LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears quarterback Rex Grossman is in favor of offensive coordinator Ron Turner’s plan to expand the use of the shotgun formation in 2007.

“I’m excited about doing that,” Grossman said. “I did that in college (at Florida) and did that a little bit when Terry Shea was the coordinator in those three games I played (as a Bears rookie in 2003). I like it.

“It’s just a little bit different pass rush for the defensive ends. They don’t know exactly where I’m going to line up. If someone does happen to come free, I will be able to maneuver out of the way a lot easier just by having my feet set rather than dropping back and then having to escape.

“There are a lot of benefits to it and I’m excited about using it.”

Turner decided to implement a little more of the shotgun after reviewing tape of Grossman.

“I went back and looked at all our tape by myself before we met as an offensive staff,” Turner said last weekend at the fan convention. “I watched all our games and all the passes and everything Rex did. I also went back and looked at every play that he had in the NFL prior to this year just to see if I could pick up anything that’s going to help.

“That was one of the things I have in my notes; that we do need to implement (the) shotgun, that that is something that would help him a little bit. It won’t be a drastic change to what we do offensively, but we will go to some shotgun, especially more in the third down situations. You will see more of that.”