Webb, Louis need to step up their game for Bears

BOURBONNAIS — Offensive-line coach Mike Tice doesn’t want to start juggling his lineup as he was forced to do last season, but he may not have a choice.

After allowing nine sacks in the preseason opener, including four that were permitted by the first team, Tice needs to see improvement. And he needs to see it in a hurry — specifically from left tackle J’Marcus Webb and right guard Lance Louis, the main culprits in Saturday’s fiasco.

“We don’t want to play musical lines right now, and we don’t want to hit the panic button because the numbers are what they are,” Tice said.

“We can say we gave up nine sacks and then we can look at the ones that the line is accountable for and see if it’s possible to correct those things, and I really believe that we can.”

Webb proved last season as a rookie that he could play at this level, starting the last 12 games plus two playoff games at right tackle. He played so well he was moved to the more demanding left tackle spot, where he has the responsibility of protecting Jay Cutler’s blind side.

That move enabled Tice to insert first-round pick Gabe Carimi at right tackle to best utilize his strongest asset, which is run blocking. If Webb can’t cut it at left tackle, a whole domino effect comes into play.

After Saturday’s game, Webb admitted his intensity level wasn’t where it needed to be, which is something Tice doesn’t want to hear. The former tight end played 14 seasons in the NFL — all of them with a high motor.

“I played for a long time, and I don’t know that I ever had that (lack of intensity) problem,” Tice said. “I have a problem with that personally, a player that’s saying he didn’t have the intensity level.

“I mean, after sitting around for five months you should have plenty of intensity built up inside you.

“So I’m a little disappointed about that. I heard about that comment. But he’s got to practice better, and he’s got to understand that we put a world of weight on his shoulders.

“He needs to step up and play better, and he needs to grow up quicker because he’s out on the island.”

As for Louis, if he continues to falter at right guard it will necessitate the move of center Roberto Garza back to the spot where he spent his previous six seasons with the Bears. That might not be a bad thing.

It also would elevate Chris Spencer, a late free-agent acquisition, to starting center, also not a horrible move since he has spent six years in the NFL at that spot.

But Tice isn’t ready to give up yet on Louis, who had the unenviable task of working against stud rookie Marcell Dareus.

“Maybe part of his weakness is he went against a guy who was drafted second (overall),” Tice said. “Anytime you try to be overly aggressive and you get yourself spread out, you’re going to get beat.

“That’s what happened to Lance on the two (sack) occasions.”

Tice says Louis’ performance in practice should produce better results in games.

“I’ve rarely seen guys practice well and go out and play poorly,” Tice said. “It happens. But if a guy continues to practice well, he’s going to go out and play well.”

The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Louis’ problems are not the result of a lack of intensity or passion. His problem might be the opposite.

“He’s a big man, and what he wants to do is kill people all the time,” Tice said. “He wants to bury them on the line of scrimmage.

“But when you do that, you get yourself overextended. You just have to maintain good balance.”

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