In the weeks leading up to Sunday’s victory over Atlanta, coach Lovie Smith spoke of how Rex Grossman’s return to health would improve the Bears at quarterback.
Smith was wrong. Grossman’s return improved the Bears at more than just one position, even if that position is the most important one on the field. By their own description, the Bears became a more dangerous team with Grossman back from the broken left ankle he suffered on Aug. 12.
“He’s a natural leader,” receiver Justin Gage said. “It’s something maybe he had growing up or he picked up at Florida or wherever. But he’s a true leader.”
The Bears believe they can do things now that they couldn’t do with Kyle Orton, for whatever reason. And being able to accomplish things begins with believing. That is apparent in every area of this team.
Coaching
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner restricted what was being asked of Orton, a rookie who went from the third-string quarterback to starter when Grossman went down and Chad Hutchinson flopped.
How much that approach changed with Grossman was shown when he entered the game and his first throw was not a high-percentage dump-off pass but rather a 22-yard slingshot to Muhsin Muhammad in the deep middle of the field–in coverage. Two plays later, Grossman was green-lighted for a 10-yard out to Gage.
“We wanted to take our shots,” quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson said. “We thought we could early in the game, and we did take a couple of shots with Kyle. We didn’t hook up. Then when Rex got on the roll, we might have become a little more aggressive.”
The Bears were leading in adverse conditions Sunday and still had Grossman enter the game throwing. Coaches had been asked this season when they were going to untie Orton’s hands. Grossman effectively untied theirs.
Defense
The Bears had the ball just under 13 minutes to the Falcons’ 17-plus in Sunday’s first half. They had it about 16 minutes to 14 for Atlanta in the second half despite throwing more passes.
In Orton’s last three starts, the Bears had the edge in time of possession only once–by three seconds–and had their defense on the field an average of four minutes longer per game.
“When the offense is picking up first downs like that, it gives us a chance to catch our breath,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said. “The defense can draw some momentum from the offense because our whole team gets excited when the offense makes big plays.”
Offensive line
Orton’s consistent execution of Turner’s quick-release, timing-based West Coast passing offense might not have produced exceptional numbers, but it did contribute to the line’s record of effective pass protection. Grossman, however, is a different matter.
One offensive lineman shook his head in the locker room after Sunday’s game. “Did you see the way he moved in the pocket?” he asked.
Orton was sacked once in 11 pass calls in the first half. Grossman wasn’t sacked in 16 in the second.
“We worked with Rex as our starter all camp, so it’s not like we had to make a big change when he came in,” center Olin Kreutz said. “We know what he can do.”
Receivers
Several remarked on how Grossman spread the ball around. He threw passes to seven different receivers whereas Orton threw to only four. The real differences lay in execution and in perception, however. Receivers all felt involved.
“[Grossman] spread the ball around a lot, and he was able to move the ball downfield,” said Bernard Berrian, who saw only two balls from Grossman after four from Orton.
Running backs
Thomas Jones averaged 110 yards and 5 yards per carry in Grossman’s three 2004 starts. As Orton struggled in his last three starts before Sunday, Jones was averaging 72 yards per game and less than 4 yards per carry. He may get fewer carries behind Grossman, but he also will face fewer defenders within inches of the line of the scrimmage.
Luck
Grossman is due for some breaks other than to body parts. If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have had none at all over his first three NFL seasons.
The Bears’ luck improved markedly Sunday with Grossman on the field. Grossman threw into triple coverage trying to hit Muhammad at the goal line on his first series. Safety Keion Carpenter intercepted, but Desmond Clark promptly forced a fumble that Gage recovered to rescue the ill-advised throw, and the Bears scored their only touchdown on the next play.
“There was something in the air,” Berrian said. “We were just more electric.”
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jmullin@tribune.com
