greylion

22 Starters in 22 Days: Rex Grossman

By: Jason Klabacha

Date: May 12, 2006

As we countdown to June’s veteran mini-camp, we will take an in depth look at all 22 starters. In the first segment, quarterback Rex Grossman goes under the microscope. Can he stay healthy and if does will he succeed?

In watching Grossman for three years, granted most of which has been on the practice field, he appears to have the tools to succeed. He has a strong arm, but possibly even more importantly the “it” factor that allows a quarterback to lead a team.
Experience in a game can never be substituted, so with just seven career starts, Grossman has some catching up to do. However, for the first time in his NFL career he’ll be working with the same offensive coordinator in consecutive seasons. A second year in Ron Turner’s west coast offense should help the development process.

Although the Bears talent at wide receiver is unproven, the running game should help Grossman get the 31st ranked passing attack off the ground. Grossman is adept at play-action, which will be even more effective considering the potential for Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson to keep each other fresh over the course of the season.

Grossman has been talking extensively to WR Mark Bradley during the off-season. While Muhsin Muhammad will be the No. 1 option for Grossman, Bradley could jump up the pecking order because of his ability to be an all-around threat with speed and power.

One thing Grossman will have to be cautious of is trying to make up for two lost seasons to injury by taking unnecessary risks. He has a gunslinger mentality behind center that can lead to unforced errors.

The way the Bears are built, the defense will carry the load. The offense can help by taking advantage of opportunities presented to them off turnovers and moving the chains to keep the defense rested.

Limiting Grossman’s mistakes will go a long way toward the Bears repeating as NFC North champions. With less than 200 passing attempts in his career, he has six interceptions to four touchdowns. The numbers will have to flip for him to remain atop the depth chart.

The health factor is always a concern with the six-foot-1, 217-pounder. Coming off knee and ankle injuries over the past two years has earned Grossman an injury prone label. He’s playing behind one of the best offensive lines in football and keeping him upright will be a priority. The difference this season is the team has a legitimate veteran backup if something goes wrong.

Brian Griese is waiting in the wings. Grossman is the unquestioned starter heading into mini-camp, but there will be pressure on the front office and coaching staff to take another step forward after last year’s disappointing performance in the postseason.

Grossman can quiet the critics by staying in the lineup and putting up the numbers he’s confident he can obtain.

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BBBF

I hate that Griese is waiting in the wings. Let there be some ****ing competition.

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imported_raise_up_va

i agree, i love rex and think he is the better player and will be the better player... but they should never hand the job to anyone and that is what they have done the past 2 years

let the best player, who performs the best up until the season, start game 1

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d00kd00k

as much as i agree with this, we need to queue up aerosmith's "dream on" right now. jerry angelo's fate is directly tied to rex grossman, even if griese out-performs him in the pre-season, if rex is healthy, he's your day 1 starter end of story.

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from NFL Films at SB41: Colts defensive line coach John Teerlinck can be heard saying: ''Stay alive on this guy. He's scared to death.'' ... that "guy" is Turnoverasaurus Rex Grossman.

imported_raise_up_va

IF he stays healthy...

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greylion

I expect some good competition in camp regardless if fans think there won't be. I think Rex will have a good year based on what I've seen of him, but if Griese is lights out in camp and clearly outplays Grossman in the preseason, Lovie will play Griese IMO. I don't expect that will happen, but you never know. Let's get it on.

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WaltsOrangeCBears

i think that sucks if grease out plays grossman he should automaticly be starter no Buts.
if Rex has a injury free season (fingers crossed) i think he has the abillity to do well. especialy if Rex and Moose get the game together.i see bright things ahead

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cheers Megatron

http://www.freewebs.com/waltsorangecbears/
My Bears Website please check it out.

WaltsOrangeCBears

and if Grossman ****s up.or gets injured we got a decent back up in grease.

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cheers Megatron

http://www.freewebs.com/waltsorangecbears/
My Bears Website please check it out.

Excaliru

Honestly I think that this whole lack of competition is a complete myth that a lot of people for some reason buy in to.

Why is it people are so convinced that because the team says Rex is the starter that there is no competition??

It's a complete and total fallacy. In the field of competitive sports there is always competition. The team is merely stating that Rex is the starter and giving him their support. That is what a team should do....they are supporting their starting QB. This by no means implies that the starting job can not be lost through competition.

How quickly we forget Chad Hutchinson. The annointed starter last year once Rex went down. If you recall it was clearly explained by the team that Chad was the starter for the team, but through competition in the preseason Kyle Orton showed himself to be a far more capable option than Hutchinson. Hutch was cut, Orton started. That folks is competition.

It doesn't matter who gets the first snap in practice, it matters who performs the best. While undoubtedly the Bears front office would LIKE to see the starter be Rex Grossman and their number one preference would be for REX to have a great season, it does not mean that there is no competition. If Brian Griese or even Kyle Orton come out and smoke Rex off the field in practice and in preseason it will not be long before they win the starting job. Competition is there...being a starter in modern sports is almost meaningless these days unless you're a superstar.

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mala

i thought during the 2005 training camp it was:
1) Grossman
2a) Hutchinson
2b) Orton

with the 2 competing for the backup job. Hutchinson only lost the backup job to Orton because he turned the ball over too much, not because Orton played better. Plus, Grossman quickly assumed the starter's role when he was healthy (competition?).

I agree with your points that competition is going to take place, but as evidence from 2004 + 2005, the bears (lovie, turner, etc.) will only be looking for competition at the backup position.

But, for the article: I'm really excited to see what Grossman can do in 2006 as it's the first time since college that he hasn't had to learn a new offense.

BTW, are we flooding the NFC forums with each Starter article, or just attaching to this thread?

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^^updating