Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Webb’s early reviews are good
Freshman cornerback shows promise during his first start and even impresses Talib.
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star
Webb
LAWRENCE | You could listen to the typical coach-speak from Kansas coach Mark Mangino — or you could let Jayhawks cornerback Aqib Talib offer his critique of Anthony Webb’s performance in last week’s victory over South Florida.
“Anthony came out and played a helluva game,” Talib said. “He almost looked as good as me out there.”
Well, maybe not that good.
Still, although Webb may not be ready for the kind of postseason honors that are sure to be bestowed upon Talib, the freshman cornerback certainly showed promise in his first start since leap-frogging Blake Bueltel on the depth chart.
A Dallas native, Webb made five tackles and broke up a pass in KU’s 13-7 victory over the Bulls. He’s hoping to improve on those numbers when the Jayhawks face Nebraska at 6 Saturday in Lincoln.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” Webb said Tuesday. “I came in here expecting to play early. But starting … yeah, I figured that would be pushing it.”
Indeed, Webb is one of just four true freshmen to see action for the Jayhawks this season — and he’s the only one to get a start. Granted, if anyone seemed destined for such an opportunity, it was Webb, who was hailed as the gem of KU’s recruiting class when he signed last February.
By that time, the eligibility of 2005 starter Theo Baines had expired, and part-time cornerback Charles Gordon had decided to leave for the NFL. Webb arrived in Lawrence during the summer intent on proving himself worthy of early playing time.
Earning time on the field, he said, wasn’t exactly easy.
“This isn’t high school anymore,” said Webb, who graduated in May from South Oak Cliff in Dallas. “You can’t just go through the motions. You have to practice hard every single day. You can’t ever let up.”
The 6-foot, 175-pound Webb admitted that was a problem during his first few weeks of practice. He said he often lost concentration and focus.
Webb hardly saw the field during a season-opening victory against Northwestern State. But after KU was burned for 377 aerial yards against Louisiana-Monroe the following week, the Jayhawks knew they had to make a change at cornerback.
Turned out Webb was the next in line. “He’s a confident guy for a freshman,” Mangino said. “He’s got a little bounce to him. For him it’s all about understanding the reads, the coverages that are called and what his responsibilities are in those coverages. He’s really coming along.”
Not that everything went smoothly in Webb’s starting debut. On the first play of the game, Webb was burned for a 29-yard pass completion.
“When he came to the sideline, he didn’t seem fazed one bit,” KU cornerbacks coach Earnest Collins said. “I kept saying, ‘Are you OK?’ and he just said, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ He’s got a great attitude for this position. He never loses his composure.”
With opponents trying to avoid Talib — a preseason All-Big 12 selection — on the other side of the field, Webb figures he’ll be picked on quite a bit.
“You rarely come across a good quarterback in high school,” Webb said. “In college every quarterback is good. I’m sure they’ll try to test me. Their coaches are probably telling them: ‘He’s just a freshman. Go after him.’
“Hopefully I can make them pay.”
Freshman cornerback shows promise during his first start and even impresses Talib.
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star
Webb
LAWRENCE | You could listen to the typical coach-speak from Kansas coach Mark Mangino — or you could let Jayhawks cornerback Aqib Talib offer his critique of Anthony Webb’s performance in last week’s victory over South Florida.
“Anthony came out and played a helluva game,” Talib said. “He almost looked as good as me out there.”
Well, maybe not that good.
Still, although Webb may not be ready for the kind of postseason honors that are sure to be bestowed upon Talib, the freshman cornerback certainly showed promise in his first start since leap-frogging Blake Bueltel on the depth chart.
A Dallas native, Webb made five tackles and broke up a pass in KU’s 13-7 victory over the Bulls. He’s hoping to improve on those numbers when the Jayhawks face Nebraska at 6 Saturday in Lincoln.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” Webb said Tuesday. “I came in here expecting to play early. But starting … yeah, I figured that would be pushing it.”
Indeed, Webb is one of just four true freshmen to see action for the Jayhawks this season — and he’s the only one to get a start. Granted, if anyone seemed destined for such an opportunity, it was Webb, who was hailed as the gem of KU’s recruiting class when he signed last February.
By that time, the eligibility of 2005 starter Theo Baines had expired, and part-time cornerback Charles Gordon had decided to leave for the NFL. Webb arrived in Lawrence during the summer intent on proving himself worthy of early playing time.
Earning time on the field, he said, wasn’t exactly easy.
“This isn’t high school anymore,” said Webb, who graduated in May from South Oak Cliff in Dallas. “You can’t just go through the motions. You have to practice hard every single day. You can’t ever let up.”
The 6-foot, 175-pound Webb admitted that was a problem during his first few weeks of practice. He said he often lost concentration and focus.
Webb hardly saw the field during a season-opening victory against Northwestern State. But after KU was burned for 377 aerial yards against Louisiana-Monroe the following week, the Jayhawks knew they had to make a change at cornerback.
Turned out Webb was the next in line. “He’s a confident guy for a freshman,” Mangino said. “He’s got a little bounce to him. For him it’s all about understanding the reads, the coverages that are called and what his responsibilities are in those coverages. He’s really coming along.”
Not that everything went smoothly in Webb’s starting debut. On the first play of the game, Webb was burned for a 29-yard pass completion.
“When he came to the sideline, he didn’t seem fazed one bit,” KU cornerbacks coach Earnest Collins said. “I kept saying, ‘Are you OK?’ and he just said, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ He’s got a great attitude for this position. He never loses his composure.”
With opponents trying to avoid Talib — a preseason All-Big 12 selection — on the other side of the field, Webb figures he’ll be picked on quite a bit.
“You rarely come across a good quarterback in high school,” Webb said. “In college every quarterback is good. I’m sure they’ll try to test me. Their coaches are probably telling them: ‘He’s just a freshman. Go after him.’
“Hopefully I can make them pay.”
