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**J-Rok** · 08-11-2006, 10:07 PM

Yeah, and Grossman looks terrible. Alex Smith outplayed him. 1st stringers got five yards rushing, turned the ball over twice, three drives with four or less plays, and the defense didn't do anything worth mentioning.

Best play came from that Ricky Manning. Great tackle.

**Packnut** · 08-11-2006, 10:07 PM

Bears

Yeah, it's only pre-season BUT, If I'm a Bears fan, I'm more than a little worried about the pathetic offensive showing. Grossman looks terrible. Gore running wild over that vaunted Bears D.

Best thing that can happen for us is to have Griese come in and play well. Nothing like a little QB controversey to split a team in 2!

**J-Rok** · 08-11-2006, 10:08 PM

Jinx. Haha, it looks like we share the same opinion.

**GrnBay007** · 08-11-2006, 10:11 PM

Grossman overthrew a lot!

I wouldn't even have made this thread about the bears but it ticked me off.....the only highlights of the bears 2005 season they have shown (at least that I've seen) is the Packer/Bear game where the bears manhandled Favre.

**Packnut** · 08-11-2006, 10:12 PM

Bears

Great minds think a like??????????? LOL

**GrnBay007** · 08-11-2006, 10:12 PM

17-0 hehe

**J-Rok** · 08-11-2006, 10:14 PM

I only watched to see if the Bears offense could move the ball. I didn't expect them to be outplayed, though. Television gold for a packer fan.

Too bad all the starters are out now. I'd love to see more fumbles for touchdowns.

**Packnut** · 08-11-2006, 10:14 PM

Bears

Originally posted by GrnBay007

Grossman overthrew a lot!

I wouldn't even have made this thread about the bears but it ticked me off.....the only highlights of the bears 2005 season they have shown (at least that I've seen) is the Packer/Bear game where the bears manhandled Favre.

Yep, showing Brett with the bloody hand SUCKED! You guys are gonna have to talk me out of it, cause I'm seriously considering selling my soul in retorn for an 0-16 season for the Bears.

**GrnBay007** · 08-11-2006, 10:33 PM

Griese came in mid 2nd Q and it looked like a different O. Made it look easy going down 75 yrds to score. Now 17-7. They said Rex looked a little "rusty".....lol Has Rex ever looked oiled???

**PaCkFan_n_MD** · 08-11-2006, 10:34 PM

The only way we lose week one is if the offense turns the ball over because there is no reason for the bears to score more than 10 points against our improved D.

**woodbuck27** · 08-11-2006, 10:34 PM

Well - how's it been, going? woodbuck27

08/10/06

Grossman creating a controversy-free QB zone

By Gene Chamberlain
SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP

So far, the two words dreaded most by NFL coaches have yet to be uttered in Bears training camp.

They are, of course, "quarterback" and "controversy."

Quarterback Rex Grossman has done his best to make any type of open competition at the position with veteran backup Brian Griese unthinkable during the first two weeks of camp.

"I like what Rex has done throughout," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "There will be some days when the defense will make a few good plays and you'll see an interception here or there, but Rex has been good since the off-season started."

Rex Grossman arrived at Bears training camp already feeling far ahead of his starting point last camp due to his knowledge of coordinator Ron Turner's offense.

The Bears believe he has shown a higher lever of play in Bourbonnais, and he'll get the chance to put this knowledge on display in a brief first-quarter stint against the San Francisco 49ers during Friday night's preseason opener.

Griese is going to have to make some type of in-roads in the first three preseason games playing against backups while Grossman faces starters. The fourth preseason game is too late, since teams use it as a game to rest starters for the regular-season opener.

Turner's critique of Griese's performance thus far hardly suggests the type of charging presence capable of offering such a challenge before the regular season.

"He's very smart, he has picked it up pretty well," Turner said about Griese's mastery of the offense. "There are some things that are a little bit different, that are going to take a little bit of time.

"But I'm anxious to see how he does (in the game)."

Coaches aren't the only ones who've noticed Grossman's higher level of play or the improvement in an aerial attack which finished 31st last year in yardage.

"I've been pretty impressed," wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "I think Rex has done a really good job and people have to remember we are going against a pretty good defense every day.

"Even the greatest quarterbacks I've heard have thrown at least five picks in one day (of practice). I haven't seen that out of Rex. He may make a bad play here and there, but we still have been very productive over all."

Improvement in Grossman and the passing attack was never more apparent than at the end of Tuesday night's practice in Bourbonnais. They drove straight downfield 80 yards in a two-minute drill to a touchdown in four completions against the first-team defense.

Grossman has maintained he'll be much further ahead despite his lack of playing experience chiefly because he is finally in the same offense for consecutive seasons. Muhammad sees talent as a reason, as well.

"Some things are God-given, man," Muhammad said. "Some things you can't teach. Certain guys can work real hard and their potential will go only so far as God allows them to go talent-wise.

"I'm not surprised at how far Rex has matured into what he's doing."

Grossman maintains the Bears' passing attack is even better than it has looked in practice because the Bears' defense is so dominant. There have been some practices when all the Bears' quarterbacks suffered multiple interceptions.

"It makes us a lot better," Grossman said. "If we were playing against the worst defense in the league we might get some easy (coverage) looks that aren't realistic, so we're playing against the best and it's only going to make us better.

"We're playing against the best defense in the league, so whenever we do anything good, we're pretty proud of it. We want to get on their level as well."

Bears coach Lovie Smith sees an added benefit to facing the Bears' defense day in and day out.

"It has to make our offense better, and this year, with the new coaches coming in (the division), Detroit and Minnesota will both run (the same) form of our defense so it's great work for our offense," Smith said.

It's possible improvement in Grossman and the passing attack may not be apparent in the first preseason game.

One reason is they'll get very little opportunity. The first-team offense will only get about a quarter to play.

"We're just trying to get into a rhythm in live football, move the chains and get into some situations and just practice while the game is live," Grossman said. "The game doesn't count but we still want to get in and out of the huddle with a rhythm and try not to make any mistakes and keep gaining confidence as a unit."

Also, Grossman will be operating in an entirely vanilla game plan. The 49ers are the only preseason opponent the Bears also face during the regular season (Oct. 29 at Soldier Field), so they'll avoid tipping their hand.

Nor will Grossman be operating an offense with a full complement of weapons. He's likely to have Muhammad, but may not have second receiver Bernard Berrian (hip flexor). And the Bears' first two running backs Ã¢â‚¬â€ Cedric Benson (shoulder) and Thomas Jones (hamstring) Ã¢â‚¬â€ are out.

"He just needs to go out and run the offense and regardless of who's out there, just go out and do his job," Turner said. "And that's what we're looking for from Rex: just go out and run the offense, that's the biggest thing we're looking for from him."

It's the type of thing which certainly would nip any quarterback controversy in the bud.

Comment:

mmmm, sure ?

**Joemailman** · 08-11-2006, 10:36 PM

Originally posted by GrnBay007

17-0 hehe

How terribly vindictive of you to delight in the suffering of others. Oh wait, did you say the Bears? Pile it on! A little eye gouging wouldn't be out of the question.

**J-Rok** · 08-11-2006, 10:37 PM

I guess if 3-11 for 47 yards and no touchdowns makes the bears happy, who am I to judge.

**Joemailman** · 08-11-2006, 10:38 PM

Re: Bears

Originally posted by Packnut

Originally posted by GrnBay007

Grossman overthrew a lot!

I wouldn't even have made this thread about the bears but it ticked me off.....the only highlights of the bears 2005 season they have shown (at least that I've seen) is the Packer/Bear game where the bears manhandled Favre.

Yep, showing Brett with the bloody hand SUCKED! You guys are gonna have to talk me out of it, cause I'm seriously considering selling my soul in retorn for an 0-16 season for the Bears.

No need for that. We don't mind if they beat the Queens!