There's been debate on this site, started by myself Sunday night and furthered by the District and what's followed. I'm weighing in on the Rex Grossman Question officially. Jay Mariotti had his say in SunTimes - all but calling for Brian Griese. David Haugh in the Trib calls this situation a concern, not a contraversy.
Rex Grossman has started barely more games than I have in the NFL. You know the NFL. The world of over analysis...the saturated talking head universe where Sean Salisbury can go from terrible player to football expert and Shannon Sharpe can write the Bears are a ferocious defense and wait only six days to say they are an overrated defense and can't hold their own with the Dallas Cowboys.
Truth is, we don't know what Rex Grossman is yet because we've only seen him in limited action. The world has canonized Saint Tony Romo after five games. Five games? Remember Rex Grossman after five games? The NFC Offensive Player of the Month, torching every team in sight. He's had games where he's been a decision making disaster - Miami and Arizona. Games where he's thrown the ball poorly - first half Giants, New England. The rest? Pretty damn good for an Indiana kid just finishing his first full season.
So enough negativity on this site. I know some Bears fans thrive off pessimism and people like Mariotti feed on that. It's not happening here. I'm going to sit on my bar stool Sunday and hope like hell Rex throws the ball all over Soldier Field and sends the Vikings home saying, "We'll get em next year."
But they won't. Because next year he'll be a year older. A year wiser. And prepared to defend the Chicago Bears first championship in 21 years.
#2 JHov said . . .Amen
November 28, 2006
#3 Brad said . . .I truly want to like Rex. I really do. He's the future of the team. And he will improve. Next year (more experience) will make him a good QB.
BUT...my perspective is one of WINNING this year's SUPERBOWL As fans have said before, TJ will be gone next year and our D continues to age & be expensive. This is the year. This is the year. Yes, this is the year.
And 8 does not give us the chance to win against the top Tier teams (NE, Bolts, Colts, Cowboyz???). He turns the ball over against good defenses. Against the Top Tier teams, he will lose the games by himself. He has problems with decision making (he's young, give him time) and his accuracy can be so ugly it hurts.
Griese is a good decision maker. He knows what he can do. He knows that he can't throw 40 times. He knows that he must hand the ball off. He won't loose games by himself. He might even be able to handle a snap inside his own 15.
Rex will be good. I love the kid. But God dammit, this is our year to win the SUPERBOWL Start Griese now!
November 28, 2006
#4 jeff said . . .I'm with Rex. That stat re: a bad 4th quarter QB rating is stupid. In the games where Rex was running up the score on teams, we sat him in the 4th. (Which is the same reason why national announcers, relying on their stat books, think of the Bears as only a running team. In half our games, we were a "running-down-the-clock" team in the 2nd half...)
Granted, Rex hasn't come up big in a close game since the end of Minnesota (or you could argue, the 2nd half of the Giants game). But he's our QB for the future, and I think it would be horribly disruptive to team chemistry to yank him. Lovie has been good and consistent: not listening to the hype when everyone had us shuffling after week 5, and then tarred as the most over-rated team in the NFL after Miami. To yank Grossman, who seems popular with everyone on the team, after taking us to 9-2 -- just b/c he got outplayed by Brady at Foxboro in the 4th of a coulda-gone-either-way game, after getting two W's in the Meadowlands... that's just irresponsible. Every team in the NFL has looked beatable at different times this season. Griese wouldn't make us unbeatable, and he might throw off the very good spirit that makes me think I'd rather be in the trenches with these Bears than even the '85 brigade.
A little p.s. -- in my mind, the reason we lost to the Pats is that it was the first time we got outplayed on special teams (the 50+ field goal they made, the big kick returns of the Pats, the silencing of Hester, the block of Gould, Peanut's botch of the shoulda-been-blocked punt opportunity...). Otherwise it was pretty evenly played game on both sides of the ball.
November 28, 2006
#5 Max said . . .JHov i see your point but what happens if the bears fall 10-0 to the colts or the cowboys....brian griese is no help. this is rex's time to take over this team.
November 28, 2006
#6 Still said . . .I am over this. Stick with Rex. If we bench him now, who knows what will happen. Griese is there if Rex gets hurt.
RUN THE BALL
November 28, 2006
#7 Coxy said . . .Brad is correct about the special teams. This was the first defeat in what has been a strength all year.
Think about this. If Boone doesn't flinch on the first field goal, Robbie makes it. Instead they back him up 5, he slightly lowballs it and it gets blocked. Minus 3 from our score.
If Lovie doesn't call the silly timeout to ice their kicker (does that ever work?), he misses. Minus 3 from their score.
Final score was 17-13. If we only reverse the two field goal blunders, we win 16-14.
Emotionally, I was done after Urlacher whiffed on Brady on 3rd and long. If your best guy can't get it done, it is not your night. It would be like Jordan missing free throws when you are down by 6 with less than a minute left on the clock. He's money right? If he makes them you have a shot, if he misses...who is going to make it up? Steve Kerr?
Some days you get the B'ar sometimes the B'ar gets you. Fortunately, the B'ar is 9-2 so far in the gettin' this season.
November 28, 2006
#8 said . . .Pull Rex, bring back P.T. Willis.
November 28, 2006
#9 Scott said . . .Rex Grossman QB
back to pass I'm sucking couch
cushion up up upNovember 28, 2006
#10 Adam said . . .I'm backing Rex. Remember the saying "dance with the date who brung ya'"? This date has brung us 9 out of 11 victories. He's erratic, yes. But being erratic means he also has games where he's red hot. I'd rather him go through a cold streak now than in January. He'll get hot and it may just be at the exact right time.
I'm a baseball fan and I keep thinking that the Cardinals don't bench Pujols when he goes through a three-game stretch of 1-for-15. Granted, Rex doesn't have Pujols track record but, again, he has brought us a 9-2 record.
November 28, 2006
#11 Midway Monster said . . .It's gotta be Rex. Griese will not lose us games. Rex will win us games. In the playoffs, he may have to win us a game or two.
Also, Mariotti wants Griese, so it's obviously the wrong choice.
November 28, 2006
#12 Pissed off said . . .Let me pull up a "e-bar stool" next to you Jeff and buy everyone a round. The next 5 games will be great as we take em down one at a time.
--Midway--
PS - Megan, where's your trash talk... we're listening!
November 28, 2006
#13 Gasface said . . .Dont be a hater Ted. "Griese" is a backup and Rex is the starter, thats why you do what you do for a living (man can we speculate on that) and not coach football cuz your obviously a horrible judge of talent. Rex was Pro Bowl bound after the first part of the season and now he's ran into a few bumps. If you got your wish and Griese became the starter you would be disappointed. We would become the Vikings offense. Rex gives us that edge. I dont want to see the offense of last season ever again and thats what will happen if we put in Griese.
November 28, 2006
#14 paytonrules said . . .Rex is Chicago's Jake Plummer, but Griese is a total pussy. Believe me, the Bears would rather have an inconsistent qb with a thick scrotum in there than Griese the coward. And Orton is just too hungover right now.
November 28, 2006
#15 jeff said . . .Rex must get more accurate. I don't care how he does it - but 55% passing won't get it done.
In the meantime I'm scouting Disney World starting on Wed., to make sure it is acceptable for the Urlachers after the superbowl. (Brain and his 14350 illegitamate children)
November 28, 2006
#16 Starbuck said . . .i sorta feel good about rex this morning. you know what? there's the possibility of greatness... something this team hasn't had at the position in a hundred years. it's just a matter of reducing the mistakes.
November 28, 2006
#17 Criminal Appeal said . . .Time to take a deep breath. There is no need to panic with a team that is 9-2. Rex is the answer at this time. However, there are some things that the Ron T and Lovie can do to put Rex in better decision making positions. For example:
1. Even though Rex is a pocket passer, either shift the pocket or call some rollouts and bootlegs a few times to keep blitzing defenses honest;
2. Stress the importance of taking the underneath passes rather than throwing 6 or 7 bombs every game;
3. Get Des Clark open and throw the ball to him more; and
4. Do not start Brian Griese.November 28, 2006
#18 Max said . . .It would be one thing if Brian Griese were really good, but I'm not pulling the plug on the guy we want to be our QB of the future for a guy who has done nothing since 2000. Yeah, he was 5-1 as a starter last year (Grossman is 9-2 right now), but he had more turnovers than touchdowns. Griese was great in 2000. Since then he's had two years -- 2002 and 2004 -- when he was about as good as Grossman is this year (fewer turnovers, but fewer touchdowns too), and three years -- 2001, 2003 and 2005 -- when he turned the ball over a ton, and still didn't throw many touchdowns. Grossman is struggling, but Griese is Griese. I don't think he gives us a better chance to win a Super Bowl this year, and sitting Grossman can't be good for his development.
November 28, 2006
#19 Pyrobob said . . .hey payton, I gotcha. Im at Disney World right now working. Urlacher and his 14350 should have a blast.
The only thing we have to worry about is that Disney has a gay day. Like specifically set up to welcome gay people so that might give Tom Brady some motivation to try and make it here.
November 28, 2006
#20 jeff said . . .hey Paytonrules - let's take a trip down memory lane to the last Bears Super Bowl win; the '85-'86 season. As you have proclaimed: "Rex must get more accurate. I don't care how he does it - but 55% passing won't get it done." It won't?
Do you realize the "punky QB" who took them to the SB in '86 finished the season just shy of 57% passing? Quite a bit lower than his two previous years.
Do you not think Rex can improve 2%?November 28, 2006
#21 Megan said . . .you know what would help the bears this year? if the goddamn global warming would stop and the cowboys or panthers don't get to come into sunny soldier field in january.
November 28, 2006
#22 jeff said . . .Hey, I've been working.. keeping up with you guys is another full-time job!
TRASH TALKING!?!? MOI!?!I say stick with Rex... I really mean it. I don't think Griese is the answer for a couple of reasons.
1. The offense knows Rex
2. We are 9-2
3. Griese is a good back-up for now
4. Rex does need more experience which brings up....Let's (thanks for the correction Jeff) tell Ron TURNER to be slightly more conservative in his play calling. Rex does need more consistant time building up his confidence in the passing game. Our running game is a little stronger and we know that because of that, we can use our passing game more but not as aggressively.
We don't really need more BOMBS AWAY if Benson/Thomas can get 3-4 yards per carry. Hey, that will get us first downs, the tough "Bears formula" way.On the Benson thing as far as blocking. Man, he was pissing me off. YES he did break a tackle or two as he was running the ball BUT, Rex is getting pressure enough. I noticed defenders keying in on Benson's side when Rex was passing because he won't/can't block.
I apologize if any of you thought of me as a fair weather Bears fan. I am not, by any means that way. I ALWAYS want the Bears to win, I LOVE the Bears. I honestly don't know if this is their year, as much as I would like it to be. I will keep hoping that it is.
I know I know, there's no crying in football. But DANG it I've been close a couple of times!
I still respect YOU MM!November 28, 2006
#23 Megan said . . .we need meggles...she's our house mother.
November 28, 2006
#24 Megan said . . .One more thing...
I totally appreciate everyone's perspective here. Let's face it, if you have been a Bears fan for longer then 10 years (Heck, A Chicago sports fan for more then ten years) you have the God given right to second guess, to vent, to air things out, to discuss play calling decisions or any other decisions. We are a passionate and dedicated (committed?!) group of peeps.
We had to put up with Wanstadt. Those were dark dark times..
Juron.. (spelling please?) Had the emotions/passion for football of a flea, and the coaching ability equivalent to a piece of Melba-toast.
I like the combo we have now. (Lovie, Ron (x 2) et.al. )We have balls (the size of Texas--that would be big) We just need a little restraint and time.So, if you take that as trash talk, then SO be it.
November 28, 2006
#25 jeff said . . .MM,
I'll take a Guinness, please
November 28, 2006
#26 Justin said . . .meggles almost violated a prinicpal rule of this site but by spelling both of those pricks' names wrong, she's been spared me wrath.
November 28, 2006
#27 jeff said . . .None of you guys know squat about this situation...it's all COACHING!! Lovie Smith is a soft pussy with balls of jelly ( he looks like he pops a couple of valium before every game)..and ron turner..my god my god, I am seething..i cannot even begin with this guy. The patriots after the game even commented how predictable his play calling was. All the Pats knew the Long Ball was coming on first down..Bruschi was even surprised at how the bears like to play "Jump Ball." NEW PLAY CALLING PLEASE
November 28, 2006
#28 Pissed off said . . .it's all coaching? rex made four turnovers. one on a four yard slant, one on a 10 yard post - both awful throws. one was a fumbled snap on the 5. he threw a pick on the last bears play...other than that, the bombs were actually gaining the bears yardage. the coaches put this team in a position to win sunday. that's what you ask for. they've coached this team to the best offensive output in 11 years. you know who was the coordinator that year? ron turner.
November 28, 2006
#29 Rick said . . .I hate the Vikings, lets take it out on them this week. You know damn well that if we win handily, which we better do, we will all be jolly again come Monday. The fact is the Vikes are soft and we beat teams we are supposed to (except the fins). We can speculate all we want on the Pats game but what really gets me is the loss at home to the fucking dolphins. And speaking of gay, maybe joey harrington will come as tom bradys partner to disneyland. When we looked at the schedule before the regular season we all said 12-4 maybe 13-3 or those of us who were being really opitmistic said 14-2. We can still acheive the 14-2 but that damn dolophins loss is pathetic. As we started the season 7-0 we saw how good we were and thats why we are so disappointed by the two losses. We have seen that we are better and should rightfully be 11-0 right now. Lets face it, we have one of the softest schedules in the NFL coming in to the season. It bothers us that we are 9-2 instead of 11-0. What would our record be if we had played the Colts, Bolts and Cowboys instead of the Niners, Bills and Cards. We may not have been thinking 14-2 then. My point is that we have seen how good we are and thats why we want 16-0, mabye the Bears have done us a disservice by going 7-0. If they had lost one or two of their first games we would be happier to be 8-3 or 7-4 right now and this site wouldnt be quite so negative after a loss to the Pats at home. In closing, I love the Bears, I hate the Bears, I love the Bears.
November 28, 2006
#30 Fred said . . .Hey Rex is gonna be alright. My problem is with Ron Turner....I am over this guy... How many playaction skinny posts do we have to watch week after week!!! No creativity in this offense, pats were jumping the in route so what should a real cord. do??? Run some 15 yrd outs...We havent ran outs in over a month! How many reverses have we run in Turners time....3! Like Ditka said....its easy to scheme against the bears...they have 2 pass plays.....PA skinny and the in route....I loved listening to Da Coach rip turner on ESpn news!!He ruined Illini , will ruin bears offense!
November 28, 2006
#31 Brian said . . .Brian Griese was a great pickup as the backup QB if Rex gets hurt. That's it. To anyone who wants him in, tell me what you do if he loses two in a row. Then what?
Rex is WINNING AND ALSO LEARNING every week. He will get better, he is football. He wants it just as much as all of us do if not more. You've got to stick with him at this point.
Ron (what are you doing) Turner could help this situation out a lot with the play calling. The whole entire offense cannot rest on Rex's shoulders. RUN THE BALL first and then let Rex take his shots. By no means am I calling for an Ortonized offense, just give the running game more damn runs. Rex still gets the whole playbook, just run more and at the right times, like first down maybe.
Give him bootlegs, roll outs, and let him know it's o.k. to flee a failed pocket. It is about time we have had an offense to be excited about, remember?November 29, 2006
#32 Lovie Smith said . . .Starbuck hit on it...do we think it is a conicidence that Rex Grossman looked a hell of a lot better when Desmond Clark was a primary target? It's sooo simple it's frustrating....he's closer to the qb, he's a frekin huge target and he has pretty good hands. If we make Desmond a threat again that ties up the linebacker (s) which pushes back the second level which opens up the run...I am amazed that I am saying this but Desmond Clark is the difference between superbowl Bears and 1st round loss Bears.
Man, how much better could the Bears be if they would just read the Bears Blog!?
November 29, 2006
#33 Fred said . . .We're taking everything into consideration.
November 29, 2006
#34 Megan said . . .No kidding. Read what we have to say. We see it why can't you!?!?!?!?!?
On the lighter side of sports.......Jon Shoop will now run the Raiders' offense.
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/OAK/9834566
November 29, 2006
#35 paytonrules said . . .Right Said Fred~!
oooooooo! I think I'm gonna get yelled at for that one... ?November 29, 2006
#36 District Selectman said . . .Do I think Rex can improve my 2%?
Yes. I think he needs to improve by more than that though - it's 2006 not 1985 and completion percentages have changed a lot in 21 years. That and TJ/Benson are not Walter Payton.
There's also a big difference between thinking he can and knowing he will.
November 29, 2006
#37 Max said . . .Holy shit, you're away from the computer for a day and the whole world goes crazy. That's a hell of a thing to spring on a guy.
So this thread has gone from cooler heads prevailing on the Rex issue to the torch- and pitchfork-wielding mob going after Ron Turner. I'm going to sit this one out, too. The argument that his play calling is too predictable is hogwash, particularly when people are also clamoring for more rushing attempts and throws to the the tight end. The problem on Sunday was Rex. I couldn't see the patterns on TV, so I can't say how clever they were, but every INT that I remember was the result of a badly thrown ball, not a triple coverage bad decision. The guys were open, Rex was just off.
I also like Brad and Still's observations about special teams. That was the worst performance of the season, and I second the notion that "icing the kicker" is the stupidest thing in all of football.
But let me reiterate my plea: For chrissakes, people, it is already Wednesday, and I've seen one remark from one person about how hating the Minnesota Vikings. There ought to be an entire blog's worth of material to talk about why the Vikings and Minneapolis suck. Let's laugh about how Troy Williamson got punched in the face by a bouncer at Sharperpalooza. Let's make fun of the double donger for losing his starting spot to a rookie.
Speaking of Sharperpalooza, he recently said, "That's a tough game coming up. It would be better if we had more wins and were playing for something."
We are talking about a state whose brain trust is an unholy alliance of The Body and Al Franken. A place where a passport is not considered sufficient ID to buy beer (and they sell 3.2 beer to boot). And just about every other gripe I have about that overgrown jerkwater can be summed up with the three words, "Mall of America."
So stop the Bears hate. Of all weeks, this is absolutely the wrong one to bring it out.
P.S., Fuck the Vikings.
November 29, 2006
#38 paytonrules said . . .I wanna see some old school decapitation of the quarterback soon to be known as the late Brad Johnson.
November 29, 2006
#39 District Selectman said . . .I'm trying to pick a guy on the Vikes to hate - and there's just nobody there I really despise. No Chris Hovan, John Randle, Randy Moss, nuthin. Jack Del Rio used to get my ire up back in the day. Think they can dig up the body of Tommy Kramer and hit him?
I guess that's what happens when a team doesn't have any talent. I'll try and figure out somebody to hate over there! Just for you DS.
BTW - can we stop calling people "haters" of Ron Turner, Rex Grossman, other Bear. Obviously we keep coming back here because we're huge fans, and if good Rex comes comes back I'll be the first to congratulate the guy. Heck we don't even know the guy - how can we hate him?
November 29, 2006
#40 jeff said . . .I know this much: I've never met Cris Carter, but I still hate that motherfucker.
November 29, 2006
#41 District Selectman said . . .darren sharper is still a packer i don't care what color he wears. i hate him.
November 29, 2006
#42 Pat said . . .Matt Birk went to Harvard, so look for Ricky Manning to get into it with him, call him a faggot, and then have Tank and Tommie kick his ass.
November 29, 2006
#43 jeff said . . .A bit off topic, but do you think Sean Salisbury will fellate Tony Romo on live TV or will it be more of a private, special thing with candles and such?
Sorry for that. I just watched NFL Live. I need to stop doing that.
November 29, 2006
#44 Coxy said . . .Pat, repeat after me...No ESPN...No ESPN...
November 29, 2006
#45 Pat said . . .I won't watch it until Berman admits that he's bald.
November 29, 2006
You're with me, hairpiece.
November 29, 2006
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.