Thread: B. Biggs: Webb becoming more 'aware' and thus playing 'faster' and better

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Hey may not be the LT of the future for the Bears. But here are some things to consider. Other than a small handful of LT's in the NFL, most need some help against the better defenses, and/or they give up some hits/sacks on their QB's. I watch a lot of football, not just the Bears, and you see this. So, while we'd all like to have the #1 best all-pro LT for the Bears, reality is that we won't have that guy. But, we CAN have a fairly solid guy who yes, needs help at times protecting the QB, and who will give up some sacks/hits from time to time.

Like we've seen in the past two games.

It's like Cutler never being Brady. We'd all like for Jay to be the best QB that ever breathed air on planet earth. But that's not reality.

The other "fan phenomena" that I've seen over-and-over again with fans, is that they are incapable of seeing change for the better in a player over his early years. We "brand" a player in our minds as being bad in the early years, and that "snapshot in time" is how we see the guy forever.

I've been crazy angry with Webb's play. But, I am trying to step back and be a bit more objective in evaluating his play.

I also think it's easy to look at a Cutler's sappy looks, and snarly moments & brand him as evil incarnate. Which isn't fair or accurate. Same with Webb. We look at him and say "he doesn't care" or "isn't trying" and he needs somebody to light a fire under his butt. But that may not be the case.

Ever consider that he may be doing his best, but getting from where he was when we got him (light-years from NFL level competition) - to where he needs to be - going up against the best defenses I've seen in the NFL in recent years - is a steep mountain to climb?

We watched him fail climbing the mountain. But he's kept climbing. I tell you guys, I DO respect how he's kept going and improving when his only real encouragers seem to have been his fellow starters on the oline (Garza in particular) and Mike Tice.

Oh, and I believe it's been effective that Cutler has given him some props in recent weeks too. That is the kind of encouragement that will make a man try to move mountains, to be his best.

Comments?

In Webb's defense it is fair to acknowledge that he's only in his 3rd year (2nd at LT full time) and he did come from a minor college program where the competition he faced was far, far from NFL quality. He undoubtedly would have been drafted much higher than the 7th round if he had been at a major collegiate program with the academic abilities to match. The knock on Webb, a legitimate one, has always been far more about his (lack of) focus, coachability, and determination rather than a deficit in physical or athletic ability. Maybe, just maybe, he is finally "growing up" a bit mentally/emotionally and elevating that part of his game to match his raw physical talent. A few good games in a row is an encouraging start but we won't really know the answer to that until the regular season is ending. This offseason a decision one way or the other about Webb will have to be made by the FO.

It would be nice (and a total steal) if Webb became an elite, rock solid LT. I don't think any of us realistically expect that or that he has a ceiling that high. There is really only a handful of truly elite LTs in the NFL--players who can consistently win one-on-one even against the best passrushers--and they are almost always very high (top 5 or at least top 10) picks. Most LTs in the league require and receive "help" of some sort frequently when facing elite competition like Ware, Allen, Peppers, Matthews, etc. There's no shame in that and hopefully Tice has finally got that through his own thick head with his Webb-blinders now off as to what he can and cannot do flying solo. All I'm looking for is for Webb to:

Consistently win one-on-one vs. average to mediocre passrushers
Hold his own (with "help" provided) vs. elite ones
Be a decent run blocker and
Keep foolish penalties and mental mistakes (forgetting the snap count) to a minimum

I'm encouraged by what I have seen lately, both in terms of his actual performance and by what seems to be a new, invigorated attitude toward improving his craft. Here's hoping it continues to move in that positive direction. Because, if Webb can become just a solid, reliable, mid-quality starting LT for us going forward then that's a helluva find for a 7th round draft pick, especially one like him who's still very young and durable and could be expected to start for years to come.

It also removes a huge anchor from around Emery's neck when it comes to personnel moves next offseason. We have our own player extensions to come up with, we aren't carrying big "extra cap space" going forward like last year, and we are missing our 3rd and 7th round picks (for trade-up possibilities) already. Signing a FA LT like Long, Bushrod, Clady, etc. would be very pricey (esp. Long) and there's no guarantee any of them will even make the open market. We aren't (I sure hope not!) going to have a high enough pick to draft a Webb-replacement. And boy I'd sure like to use the picks we do have elsewhere.

Like finding a LB for the future
Like finding a C for the future
Like finding a speedster smallish receiver (not counting on Knox coming back)
Like even finding a promising young CB who might take over for Peanut in several years

Originally Posted by ZifanQ

If we should turn into a soild LT I'm totally fine with it, and would have no hate on him. The only reason why the hate is because he sucks, if he turn the ship around we're gonna eat a bunch of crows, dicks and what not.

Only time can tell if he turns out to be a good LT or just crap.

That's the same boat I'm in. My criticism of him has been harsh for quite awhile (not on this board obviously since I rarely post here). But nothing would make me happier than to see him turn into a solid and consistent NFL starting quality left tackle. I would gladly eat a shit ton of crow on that one if he pulls that off. Nothing would make me happier.

Originally Posted by soulman

LOL, funny how things like that have a way or reminding guys that they could be next.

I hold no grudges against him. If he does his job consistently I'm a happy camper. If he ever turns out to be elite I'll take him to Taco Bell myself.

He is better now than he was last year or in the peckers game, but he still stinks. Until he becomes a solid lineman, my opinion stands. If he does become solid, I would not take him to Taco Hell, but I might buy his stupid-ass T-Shirt.

You know, that's the thing that irritates me most. He's not good, he's getting our QB roughed up, and he's joking around and doing his Webb Nation thing. Put the work in on being a lineman. When you get good THEN do your stupid T-shirt stuff.