120 Players You Need To
Know
UAB QB Joe Webb
By
Richard Cirminiello
Who is Joe Webb?
…
Like so many Conference USA players, Webb is a hard-working,
team-oriented player, who’d like to make SEC schools sorry for not
pursuing him harder. First and foremost, he’s an outstanding athlete
and the best thing the Blazers have had at the position since
Darrell Hackney left school. A part-time wide receiver as a
sophomore, he took flight after getting back behind center in 2008,
accounting for 21 touchdowns and joining just three other
quarterbacks to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Although he’ll make
mistakes and is far from a finished product, he can also scare the
wits out of opposing defensive coordinators when he tucks the ball
and runs. A sturdy 6-4, 220-pounder with a good feel for his
surroundings, he’s capable of punishing defensive backs or dancing
around them. The kid from Birmingham has yet to fulfill his dream of
playing in a bowl game. If it’s going to happen later this year,
he’ll be the driving force on the field and in the locker room.
Joe Webb’s
best game so far was … at Tulane last Nov. 15. By the final
quarter of last season, Webb was beginning to round into a much more
complete quarterback. Yeah, he was still doing most of his damage on
the ground, but he was also making better decisions as a passer. In
a blowout of the Green Wave, he went 15-of-21 for 154 yards, while
running 18 times for 130 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Why you should care about
Webb? … If Webb’s passing ever catches up with his running,
he’ll be one of the most exciting quarterbacks among the non-BCS
schools. He’ll do a little bit of everything for the UAB offense,
but is especially dangerous on the move and improvising outside the
pocket. With one final year of eligibility remaining, he’s become
the face of the Blazers’ drive toward Conference USA respectability.
Positives about Webb
… While many dual-threat quarterbacks resemble running backs, Webb
is built like a 220-pound linebacker. And he hits like one when he
gets a head of steam outside the pocket. He keeps defenses guessing
with the run-pass option, and is a load to bring down in the open
field. He’ll break tackles, and is quick enough to make people miss
at the second level.
Negatives about Webb
… He’s still an unpolished passer, as evidenced by last season’s 16
picks and No. 83 ranking in passer efficiency rating. In his final
year, Webb needs to elevate all aspects of his game as a hurler,
such as reading defenses, getting the ball off quicker on blitzes,
and developing better timing with his receivers.
A cool thing about Webb you
probably didn’t know … In an effort to get all of the Blazers’
best offensive weapons on the field, Webb selflessly agreed to play
wide receiver in 2007. He responded by catching 30 passes, despite
having almost no experience at the position in the past.
Career Statistics
2007: 65-of-117 for 679 yards, five touchdowns and one interception
– 67 carries for 288 yards and one touchdown – 30 receptions for 459
yards and three touchdowns
2008: 208-of-353 for 2,367 yards, 10
touchdowns and 16 interceptions – 198 carries for 1,021 and 11
touchdowns
Statistics, information and photo
provided by the UAB sports information department