Thread: Camp news: "Early signs point to Webb for left tackle job"

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

Can't disagree. I think some of us (myself included) get lost in the Oline problems at times without realizing the the other great things this team brings to the table. Some of which will HELP the line. No team is great at every position group. I just feel the line is critical, but maybe that's old school thinking. Maybe just as RBs have lost some importance, perhaps a good line has lost some import as well.
I'll watch every game regardless and I'm going to camp on Monday.

I agree the line is critical. But lets give Tice the benefit of the doubt that as the O-line coach he saw what this line could and couldn't do. Martz's whole thing was that he didn't care what they could or couldn't do. His way was we're going to call this play and that play and I need these guys to block for this long. Don't care how you get it done just get it done.

And I'm sure Tice told Martz many times that these guys just didn't have a strength for what he was looking to do. So seeing how inflexible Martz was is something that I believe that Tice has learned from. And he's going to be calling plays that works with the guys he knows so well. I mean this is why I'm not worried about the line. I think people forget that Tice is a pretty bright guy. He worked with Brian Billick and he's worked with Martz and he knows what can and can't work based on who you have on the roster. And that line was playing real well last year during the 5 game win streak. And Tice doesn't get enough credit for how they started playing after getting embarassed by DET on Monday night.

And we haven't even seen yet the impact Jeremy Bates is going to have on Cutler. One thing for sure is that Cutler has a lot more input into this offense than he ever did under Martz. They're going to learn from their mistakes. They saw the good, the bad and the ugly over the past 2 years with Martz.

I personally liked Martz and what he was trying to do but he wasn't realistic with what these guys could do. The guy is too proud though. Wasn't willing to compromise or adapt to the fact that the line couldn't do what he was asking them to do. Its like in that Giants game when Cutler had his clock cleaned...it was apparent from the get go that the line couldn't handle the pass rush and he kept calling for these long plays that took forever to develop. I mean that's just straight up being proud and not willing to work with what you got.

And I sure don't foresee Tice being like Martz.

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

Would you prefer Jake Mathews in the first or Alex Hurst in the second? I like Bruce's son.

don't know yet. Haven't seen much of them as of now in German TV ;)


If Webb & Carimi can handle the job and the OL is improved and league average, I'm not sure why we should draft a OT in the 1st. Maybe a OC with Garza getting older or a LB to replace Urlacher soon (due to age and injuries). Or a guy falls to us we can't pass on and need to say yes. May need a CB too. Many options to upgrade with the D getting old. Tillman, Urlacher & Hayden aren't that young anymore and Jennings isn't exactly what I want as starter.

Many options and as of now, I want them to give Cutler an extension.
This years draft will be BPA out of OC, CB & LB. If Webb sucks, add OT to this list

Originally Posted by BigBadPapaBear

I agree the line is critical. But lets give Tice the benefit of the doubt that as the O-line coach he saw what this line could and couldn't do. Martz's whole thing was that he didn't care what they could or couldn't do. His way was we're going to call this play and that play and I need these guys to block for this long. Don't care how you get it done just get it done.

And I'm sure Tice told Martz many times that these guys just didn't have a strength for what he was looking to do. So seeing how inflexible Martz was is something that I believe that Tice has learned from. And he's going to be calling plays that works with the guys he knows so well. I mean this is why I'm not worried about the line. I think people forget that Tice is a pretty bright guy. He worked with Brian Billick and he's worked with Martz and he knows what can and can't work based on who you have on the roster. And that line was playing real well last year during the 5 game win streak. And Tice doesn't get enough credit for how they started playing after getting embarassed by DET on Monday night.

And we haven't even seen yet the impact Jeremy Bates is going to have on Cutler. One thing for sure is that Cutler has a lot more input into this offense than he ever did under Martz. They're going to learn from their mistakes. They saw the good, the bad and the ugly over the past 2 years with Martz.

I personally liked Martz and what he was trying to do but he wasn't realistic with what these guys could do. The guy is too proud though. Wasn't willing to compromise or adapt to the fact that the line couldn't do what he was asking them to do. Its like in that Giants game when Cutler had his clock cleaned...it was apparent from the get go that the line couldn't handle the pass rush and he kept calling for these long plays that took forever to develop. I mean that's just straight up being proud and not willing to work with what you got.

And I sure don't foresee Tice being like Martz.

WOW !
It took 4 pages for someone to mention "Mad Mike". Addition by subtraction IMHO. No more 7 step drops putting the line in a position to fail and our QB on his back.
Webb had a lot of mental mistakes last year but he's young and no longer will be confused by Martz's complicated, inflexible schemes. I believe that Tice's schemes will allow Webb to develop and the line to solidify as a whole this season. Depth will be better as well. Overall I like what I see so far.

I've been pretty critical of Webb over the last couple of years and as crusty old former LT myself, I can certainly understand how it takes time, at each level, to get acclimated to the game. In my case, it was only High School ball, but I can assure you, my game was far different as a Senior as it was when I was a Freshman. Now, at that age, part of it was just maturing and physically growing which is far different at this level. However, most of it was just understanding my responsibilities and being able to perform as second nature without thinking about it. Mr. Webb could certainly improve based on that alone. Perhaps I am also more critical of the O-Line because that is where my own heart lies just as former RB's like JJ may watch a guy and pull his hair out. We are all more critical and/or complimentary for those that we are most familiar with.

With all that said, some of you pro-Webb guys are starting to make me feel better. I don't know what he, or the rest of the O-Line will look like this year. I still have fears that with all the improvements we've made, it could all be for naught because this key element was ignored. However, I will say that I'm going to start sipping on the Kool Aid a bit and see how it tastes. I'm not ready for a frosty mug yet, but keep talkin Pappa, ya may win me over yet. I want to believe.

I know BBPB will beg to differ with me here, but I have never NOT wanted Webb to succeed. There's a rather big part of me that desperately wants him to blossom into the second coming of Jimbo Covert. Will Webb do so? Probably not, because Jimbo was a special LT. But I think he can be very good if he begins to play as 4DaBERS says by "second nature."

The nice thing is that the Bears have the opportunity to acquire Jermon Bushrod during the 2013 FA period if neither Webb nor CWill work out. Bushrod is arguably one of the top five LTs in the entire league, and if you were to draft a high end OG to replace someone like Spencer or EWill. I'm sure there is a Wisconsin or a Iowa boy out there who would fit the mold for the Bears beautifully. I have seen enough of Emery to have a feel for what he will be like with regard to signing high-profile free agents, but I would like to think that he would at least consider Bushrod an option unlike that idiot Jerry Angelo didn't do last year. Personally, I don't think Webb on his best day could hold up against Bushrod in a blocking contest, but I do think Webb would make one hell of a swing tackle. I have this feeling that CWill is on his way out of Chicago after this year.