Chicago Bears: Thinking a rookie QB can lead Bears is true fantasy football

[tr1]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/sports/AU04_BEARS_S2.asp

The Kyle Orton bandwagon started rolling even before training camp. It actually began on draft day.

When a Rams linebacker didn't notice the "Fragile" tag on Rex Grossman during preseason, it began rolling a little faster.

When Chad Hutchinson's Jonathan Quinn imitation proved better even than the original, it was easy for the Orton bandwagon to gain more momentum.

And when Lovie Smith announced the strong-armed rookie quarterback would start on opening day, the bandwagon had an overflow crowd and was shifting into third gear.

The reality of this regular season will be difficult for anyone on board to bear.

Orton certainly could possess the talent to be an NFL starting quarterback -- there's no reason to think otherwise at this point. The word "eventually" has special meaning here, though.

What the Bears are forced to ask Orton to do is simply next to impossible. Rookie quarterbacks barely can figure out where their locker is let alone step in as a winning NFL starter from Day 1.

Orton did look good in preseason, but preseason is fantasy land. Chargers washout Ryan Leaf even looked good in preseason.

The name Ben Roethlisberger has been invoked enough times in recent days on behalf of Orton that one almost expected him to show up at Bears practice wearing a Steelers No. 7 jersey.

Some Bears have pointed to Kurt Warner's and Tom Brady's instant successes, as well. Of course, they failed to point out neither was a rookie when they took over as starters and won Super Bowls.

The extra time in an organization just watching or taking preseasonand training camp snaps makes all the difference in the world. Witness Jake Delhomme and Chad Pennington.

Were it only as simple as plugging in a rookie quarterback, then no one would hesitate to draft one and immediately start him.

However, the San Francisco 49ers aren't even starting Alex Smith, the first pick in the entire 2004 draft and will instead start mediocrity Tim Rattay. The Browns love third-round draft pick Charlie Frye of Toledo, but he's behind journeyman Trent Dilfer. The Washington Redskins think first-round draft pick Jason Campbell is their future, yet they have him behind used-up Mark Brunell and underachieving Patrick Ramsey.

Teams avoid starting rookie quarterbacks at all costs because they simply aren't ready to play at this level. Roethlisberger himself only got the chance when the Steelers had no other choice due to Tommy Maddox's injury. Then they caught lightning in a bottle.

The only two rookie draft picks to start at quarterback opening day and play mo st of the season successfully since 1978 are John Elway and Kyle Boller. Count Roethlisberger in with those two, Dan Marino and one or two others who were successful rookies over the course of the past three decades.

And there's reason to hope the Bears can be among the successful?

They have a defense supposedly capable of dominating opponents.Combine that with just mediocre quarterbacking and they can win, the thinking goes.

The Redskins had that formula last year, when they finished third in overall defense and fifth in points allowed.

They finished with a 6-10 record. Count the Bears in for 6-10 this year.

News flash: Winning teams no longer can live on defense alone in the NFL.

The shame of all this is the Bears' division is there for the taking this year.

Aging Brett Favre can't continue to prop up his team's Swiss cheese defense forever and this year two of his best offensive linemen have left in free agency. In addition, there's been bad blood between two of his receivers — Javon Walker and Bubba Franks — and management. The Packers' have looked miserable in preseason.

The Lions haven't looked much better, and continue to prove they still haven't learned basic tackling techniques. That's not surprising considering their defensive coordinator is **** Jauron. Their two quarterbacks are proving the mathematic impossibility that one plus one equals zero.

The Vikings rid themselves of the most dangerous wide receiver in the game, Randy Moss, a player they built their entire offense around. Their defense should improve after half a season when they've played together. By then, Daunte Culpepper will still be aiming passes at receivers who are no longer open because defenses don't have to cheat to Moss' side of the field.

This could have been something special for the Bears if their suspicions about their defense are correct.

Instead, they have no choice but to start a quarterback who's not ready for the job because general manager Jerry Angelo wouldn't heed the warnings of just about everyone saying they lacked a worthwhile, experienced backup quarterback.

It should be an interesting season, but not nearly as interesting as what the next off-season will bring in the front office after this quarterback fiasco drags the franchise down to its ninth losing season in the past 10 years.

[Eagle091]

da bears, da bears, 8-8 if theyre lucky.

[Clinton Portis]

The Washington Redskins think first-round draft pick Jason Campbell is their future, yet they have him behind used-up Mark Brunell and underachieving Patrick Ramsey.

Woah. Did they have to go there?

[Ænima]

Bears fans are in for a rude awakening this season. I swear after Big Ben's miracle season every homer thinks their rookie qb will be the next Roethlisberger.

[The Bounty Hunter #21]

Orton is no Big Ben and "da bears" will get dominated by the Skins sunday....9/11