Officially promoted to backup quarterback Wednesday, Rex Grossman has found a comfort level on the field that still eludes him off it.
Grossman fidgeted and squirmed his way through a question-and-answer session about the Bears’ offensive struggles, clearly cognizant that distractions don’t mesh with eight-game winning streaks.
Only when Kyle Orton–the starter under scrutiny–grabbed a reporter’s tape recorder and feigned interviewing him did Grossman laugh. Levity, however, won’t lessen the fishbowl nature of the situation, especially with a tough Pittsburgh defense on tap and Grossman officially one snap from regaining his starting position.
“I feel bad talking about other people’s situations,” Grossman said. “All I know is I’m physically able to do everything I need to do to play.”
That’s why Grossman relegated Jeff Blake to emergency third-quarterback status and, showing improved mobility, even took some snaps with the first-string offense at practice.
Concerns still exist within Bears management about Grossman’s durability, although he is fully recovered from his ankle surgery. The entire situation is a non-issue if Orton plays well against Pittsburgh, which he vowed to do in emphatic fashion.
“I want to make sure it comes out that we’re pleased from an organizational standpoint,” general manager Jerry Angelo said. “Kyle has done a super job for us in circumstances where not every guy could have come in and done what he did. There aren’t many guys you can compare him with who have been in this situation.
“All I know is this: I look at our record and he’s our quarterback and you have to put that in the equation somewhere.”
Coach Lovie Smith echoed Angelo’s sentiments, repeatedly ending answers about the situation with reference to the Bears’ 9-3 record. That said, it is Smith who publicly challenged Orton for two straight days after a performance against Green Bay that netted 68 passing yards and a 23.7 quarterback rating.
Grossman saw those statistics, too, and he responded to one question about the passing game in general–not Orton specifically–as a competitor, not a controversy-maker.
“I definitely think we’ve left some points and yards on the field,” Grossman said. “There’s a lot of room for improvement.
“We threw for 60-some yards. If you’re asking me if I feel like I could throw more yards than that, yes, I could. But it’s easy for me to say that here, sitting in the locker room.”
On the other side of that locker room, wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said he “played extremely well” after reviewing film, adding, “The fact that I didn’t catch a ball wasn’t all my fault.”
Orton offered a similar defense.
“I don’t think our troubles in the passing game fall on me solely,” he said. “But I’ll take the blame. That’s fine. I realize we have great players on offense who have done it for a long time. Maybe it’s me.”
Smith supported Muhammad’s assessment, saying the veteran receiver was open. Yet the fact Orton and Muhammad have differing views on the same issue is another example of their inability to form a consistent chemistry.
Asked directly if he agreed with Orton’s comment that the offensive struggles aren’t solely his fault, Muhammad answered that football is a team sport and reiterated his season-long stance that victories, not statistics, drive him.
Then Muhammad said: “I don’t think there’s anyone who expected Kyle to be doing what he’s doing for us, leading us to victories–or should I say not losing games for us. There’s only one game on my mind right now where Kyle played bad enough to lose the game. And that was Cincinnati.
“Other than that, he hasn’t gone out and thrown for 300 yards. But he has played effectively enough for us to win eight games in a row and be 9-3.”
Orton said he would ignore public criticism, listen to any from coaches and teammates and try to learn from it and respond to it.
“No more making excuses,” Orton said. “I’m going to go out and have my best game of the year this week.”
That wouldn’t surprise Angelo, who also expressed disappointment in Orton’s play against Green Bay.
“He has that kind of moxie,” Angelo said. “That’s what gets quarterbacks through it or they break.”
A break of Grossman’s ankle is what created this whole situation. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner, while spreading the offensive blame around, said the team isn’t looking to make a change but that it also “would do what we have to do to win.”
“Kyle missed some throws,” Turner said. “We hadn’t seen a lot of teams playing press man on us. But I don’t think it’s a matter of him looking over his shoulder and pressing.”
If Orton did, Grossman would be there. He has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate his ankle, a schedule that still brings him in on days off for an entire day of work. He said an extra insole and better tape job have helped improve his mobility.
The quarterback situation is equally fluid.
“It’s not a distraction,” Grossman said. “I’m preparing as if I’m playing. If that happens to be the case Sunday, then I’m ready.”
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
