In this episode we take a look at the NFC North.  We give our predictions as to who will finish where and we spend a good deal of time bashing discussing the quarterbacks within this division and of course there are the obligatory shots at Brett Favre.

Hosts: Kevin, Ryan, Rich

 

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Over the last few years, the San Francisco 49ers probably have lots of regrets. One of them has to be the fact that they “earned” the #1overall draft slot in 2005, not the quarterback-loaded classes of ‘04 or ‘06. The result? Drafting Alex Smith, a system quarterback out of a Mountain West Conference school. Four years (and four offensive coordinators) later, Smith has been beat out for the starting job by an unknown named J.T. O’Sullivan.

Fresh off a great performance in Thursday’s pre-opener (7/8-126-1), O’Sullivan earned the job over the well-paid Smith, who delivered yet another clunker, going 6/17 for just 83 yards. According to reports, the 29-year-old  was the unanimous choice to start among head coach Mike Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike Martz,  quarterback coach Ted Tollner (SDSU!) and general manager Scot McCloughan.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never seen Alex Smith as a competent option to be the top overall selection in any draft. But in the last 10 years, I don’t think a young quarterback has ever been subjected to more coaching changes and front office chaos. How can you expect a young quarterback to develop when you’re changing his offensive coordinator every single season? The offseason should give young quarterbacks a chance to learn and hone their skills, not learn more new terminology and schemes. In the last three offseasons, Smith has been asked to absorb two of the most complex offensive systems in football: Norv Turner’s and Mike Martz’s. Good luck.

So much for Shaun Hill being the heir apparent to the starting job after a great finish to the 2007 season. This quarterback carousel should only continue into the season, as O’Sullivan will surely flop in the starter’s role. Once this happens, look for Nolan to take zero responsibility and throw his quarterbacks under the bus, just like he did with Smith.

Lost in the Green Bay Packers-Brett Favre nonsense was the heated, often comical quarterback competition taking place in the Windy City. The Chicago Bears, a team with arguably the worst quarterback situation in football, chose to stand pat with their two cumslingers gunslingers, Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. With just a couple weeks ’till kickoff, it appears round one of this fiasco has gone to Orton.

Kyle Orton will start as the Chicago Bears opening day quarterback—beating Rex Grossman in a competition that lasted through training camp and two preseason games.

The Bears open the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Orton started 15 games in 2005 and three last season. He’s thrown for more than 2,300 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career.

Incredible. We know what Orton’s all about: Throwing picks, leading anemic offenses, and getting pugging bottles of Jack Daniels. But can he take Chicago back to the postseason? Just a year removed from the Super Bowl, the Bears appear to be mired in the same nonsense they were three or four years ago when they were deciding between Grossman and Orton. Here’s the truth, Lovie. Both of them suck ass and shouldn’t be starting for a team with playoff aspirations.

Orton’s body of work this preseason has been less than impressive. Hell, he’s coming off an effort where he went 5/9 for a paltry 43 yards. The difference between him and the Sex Cannon? Orton hasn’t thrown a pick in two preseason games, while Rexy has thrown one. Regardless of who starts, we know one thing: Soldier Field will remain the backdrop for the league’s worst quarterback play.