ESPN: Coach's Big Decision: Pull Webb early?

The problem is that as bad as Webb is, we don't have anyone better to put in. Pathetic situation. Might as well leave Webb in this season and just put a permanent helper for our LT situation.

Maybe have TWO left tackles. Webb AND C.Will in hopes that together they may add up to 1 decent LT :lol-032:

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LINK to the article

Friday, September 21, 2012
Coach's Big Decision: Pull Webb early?

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By Michael C. Wright

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The Bears might not have a realistic alternative for J'Marcus Webb if they want to replace him during Sunday's game against the Rams.

Chicago Bears left tackle J’Marcus Webb is out of chances. But if he struggles against the St. Louis Rams early, either coach Lovie Smith or offensive coordinator Mike Tice will have to make the call as to whether to pull the left tackle.

That could turn out to be a difficult decision to make for the coaches because it’s not like several options currently exist on the roster.

The Bears could sub out Webb with Chris Williams, who lost out to Webb during the open competition for the starting job during training camp. Or the club could opt for Jonathan Scott, who was added on Sept. 10, and has started 28 games throughout his career at both left and right tackle with the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The staff isn’t certain Scott is ready to make a significant contribution, considering he’s been with the team for fewer than two weeks. So if the Bears decide to make a switch at the position, it appears Williams is the most likely option to replace Webb.

Still, the Bears can’t make a knee-jerk reaction to a rough start by Webb. That could result to even worse protection at the position.

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What I want to see right now is two good games in a row from that oaf. He played pretty well against Indy but then again he wasn't up against Freeney all game long. Jerry Hughes isn't terrible but he's not at the level of Freeney or Matthews. So he played the journeyman OK but the star ate him alive instead of the other way around. One good game and one bad game so far.

Chris Long will provide a good challenge. Long doesn't have the combination of speed and strength that Matthews and Freeney have and he's not as over powering and relentless as Jared Allen but he's a very good DE just the same and he needs to handle him.

One bad game isn't enough to pull him but he had the first one last week. If he screws up again this week it's then TWO bad games back to back and it's time to try someone else. No more free lunches for taco boy and I mean that literally as well as figuratively.

I'm thinking he may just be able to handle Long. Just maybe. This will be a good gauge as to what level he can stand up against. If he can handle him one on one then Tice just has to give him constant help with the studs (of which there are many). I hope that is something that Tice can actually understand this time. If Webb has a good game against Long, that doesn't mean all of a sudden he can also handle Mathews next time. He HAS to get him help on almost every play against good DE's.

And he has to find a solid LG next to him so that we only have to worry about the edge and not the whole left side. That means Garza also needs to stop playing matador. He wasn't very good, but he's allowed one bad game every so often. He's been pretty much solid. But if he keeps playing like he did last week, then we have issues.

One thing about centers is that when they play with poor guards, they tend to try and do too much and help the guard which causes them to lose their assignments. I saw that with Kruetz when he had to cover for bad guards. Hopefully that was Garza's issue last week.

Both good points. But as the start of the thread, DID CW really lose the battle? Was it a fair one or just a PR one? I really haven't seen enought of CW at LT to have an opinion.

I was really on the bandwagon that he was NOT given a fair chance and felt he could not have been worse than Webb. When I saw him in the preseason though, he really WAS worse.

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Originally Posted by yttocs

Both good points. But as the start of the thread, DID CW really lose the battle? Was it a fair one or just a PR one? I really haven't seen enought of CW at LT to have an opinion.

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Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I was really on the bandwagon that he was NOT given a fair chance and felt he could not have been worse than Webb. When I saw him in the preseason though, he really WAS worse.

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I agree, to a point. CW wasn't given as many reps, he played guard last year. And I think/ believe he had to split his rep's at both RT and LT too. Also, I might be wrong here, but didn't he play LT in PS with Spencer as his LG too? I hope he *( Webb) pulls it out. but, if not give CW a chance. If he proves to be a WORSE LT then Webb, fine. But still CW was a good guard last year, what happen to bench him from guard?. EDIT *

I agree with all of that. I'm not saying the competition was straight up equal. I think Webb was given every opportunity. However, regardless of whether CW was given the same amount of reps (he wasn't), he didn't do as well as Webb. Given that, do you now try and give him reps during the season hoping that what you saw in preseason was an anomaly? I think Tice screwed the pooch. Now isn't the time to do that. The train already left. I'd have to pick Webb over CW based on what I saw in the preseason. Yeah, I don't even believe I typed that either, but it's true.

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Originally Posted by yttocs

I agree, to a point. CW wasn't given as many reps, he played guard last year. And I think/ believe he had to split his rep's at both RT and LT too. Also, I might be wrong here, but didn't he play LT in PS with Spencer as his LG too? I hope he *( Webb) pulls it out. but, if not give CW a chance. If he proves to be a WORSE LT then Webb, fine. But still CW was a good guard last year, what happen to bench him from guard?. EDIT *

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Originally Posted by soulman

What I want to see right now is two good games in a row from that oaf. He played pretty well against Indy but then again he wasn't up against Freeney all game long. Jerry Hughes isn't terrible but he's not at the level of Freeney or Matthews. So he played the journeyman OK but the star ate him alive instead of the other way around. One good game and one bad game so far.

Chris Long will provide a good challenge. Long doesn't have the combination of speed and strength that Matthews and Freeney have and he's not as over powering and relentless as Jared Allen but he's a very good DE just the same and he needs to handle him.

One bad game isn't enough to pull him but he had the first one last week. If he screws up again this week it's then TWO bad games back to back and it's time to try someone else. No more free lunches for taco boy and I mean that literally as well as figuratively.

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I strongly agree with this.

The answer isn't so simple here. Webb, as bad as he is, may be the best options we have for THIS season. I know most of us don't want to hear that, but it may just be the "reality" of our situation. If that is true, then Tice needs to accept this, and make dead-certain there is a TE or RB in place every play to help protect Cutler's blind side.

I keep thinking about that old Hoosier's movie where the coach tells the fans the ugly truth "This is our team" and the people hate it. But guys, THIS is our team for 2012. We just got to ride this one out. Another white-knuckle season.

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That's Lovie flyin' the plane. Tice is that dude tossin' the pixie dust on the wing. Gotta love it. :smile:

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