupid to take the best OG prospect in years and the best overall player on the board if available?
Taking him if he's at 19 when we have much larger holes elsewhere (including one in the same unit) is one thing, trading up for him is a whole other level of stupidity. Add in the overall great depth at the position and our depth in-house, and it makes less than zero sense to waste resources to move up and get him. If he is the absolute best player at 19, you can consider it, but not a chance I trade up to grab a guy from the deepest position in the draft where I see true impact guys lasting well into the second round.
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Originally Posted by
lklrlolnlilklsox Taking him if he's at 19 when we have much larger holes elsewhere (including one in the same unit) is one thing, trading up for him is a whole other level of stupidity. Add in the overall great depth at the position and our depth in-house, and it makes less than zero sense to waste resources to move up and get him. If he is the absolute best player at 19, you can consider it, but not a chance I trade up to grab a guy from the deepest position in the draft where I see true impact guys lasting well into the second round.
A) If DeCastro were to fall to #19, all the better but that is unlikely and he's projected currently as a early-to-mid-teens pick. He may not even make it to #15. If he does, he will be easily the BPA overall in any plausible scenario. No one else carrying a grade in the 8s will make it to ~ #15. He is an 8.5 "can't miss" option.
8.5 Becomes a starter during his rookie year… A prospect who possesses physical attributes that will create mismatches and have an obvious impact on the game… Will become one of the premier players in the league.
No player with anywhere near that level of early true impact will even sniff the 2nd round.
B) What "larger holes elsewhere (including one in the same unit)" are you referring to and proposing to meet with a 1st round pick?
We don't draft CBs in the 1st ever and it's unlikely there would be one worthy of taking there anyway (Claiborne will be a top-5 and no one else rates above a 7.0). We have already discussed the LT issue at length so that doesn't look like an option for obvious reasons. We certainly wouldn't be drafting a DLman if we added Mario in FA to what we already have. And there is no WR past Blackmon (also a top-5) who has a snowball's chance in hell of being an immediate impact player either--the depth/value there is in rounds 2-3.
C) I acknowledge that interior OL does not appear to be a glaring need in the immediate future on a superficial level. However, NONE of our current OGs are close to dominant players, 2 are coming off injury, and 3 (Spencer, CWill, & Louis) become free agents next year. The "great depth" you cite is temporary at best, even assuming that everyone gets/stays healthy, and our OL has been one of the NFL's worst on pass protection the last 2 years. Pushing the depth chart top-down is how to improve a unit.
I'm not seeing what your alternate preference is at #19...
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