Thread: CampTour'12: Day 1 with Bears

CampTour'12: Guessing on J'Marcus Webb

July, 27, 2012 Jul 27
12:52
PM CT

By Kevin Seifert | ESPNChicago.com

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- In this era of the NFL, most training camp competitions can be placed into one of two categories. Sometimes the winner can be preordained, either by a player's status or a coach's preference. Other times, a camp battle is an admission that the team has no credible option at the position.

Our job is to figure out where to place the Chicago Bears' ostensible competition at left tackle, a position important enough to scuttle the Bears' Super Bowl hopes if they make a bad decision. J'Marcus Webb opened the Bears' first training camp practice with the first team, and my strong impression after spending some time here Thursday is that he is the favorite for the job.

Offensive coordinator Mike Tice strongly disputed that notion after practice, saying that Webb and Chris Williams will split time with the first team throughout training camp. Tice said it will be a "dogfight" and added: "I'm not going to put up with any crap from those two guys as far as turning guys free and having them hit the quarterback."

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhIt appears J'Marcus Webb is the early favorite to win the Bears' left tackle job.

Please understand that all of this represents an educated opinion based on watching Tice operate for more than a decade, beginning when he was the Minnesota Vikings' offensive line coach. I think Tice takes great pride in identifying and cultivating little-known offensive linemen, whether it was Vikings center Matt Birk (a sixth-round draft pick) or guard David Dixon (a former practice squad player). Webb, a seventh-round pick in 2010, fits that mold. Williams, drafted in the first round two years before Tice arrived in Chicago, does not.

If I had to guess, I would say Williams' role in this competition is to ensure Webb does not take the position for granted. Tice didn't tell me that or even hint at it, but it's worth noting what he said when I asked him why he is working so closely with the offensive line even in his new role.

After spending two years as the Bears' offensive line coach, Tice said: "I've always been under the impression that the third year is the key year for an offensive lineman. If you look at it … Lance Louis in his third year. [Louis did not play in his rookie year of 2009.] J'Marcus Webb is in his third year. All of a sudden you've got these guys that should blossom, if we've done it right and we are right. I want to be a part of that."

Webb won't start at left tackle if he makes the volume of mistakes he did in 2011, whether it was 15 accepted penalties or a series of mental errors that led to sacks. But sometimes the threat of losing a job, real or perceived, is all that's required to level out a player's performance.

If things go the way the Bears seemingly envision it, Webb will respond positively to the competition and become a long-term building block of the Bears' offense.

"No pressure, right?" Webb said, laughing. "It's definitely a big year. It'll be my third year, and my third year with coach Tice. We're definitely looking forward to it."

I won't try to evaluate how Webb performed Thursday, especially on a day when players where wearing shorts and the entire offense was shaking off a clear layer of offseason rust. It might not be Webb's job to lose, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he were the starter when the Bears open the season Sept. 9 against the Indianapolis Colts.

You might think I've mis-categorized this competition. I suppose you could argue that having two presumably evenly-matched left tackles, one of the game's most difficult positions, means the Bears don't have anyone who could be an effective starter.

I can't rule out the possibility. The Bears can't afford for that to be the case, not after standing pat at the position this offseason. But there was a reason they didn't acquire a left tackle. Webb is their guy. I think.

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Chicago Bears Training Camp 2012: Practice 1 Notebook

Jul 26th, 2012 at 11:31 pm by BoomerTraining Camp 2012

Home » Training Camp 2012 » Chicago Bears Training Camp 2012: Practice 1 Notebook
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Jul 26, 2012; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears players huddle during the opening day of training camp on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University. Mandatory Credit: Bradley Leeb-US PRESSWIRE

It’s like the dam suddenly burst. That’s how I feel with the start of camp. Three days ago, you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to come up with baby names for Jay Cutler Jr and before you know it there is more than you can possibly write about. Let’s go bullet points with some notes I was able to pull together from the first practice of the 2012 season.

• The Bears made a trade, picking up defensive tackle Brian Price for a 7th rounder next season. Price is very rough around the edges and seems to need a fresh start. Phil Emery continues his gambling ways. If this one pays off, he’ll get a 2nd round talent for a song.
• The offense was notably behind the defense in the first practice. There were dropped passes, most notably some by Brandon Marshall. Neither of these should come as a surprise, but there’s no need to panic.
• Kahlil Bell was the first player to put the ball on the ground, picking up right where he left off last season. Not good for someone trying to compete for that 3rd running back job.
• No pads just yet, so the Chris Williams vs J’Marcus Webb battle will have to wait until Saturday before we really get to see what’s going on. J’Webb got to run with the 1′s.
• Rookie Shea McClellin was getting reps with the third string defense. Welcome to the NFL, rook!
• Speaking of rookies, Evan Rodriguez drew favorable reviews, coming to camp in better shape than OTA’s.
• Rookies, part 3 – Alshon Jeffery may have had some weight issues in college, but he apparently looks lanky and has made strides since OTA’s. He added a fumble of his own. Growing pains.
• Recovering Bears Brian Urlacher and Gabe Carimi were full go for the first day of practice. Let’s see how they do on the second day of practice. Matt Toeaina practiced with his hand wrapped in a cast.
• Matt Forte looked sharp in his first work with the team since he was injured last season. Glad to see him in camp and no drama for a change. What #hashtag are tweeters going to use for him this season? #Paidforte??

Originally Posted by soulman

Thanks for these updates Ric. Nice work brother.


No gonna be much to talk about until next week after they've spent a few days hitting. My greatest concern is that we don't see any serious camp or preseason injuries yet we all know there's gonna be some.

At least a couple of the rooks will get banged up a little and miss some time and I'm betting at least one vet and a rookie somewhere end up on the IR. You can seldom avoid that I'm just hoping it's not one of our key guys.

Well, IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, lets hope it's a " on the bubble guy", so we can hide them on IR.

Soul ya, but it's still a better thing to talk about then the who gets the goal line touches forte/bush ;p.

It's the little things that allow you to over/under react that's fun about this stuff....like Bell fumbling day 1 again; if he continues that he becomes expendable since this is his last year...no way he's sticking around w/Forte/Bush anyways.

Shea working w/the 3rd string, but Jeffereies gets first team snaps...and also fumbles? But also made some nice down field catches too? So when does shea get his shot?

Should we be concerned about Gabe wearing a knee brace?

all sorts of fun stuff to over react to....