Grossman playing it cool in QB battle

BOURBONNAIS - Rex Grossman might need a solid performance Saturday night when he starts against the Seahawks to catch up to Kyle Orton in their fight for the starting quarterback job, but he's not putting too much pressure on himself.

"I'm just going out there to try to play my game," Grossman said. "I'm going to try to make the plays when they're there, run the offense and move the chains. They (the coaches) will make that determination I'm just going out there and try to play my best."

Grossman has done a better job of stepping up in the pocket during training camp and he seems to be moving better in general.

"I'm in better shape," Grossman said. "I train my body to do those movements more to where it comes natural rather than just relying on my arm to back up, roll out and wing it. To step up and create those passing lanes will definitely help."

Monday was a mixed bag for both quarterbacks. Grossman, working with the ones, looked sharper early, but in 7-on-7 in the red zone, Orton went 3-for-4 with 3 TD passes. Grossman got 6 attempts in the red zone and threw 2 TDs, but the defense disputed a sideline catch by rookie tight end Kellen Davis in the end zone, saying he was out of bounds.

Orton looked better in the early 11-on-11 team work, but he was later picked off by rookie linebacker Joey LaRocque, a seventh-round pick from Oregon, who made a leaping catch to take away a pass intended for Fontel Mines.

Just before that, Grossman took a sack, then on the next play, bobbled and dropped a shotgun snap.

In the one-minute drill, Grossman's pretty 35-yard sideline strike to Marty Booker got the first team positioned for a 33-yard field goal by Robbie Gould. Orton got the second team far enough for Gould to hit a 44-yard field goal.

Great expectations: John St. Clair, the No. 1 left tackle, has started nine games in his three previous seasons as a backup with the Bears, including four at left tackle, three at left guard and two at right tackle.

"He's a versatile guy and he gets the job done," said six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz. "He works real hard, he's got a lot of fight in what he does, and we expect him to hold that (left tackle) position down solidly for us."

Camp tidbits: General soreness kept center Olin Kreutz, linebacker Lance Briggs and tight end Desmond Clark out of practice Monday and safety Brandon McGowan (ankle) and linebacker Jamar Williams (hamstring) both left practice with what coach Lovie Smith classified as minor injuries. ... Linebackers Hunter Hillenmeyer (hip) and Michael Okwo (leg) and safety Kevin Payne (hamstring) returned. ... Running back Kevin Jones continues to make progress, carrying the ball in 9-on-7 run drills and catching a short TD pass from Kyle Orton in 7-on-7.