| Kyle Trompeter. 14th August, 2005 - 6:28 pm
 When a football team goes four starting quarterbacks over the course of a 16 game season, then there is a problem. Injuries plagued the Bears for the better part of the 2004 season, with key players like linebacker Brian Urlacher, safety Mike Brown, cornerbacks Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Jerry Azumah, and defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. However, no position took a harder hit than at quarterback.
Rex Grossman started the season at quarterback and lasted a few games before tearing the ACL in his right knee that ended his season. Then Jonathan Quinn stepped in and played a dreadful five games at quarterback, accumulating a 53.7 QB rating and only throwing one touchdown. Rookie Craig Krenzel was next in line and actually won his first three starts, but injuries cut his season short. Finally, it was Chad Hutchinson’s turn to take the reigns of the offense. Acquired midseason, Hutchinson showed flashes in his five starts but was the unfortunate beneficiary of poor protection from the offensive line and spent much of the last five games of the season on his back.
REX GROSSMAN Injured: Drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2003 draft, Rex Grossman has started all but six games in two seasons NFL. Grossman looks to take charge of this Chicago Bears offense that will be lead by new offensive coordinator Ron Turner, who held the position with much success in the mid 90’s. Rex is well known for having one of the quicker releases around, which will help him avoid sacks if the offensive line breaks down like it did last year. However, with a healthy offensive line this year, and some new bodies in offensive tackles Fred Miller and Roberto Garza as well as wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, the protection will be there.
Grossman will be sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2005 season.
CHAD HUTCHINSON: Originally slated to begin the season as the number two quarterback on the depth chart. He led the Bears in TD passes last year with four. Hutchinson looked more than adequate in leading the offense at the end of last year, and would have done better if it weren’t for a horrendous offensive line that gave him no time to throw. Hutchinson has a very strong arm that is quite accurate.
KYLE ORTON: The rookie will most likely make the team as the third quarterback. Threw for 31 TD’s vs. only 5 INT’s as a senior at Purdue last year. Known for his very strong arm, Orton may have a future with this team and with Grossman down becomes the #2 QB.
KURT KITTNER: Playing this past season in NFL Europe, Kittner lead Amsterdam to the Europe World Title. Played under Ron Turner at the University of Illinois. He has to really open some eyes with spectacular play if he wants to make this team.
RYAN DINWIDDIE: Gained some experience last season with the Hamburg Sea Devils NFLEL. Like Kittner, Dinwiddie doesn’t have much of a chance to make the team. |
