Thread: Chicago Tribune: "Bears' Webb has what it takes outside"

This is a good, objective article. I absolutely loved Julius Peppers description of Webb. Maybe there is still hope for this guy working out for us.

LINK to the article

Bears' Webb has what it takes outside



By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 4:19 p.m. CDT, September 22, 2012

Mac McWhorter recalls how in 2006 his University of Texas football program kept a pair of size 22 cleats on display to amaze visiting recruits. Those shoes belonged to a certain freshman offensive tackle: J'Marcus Webb.

"Biggest feet I've ever seen,'' said McWhorter, formerly the Longhorns' offensive line coach and now in the same role at Penn State. "Most people thought they were just a prop. It's just something you didn't see, at least not with a human. But the guy wearing them actually could move his feet. He was one giant man.''

Six years later, the 6-foot-7, 333-pound Webb still has plenty of growing to do.

The Bears starting left tackle is under continuous scrutiny and that will continue Sunday in Soldier Field against the seemingly improved Rams.

It has been more than a week since Webb became a national storyline after Jay Cutler lightly shoved him and vocally assaulted him on the sideline. Webb's inability to check Clay Matthews infuriated the quarterback. And Cutler wanted to see more fire from Webb rather than watching his lineman brush off the confrontation with a smile.

Webb declined to address the media last week but offered this simple statement to the Tribune: "I am concentrating on being a better player … but there is football on Sunday.''

Bears coach Lovie Smith moved forward 10 days ago, even if the media attention didn't.

"People tend to not want you to move on when we have moved on,'' Smith said. "Perception and reality are two different things most of the time.

"J'Marcus needs to play better this week, like a lot of us need to play better this week. … But it just has been on J'Marcus, for some reason. Going back to that last game, there weren't many passing grades. Just don't go to J'Marcus.''

Others along the offensive line played poorly against the Packers, and right tackle Gabe Carimi had a foolish and costly penalty. Left guard Chris Spencer play led to him losing his starting job to Chilo Rachal.

Cutler's tirade, however, put Webb's struggles under a microscope.

"Some weeks, you're going to play some special pass-rushers, like he played against Matthews,'' Smith said of Webb. "Matthews played against (Joe) Staley, the All-Pro tackle, a week before and got 21/2 sacks. He got 31/2 against us. That happens sometimes when you play a great player. But you have to put that behind you and move on.''

Unfortunately, things won't get any easier for Webb over the next four games with pass-rushers such as Robert Quinn, DeMarcus Ware and Kyle Vanden Bosch on the schedule. Not to mention possible matchups with Jared Allen and Matthews, again, down the road, provided Webb retains his starting job over Chris Williams and newcomer Jonathan Scott.

"In this league, it's hard for offensive tackles,'' Smith said. "You're going to have a couple of bad plays against great pass-rushers. … You just move on.''

Critics won't do the same until Webb consistently protects Cutler's blindside. Those familiar with him believe it all comes down to mental focus.

Fresh face

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison was a senior at Texas when Webb arrived on campus.

"I just remember him being this big, athletic specimen,'' Robison said. "When he came in as a freshman, I whipped him up. When he first got there, he definitely thought he was going to be bigger and stronger than everybody. It just didn't work out that way.''

In his one season with the Longhorns, he was listed as a reserve right tackle for 12 games.

But going up against the likes of future-pros Brian Orakpo, Robison and current Bears teammate Henry Melton in practice aided his development.

"J'Marcus was a tremendous talent,'' McWhorter said. "He had good people to work against in practice. You could see that he had a great future in front of him. Of course, he was a little raw. But, gosh, he could reach across the field a touch somebody with that wingspan.''

McWhorter didn't keep Webb long enough to develop that talent. Academic issues forced the lineman to leave Texas and enroll at Navarro (Texas) Junior College. Webb finished his college career at Division II West Texas A&M.

"He was like a lot of those kids in that he was a little immature when he first got to Texas and wasn't on top of the priority list,'' McWhorter said of Webb. "He got himself in some (academic) trouble. But he obviously has worked through all that. And you can tell he's a really bright kid.''

Robison didn't realize his old teammate was a seventh-round pick of the Bears until they met in 2010. Webb played right tackle at that time. Last season, Robison watched his teammate, Allen, dominate Webb at left tackle.

"I feel for offensive tackles in the NFC North, period, because we have such great defensive ends and pass-rushers in this division,'' Robison said. "… Then you have a linebacker in Clay Matthews coming off the edge.''

Matthews was asked Friday if he felt he got inside Webb's head the last time out.

"There are things you can see,'' he said. "I'm not going to single any individual out, but there are things you can take advantage of. One of those is body language.

"Everybody displays a certain presence on the field, and it can definitely be felt, especially when a lot of it is based on one-on-one matchups.''

Pep talk

Facing a seven-time Pro Bowler almost every day in training camp surely helped Webb prepare for the season. But because the Bears rarely — if ever — scrimmage the first-team offense versus the first-team defense during the regular season, Webb doesn't have the luxury of sharpening his skills against Peppers now. But Peppers sees no reason why Webb shouldn't take the next step regardless.

"J'Marcus has played against some of the (top) guys,'' Peppers said. "He's a veteran now. He's getting better. He's going to continue to get better as long as coach (Mike) Tice and rest of his offensive line continues to support him, get behind him, and give him advice.''

Offensive line coach Tim Holt dissected the tape from the meltdown in Green Bay and came to one simple conclusion about why Webb's play declined from Week 1.

"He just has to use his hands better,'' Holt said. "He let (Matthews) get into him a little bit. If he gets his hands on people, he wins.

"Sometimes when you get those little guys, you kind of get a little jumpy.''

The offense has some fine-tuning to do, as a whole. Cutler was sacked seven times against the Packers in part because he held the ball too long and in part because of offensive line breakdowns. Tice seems likely to alter the game plan a tad versus the Rams and run the ball more.

Even if the Bears emphasize the run Sunday, plenty of eyes will be on Webb.

"He's a starting left tackle, and for you to be in the starting lineup, we like the way you play when we run. We like the way you pass block,'' Smith said. "For you to be starting left tackle, you have to be able to lock the best pass-rushers up. There are just too many things that we like about J'Marcus.''