Grossman steps up, completes 23 of 27 in practice

BOURBONNAIS - Just when it looked like Kyle Orton was pulling ahead in the race for the starting quarterback job, Rex Grossman turned in his sharpest performance of training camp in Sunday's noon practice.

Grossman came out smoking, completing 19 of his first 20 passes and 23 of 27 for the day.

Even Bears coach Lovie Smith, who has been loathe to discuss the day-to-day progress of the quarterback competition and even more reluctant to praise one contestant ahead of the other, gave the nod to Grossman on Sunday.

"You can't get too high or too low on what happens on a particular day," Smith said. "But this was a good day for Rex. I thought Kyle did some good things, too."

Grossman, who has not been nearly as talkative or accessible as in years past and has not been pursued by the media as much, was swarmed as soon as he stepped off the field, shortly after his final pass of the day, a desperation rainbow that found the sure hands of Devin Hester in the end zone.

Grossman admitted he looked better Sunday than he had in the first 10 days of practice, when his play usually hovered anywhere from below average to good, but he also acknowledged improved play across the board on the offensive side of the ball.

"The receivers were a little sharper today, getting in and out of their breaks," Grossman said. "Offensively, we kind of got a talking-to a little bit, and I think we responded well."

The offense appeared sluggish in the previous workout Friday night at Soldier Field, but a day off and a lecture turned up their effectiveness.

"We need to be sharper mentally and come out with an edge," Grossman said of the message delivered by coaches to the offense. "I think we did that."

For the first time in five years, Grossman isn't the undisputed No. 1 quarterback, and that has made for a unique camp experience, as he and Orton alternate days with the first team and get critiqued on every snap.

"Everything is heightened when you're doing that," Grossman said. "I'd be lying if I said that weren't the case. You're out here trying to be perfect every single snap. (Normally camp) can get a little bit monotonous, but when you're competing for a job, every single drill is heightened, so you don't relax at all."

Grossman has always had the reputation of being a bit of a gunslinger, more prone to launching the ball down the field than taking the sure thing underneath, but he's been a different quarterback this year.

"I'm trying to be more efficient," he said. "I'm going to where the play takes me. I'm not thinking about checking the ball down, I'm not thinking about going deep, I'm just running the offense. That's where we're going to be efficient, and that's what the coaches want me to do. It's just a coincidence if a lot of checkdowns come in a row, and it's a coincidence if a lot of big plays come in a row. I'm just going where the defense allows me to go. I don't come in with a mind-set either way."

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner is keeping an open mind about the competition.

"It's pretty even," Turner said. "In my mind they're both playing pretty well. I'm pleased with the reads they're making."

For all the scrutiny that has accompanied every training camp snap, none of it will count as much as the results of the preseason opener Thursday at Soldier Field against the Kansas City Chiefs. For the first two games, at least, the work will continue to be split evenly. No decision on a starter for the first game has been made.

"We know one thing," Turner said. "The first couple preseason games, at least, they're both going to have an opportunity to show what they can do, get equal reps and all that stuff."