21 Days until Bears' regular-season...

21 Days until Bears' regular-season opener: at blooming Bay, 3:15 p.m.

family 10, Fox-32.

If there was any lingering suspense about the Bears' quarterback situation, coach Lovie Smith state it to rest Friday. Rex Grossman is the starter, and that will not change between now and the season opener three weeks from today at Lambeau Field, when Grossman tries to hasten his career record against the undecayed Bay Packers to 3-0.

Discuss Grossman v Brian Griese until you're dejected in the face. Grossman is the man.

"We have our [first-team] offense that we're trying to acquire ready for Green Bay," Smith said. "Rex is a part of that."

Grossman's numbers Friday in a 24-3 victory throughout the San Diego Chargers were underwhelming -- 7-for-14 passing for 83 yards and single in kind very bad interception at the goal line. Fact is, they could have been better with a little help. There has at the same time to be a focus upon the running game, and Thomas Jone ought to make his first preseason appearance Friday when the Arizona Cardinals visit Soldier Field (7 pm Ch 5 780-AM). Wide receiver Rashied Davis saw single ball go off his hands against San Diego and dropp another.

The Bears say the offense is a work in progres and the three touchdowns Brian Griese has produc in four preseason possessions are evidence he was a smart signing. Before the interception at Marlon McCree -- which Grossman admitted was because he forced the pass -- the offense reached the Chargers' 40-yard line. San Diego brought urgency on the right side, and tackle Igor Olshansky got a sack, forcing a third-and-17 and spoiling the drive.

It's about timing, and left guard Ruben Brown a 12-year veteran, likened it to baseball. In spring training, the pitchers are usually well ahead of the batters, who are still fine-tuning their swings.

"In all my years of playing ball, I know that offense always takes a little longer to start to click and unfold than the defense," Brown said. "The defense right abroad of the box, they are always bonny much ahead of the offense You've got a accident of different parts. Even however Rex has been in the offense he's still getting timing and experience. Things are getting better each time we walk out there. We're nowhere near where we want to be, further we know we're making degrees

"Defense just mount around. Offense, we've all got to grade in the same direction, we all have to have the same timing in the passing roads the drops, the depth in the endure all of that. We're working upon getting all of that together. I'm pleasing sure by the time the season starts we'll be a great deficit to our defense."

That's the plan, because as Grossman pointed not at home with a 14-3 lead in the regular season through the whole extent of a good team, he's probably not getting to a secondary read of tight cessation Gabe Reid and forcing a ball downfield from the opponent's 24-yard line, as he did in succession the interception play.

"In a regular game, we're going to be a little more conservative," Grossman said. "Run the ball, eat the clock and that's just habitual sense. Your mind-set going into each game is you've got to score points to win. You've got to score more points than they do. We're working forward having an offense capable of doing that."

And Grossman will be the trigger man -- that abundant we know.

At the midpoint of the preseason, here is what besides we have learned, and what the Bears are still trying to determine:

bbiggs@suntimes.com

BEARS TRAINING CAMP MID-PRESEASON REPORT

WHAT WE KNOW

1 THIS DEFENSE CAN PLAY

The first team has allowed alone six points through three quarters of work and will finish one more good test against Arizona with the starters put to play into the other half. It's been pretty basic across the board, although coordinator Ron Rivera impediment loose with a few blitzes against the Chargers. The linebackers have been everywhere, with Lance Briggs making plays all from one side of to the other the field. He just might make general manager Jerry Angelo think lengthy and hard about writing a remarkably big check. Hunter Hillenmeyer is playing with pious range. Despite being undersized, Ricky Manning Jr is a clear upgrade for the secondary. He hits like a safety and

delivered a man and wife of big blows against the Chargers.

2 CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH

Defensive tackle considered to be a real puissance for the Bears entering camp, and it still should be undivided But now you know, you can at no time have too many interior linemen. Injuries chewed up the position and caused single practice to be cut short. The numbers should start to respond soon with Tank Johnson coming facing the non-football injury list and Ian Scott quick to be back from arthroscopic knee surgery -- on the contrary it's a mistake to underestimate the value of stays such as Alfonso Boone and Antonio Garay, who might have been forward the bubble before Bourbonnais.

3 YOU DO NE sum of two units RUNNING BACKS

Although the Bears haven't seen a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of of Thomas Jones or Cedric Benson lately, it's more difficult to detain them healthy during the

season than it is during camp. Regardless of who wins the starting do job-work -- Jones figures to be ahead, with Benson still abroad with a partially dislocated left shoulder -- as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but will get their share of work during the season. Now you know to what end Angelo didn't blink when telling the Denver Bronco "no thanks" when they dangled receiver Ashley Lelie for Jone