The final case of supporting Kyle Orton

I've heard all the diatribes of  message board posters (TheDoctor, Schmizo, NoLimit48) and other idiotic blowhards in the CHICAGO MEDIA in regards to the poor development of Kyle Orton and the perceived success of Rex Grossman.

Frankly, every Sunday when I turn on the TV I see Orton as our starting QB. That is the present situation. (What we have now, for the completely stupid.) And more often than not, we win with him (and in spite of him at times) while throwing more than Ben Roethlisberger or many other rookie QBs ever did or will do.

The primary arguments I've heard spouted by supporters of Rex is:

1. He has more of the 'it' factor
2. Ron Turner and Wade Wilson, in typical coach fashion, proclaimed him a top 5 QB potentially
3. Rex had less to work with at the wideout position and a weaker offensive line
4. He's played in 3 different offenses, and still performed better than Orton
5. Rex had significantly less 3 and outs in a similar time frame as Orton - true enough.
6. He moved the ball more against the teams he played against
7. Rex has more poise, work ethic, stronger arm and more mobility than Orton
8. Rex was the named starter in 2005 and should not lose his job due to injury
9. Players on the offense like him more and are more confident with him as their starter
10. We can expect more offense per game from him due to his offseason work, veteran ability and overall talent in reading defenses
11. Play calling is expanded with Rex at QB. He understands more of the offense and Ron Turner can call anything. Can audible more frequently.

The primary arguments spouted by supporters of Orton are:

1. He has now more NFL playing experience than Grossman
2. He has stayed healthy for more games in a row than Grossman
3. He has thrown more TDs, completed similar % of passes, has a fairly similar QB rating and won more games (if team wise) than Grossman
4. He got only 2 weeks to learn with the 1^st string offense preseason and is developing on the fly.
5. He's played against 3 top 10 defenses in Washington, Detroit and Baltimore and minimized his errors in those games and posted a 3-1 record against those teams.
6. For a Rookie, he has done exceptionally well on the fly. Learning and developing cohesion with his WRs. (Though now losing his #2 WR in Bradley for the year.)
7. Bears are in 1^st place in a weak division for the first time this late since 2001.
8. He has received positive comments by Jimmy Johnson (an NCAA championship and 2 NFL championships), Ron Jaworski and Sean Salisbury, both former NFL QBs and Chris Collinsworth, former WR for Cincinnati.
9. Was named NFL Rookie of the week once. And nominated at least 3 times so far.
10. Has a stronger arm, more durable and shown glimpses of outstanding play (Detroit 2^nd quarter)

More could be added , I'm sure, but here's the negatives of Rex:

1. Health. He has now missed 20+ games due to major injuries to both his legs. Decreased mobility is almost assured. (And he wasn't 'that mobile' before….)
2. Rustiness with offensive timing. Game time play is different from practice. Defenses are not letting up, nor do they just 'simulate' game situations and coverages.
3. Adjustments WRs now will have to make to his throws - speed, accuracy (could be better) and when and where they are thrown (before the break, after the break or right at the break….timing patterns, routes, etc.)
4. He may also be working with a brand new receivers in Airese Currie, Carl Ford or some other FA acquisition that Kyle Orton has now more experience with.
5. No interaction with Cedric Benson in a game. Of little importance, except if Benson becomes a primary back due to Thomas Jones being hurt.
6. Until he plays, he is a virtual unknown in a live situation.

Negatives against Orton:

1. He doesn't know the entire offense - we assume.
2. He doesn't know every defense or check with me call at the line.
3. He hasn't shown enough connection on deep passes. Muhammad is especially miffed at his inability to get it to him.
4. He hasn't move the ball enough in key situations. Dependent on how you define 'key'.
5. Hesistancy is more likely with him running the offense in crucial situations.
6. Hasn't won us a game from behind. Though New Orleans he made a key pass to get the 3 points that won the game.

Actual Facts and Statistics:

Defensive Rankings of Teams Played	2003
Pts/G - 22.1 23rd, Pass Yds -217.3 23rd , Overall - 23rd	Game 14 (Vikings) - 13/30 157yards 0TD 0INT
Pts/G - 23.3 24th, Pass Yds -199.1 14th, Overall - 25th	Game 15 (Redskins) - 19/32 249yards 2TD 1INT
Pts/G - 20.8 19th, Pass Yds -210.2 20th, Overall - 29th	Game 16 (Chiefs) - 6/10 31yards 0TD 0INT
	2004
Pts/G - 21.9 18th, Pass Yds -219.6 20th, Overall - 22th	Game 1 (Lions) - 16/32 227yards 0TD 2INT
Pts/G - 23.8 23rd, Pass Yds -228.9 25th, Overall - 25th	Game 2 (Packers) - 10/18 132yards 1TD 1INT
Pts/G - 24.7 26th, Pass Yds -243.5 29th, Overall - 28th	Game 3 (Vikings) - 21/31 248yards 0TD 0INT

Kyle Orton's statistics as of November 7th:

Defensive Rankings of Teams Played	2005
Pts/G - 18.6 13th, Pass Yds -170.0 7th , Overall - 7th	Game 1 (Redskins) - 15/28 141yards 0TD 1INT
Pts/G - 19.0 16th, Pass Yds -186.1 13th, Overall - 10th	Game 2 (Lions) - 14/21 150yards 1TD 0 INT
Pts/G - 15.6 3rd, Pass Yds -186.4 14th, Overall - 15th	Game 3 (Bengals) - 17/39 149yards 0TD 5INT
Pts/G - 17.0 6th, Pass Yds -210.3 18th, Overall - 24th	Game 4 (Browns) - 16/26 117yards 1TD 0INT
Pts/G - 25.9 27th, Pass Yds -224.5 22rd, Overall - 27th	Game 5 (Vikings) - 16/25 117yards 2TD 1INT
Pts/G - 17.6 9th, Pass Yds -163.5 4nd, Overall - 2nd	Game 6 (Ravens) - 15/29 145yards 1TD 0INT
Pts/G - 19.0 16th, Pass Yds -186.1 13th, Overall - 10th	Game 7 (Lions) - 17/31 230yards 1TD 0INT
Pts/G - 26.9 16th, Pass Yds -167.8 5th, Overall - 12th	Game 8 (Saints) - 12/26 137yards 1TD 2INT

For the preeminent football scholars on this topic of QBs, this reflects pretty clearly that Rex did his 'immense' damage against weak defenses overall and very poor pass defenses, in general. Whereas, Orton has all ready faced the #4 and #5 pass defenses without getting befuddled ANYMORE than any other NFL QB that has faced them. He has played within the system - utilizing his running game and defense.

As a rookie QB, without the benefit of multiple training camps or the time to learn everything Rex should know, Kyle is doing better than Rex -if marginally so. Anyone at all can see that - in the numbers. It should be noted that his QB rating has been higher than the opposing QBs rating in 5 of the 8 games. (Washington, Cincinnati and New Orleans being the defeats…)

Rex also got the benefit of both sitting and learningthe system before he played and he really didn't light it up - making errors and not dominating any of these weaker defenses.

I am for Orton because I know what I am getting….

I am for Orton because I see improvement in his game…not constant, but slowly and surely.

I am for Orton because analysts 'outside of the Bears' comment on his game favorably

I am for Orton because Lovie continues to run him out there

I am for Orton because he has done enough to win the job, for this year.

I am for Orton because Rex has yet to do enough in his career to warrant the removal of a guy that's done actually more - yards, completion %, TDs, INTs, WINS and possibly assisting this team to the playoffs

I am for Orton because they are winning

But I am for Rex because he and 52 other guys working hard to put this team in first place.

This team would be nothing without a championship defense…..AND we all know that too.