Staff reportWith Jeremy Bates apparently headed to Seattle with Pete Carroll, Mike Martz looms even larger among likely candidates for the Bears' offensive-coordinator opening. Former Cowboys quarterback and current Fox analyst Troy Aikman gives Martz a thumbs-up.
"I like Mike Martz, I know his heritage, his lineage within this offense," Aikman said Monday on "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670. "In talking with (quarterback) Jon Kitna a few years ago when he was in Detroit, he said he learned more football in the two years under Mike Martz that he had learned in his entire career.
"I think it would be a good fit. When Lovie Smith got the job in Chicago, the first hire he made for his coordinator was Terry Shea. He wanted a wide-open offensive attack like what they ran in St. Louis while he was the defensive coordinator, and Terry Shea was in that system there at the time in Kansas City. So I don't believe that Lovie Smith is opposed to that style of offense. ... I believe Mike Martz can come in and solve a lot of those (offensive) problems."
However, Aikman points out that the Bears' problems on offense go beyond the coordinator.
"They need better players," he said. "They've got some people in the wrong positions. But if they upgrade the talent on the offensive side of the ball and they bring in a good offensive guy that can be creative with some of the things that Jay Cutler does well, then I think they've got a chance.
"I'm not willing at this point to say that Jay can't get along with any offensive coaches. There's been no indication from what I have seen, in talking with him nor in talking with coaches who have coached him, that there's ever been a problem with those relationships."
"They need better players," he said. "They've got some people in the wrong positions. But if they upgrade the talent on the offensive side of the ball and they bring in a good offensive guy that can be creative with some of the things that Jay Cutler does well, then I think they've got a chance.
"I'm not willing at this point to say that Jay can't get along with any offensive coaches. There's been no indication from what I have seen, in talking with him nor in talking with coaches who have coached him, that there's ever been a problem with those relationships."
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Martz as OC and Fewell as DC would be fine for the next year. Then when the a--clowns who own this franchise wake up, they will axe Mr's Phillips, Angelo, and Smiff. Martz can be a head coach again, with a proper staff.
Mike martz would be perfect,How many coaches can say they were dubbed the greatest show on turf.Of all the the great teams in history mike martz and the rams always comes to mind and they set the standard for teams to be measured by.martz out of coaching is a total waste of talent.When theres coaches in the nfl that shouldnt be coaching and martz setting at home is just a waste.He adds excitement to the nfl and that a facts, He keeps us talking and that says alot.
The more I think about the Bears personnel, the more I think Martz fits.
1) Forte IS PERFECT for his offense. Running backs in his system catch around 65 passes annually, and need to be able to both block and split out. Forte is no Marshall Faulk, but he would be an essential element for the team. He also is better suited for a scheme that is not based upon power running.
2) Martz system does not require big receivers. It requires quick ones. While I am DEEPLY worried about the ability of some receivers to pick up the offense and run routes, the team will be nasty if they do. Knox especially could thrive in his system, as could Hester in a limited role.
3) Martz will make good use of Cutler's abilities, and has no issue with a QB with a gunslinging mentality. Cutler is very intelligent, and this will allow him to make more reads at the line that will enable him to find the best matchup. Turner pretty much handcuffed Cutler, because he would offer two plays, and tell Jay to deal with it. Martz will also find a way to use Cutler's mobility.
4) And . . . it's not as if there are a lot of guys available that are intriguing. On paper, Martz is simply the best candidate out there aside from Clements and maybe the Titans Coordinator.
In reference to lrn2footballnubs:
Exactly! Nobody worth their salt will come to the Bears specifically because of the axe over Lovie's head. So, Martz will be the guy. He probably thinks he'll get a foot in the door and will have a shot at head coach. Whatever his motives (if those are even his motives), the offense will be exciting. More exciting if the Bears can manage to get a few GOOD o-linemen. Or equally exciting if they don't, watching Cutler run for his life for 16 weeks.
It's my opinion that the Bears have a cancer in the organization and I believe it started at the top and has spread all the way down to the players. Look at how the team "performed" up until the last 2 games of the season. The players were on the field but left their hearts in the locker room, at home or somewhere but they weren't on the field.
It would be nice to look to the future and make a wish list of new head coaches. But, the entire league must know whats going on in Chicago. So what big name head coach, OC, DC or even a young guy with huge potential, would really want to come here? I have always hoped that Jeff Fischer would finally come home and take over as Coach. Not gonna happen until the Bears rid themselves of that cancer. Which probably will not happen in my life time.
So, we'll get a bunch of young guys again, Lovie's guys or guys nobody wants. No real draft picks to worry about this year. And, if you're a free agent are you going to come here? Lets hope the lockout takes place in 2011 to ease our pain.
Martz is the only option. The Bears OC position is so tainted by the axe dangling over Lovie's head that no one will touch it. This guy actually wants the position. He will get it once everyone else tells the Bears to go screw. i for one would like to see the guy get a shot. It would be interesting to see what his offense would look like with a strong-armed QB running it again (yes Detroit and SF didn't have a QB). The stars may align and his offense takes off. Win. If he fails, then Lovie finally gets the axe. Win. Regardless of who gets it, this regime is doomed so it might be exciting to see what Martz can do.
Factoid on January 11, 2010 5:23 PM
Jay Cutler is a stupid piece of sh!t and no matter who coaches him, they will fail.
___________________
Hey Factoid.... you are a stupid piece of sh!t too. But your mom and I didn't give up on you did we? God knows your mom wanted to throw you in the dumpster.
Not only do I think Martz is good for Cutler and the Bears, I think he's just what Forte needs. I think with a back that can catch the ball out of the back field and who can run when there's space, Martz is just the guy. Without Martz, I really don't think Marshal Falk has the career he had. Just my, not so angry, two cents. Hey, here's a guy who wants the job that not too many people want, with what could be a lame duck coach and a possible lock out on it's way, I say let's give it a shot.
Not only do I think Martz is good for Cutler and the Bears, I think he's just what Forte needs. I think with a back that can catch the ball out of the back field and who can run when there's space, Martz is just the guy. Without Martz, I really don't think Marshal Falk has the career he had. Just my, not so angry, two cents. Hey, here's a guy who wants the job that not too many people want, with what could be a lame duck coach and a possible lock out on it's way, I say let's give it a shot.
Whoa!!!! Wait a minute Aikman.
You actually talked to offensive coaches and Cutler and then formed your opinion that Cutler is coachable? What are you trying to report factually checked stories and opinions? There is no room for that kind of reporting or analysis in these parts. Mr Haugh don't take kindly to you type of people, with your insightful, informed opinions. Watch your back.
Some of you people shpould check yourselves becuase you are the real dubm piece of s@#ts!
A: I believe the RAms ran the ball pretty well under Martz. Remember Marshall Faulk and his rushing stats on the two Super bowl teams with Rams? Did not think so.
B: Looking at coach Harbaugh is not a bad idea, but I think he will stay with the Cardinal.
C: Cutler is not a stupid piece of blank, and shame on you for calling him that.
D: Thank god some of you folks are not running companies man. Because with attitudes like this you would fail for sure.
E: Go Bears! And all you fair weather jerks do not deserve to be included in the good times when and if they come. Why don't you jump on the Cowboy bandwagon. Their are so many they will not notice. Go to the store and buy yourself a Cowboy hat and shut the F@#k! up!!
Who the heck is Troy Aikman? To many concussions! Martz is a Jerk!
I've been calling for experience at the Coordinator position because we have so many young players on offense. Martz is all the experience we need. Everyone talks like Jay can't work with any authority above him. That's crap, Jay want's to win like everyone else and Martz will put in an offense that will show off Jay's talent and the ability of our receivers. Get Jay Martz and some linemen and we'll score points. Then we can focus on the defense which I see as our biggest problem.
martz would be a horrible fit. did u not see jay cutler this season, he clearly performed better when the running game was at its best. with martz ur pretty much throwing out the running game. Im not afraid to say it, jay cutler is probably one of the best play-action qb's in the league, because of his ability outside the pocket. that's what the bears need.
He may be a good fit for Lovie, but NOT THE BEARS!!! If da Bears are going to bring in Martz, why not just trade Forte, Peterson, Bell, and Jones, cuz Martz sure as hell won't need them anymore. HUGE MISTAKE...GO GET JIM HARBAUGH, BEARS!!!
Drew from Chicago. listen. everybody has their own views about Cedric. but what he's showing now Is what he's been about all along. Its Haters like you that still refuse's to give credit where Its due. have you paid attention to his replacement lately? Cedric Is not marginal as you assumed. he had the wrong coaching staff to develope him. and In the future. learn how to separate your personal/Business view points. what he did off the field. the charges was dropped. understand! the charges were dropped. the Bears released him because they felt that they had their RB In Matt Forte. but who's the fool now? and the examples that I used was the best I could do. Its not like the Bears have a team full of Pro Bowlers. so why don't you just admit that they dropped many players that are now In the Playoffs. and as for Berrian. If you feel so strongly that he was that far developed. how come we didn't see It when he was here? and Polite performed better than any Bears FB. so yeah. you are missing alot.
Yeah he probably would be a good fit. And that's why he won't be hired. Losers hir Losers..
And we all know how great Kitna is! Thanks Troy. Maybe you should let Buck do the talking. Wait, nevermind that.
Fire 32x, are you kidding me? Develope the guys that you referred to? With the exception of Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage the other guys were marginal at best. Ced Benson wasn't a development problem, he had off field issues that got him cut. Bernard Berrian actually shouldn't be in that category either. Didn't he get paid top tier money for a WR? That would mean that he DEVELOPED with the Bears. Polite? Did he make the Pro Bowl the last few years or something? What am I missing here? While they have had their problems IDENTIFYING talent on the roster, you used some poor examples. Gaines Adams needs to get stronger, he practically played in the same system in Tampa. Lets give them a chance to work with Adams and see what happens.
I feel sorry for however gets the OC job.He better be able to turn water into wine,because the Bears offense has more problem areas than are fixable in the near future.Angelo is the party that is responsible for most of the problems the Bears have,and Lovie is a poor coach,that can't get anything out of his players.A lot of players on the Bears roster couldn't make it with any other NFL team.With no draft help readily available for a couple of years,and Angelo's way of picking up lousy players and getting rid of good ones.We Bear fans are in for some lean years.
Pocatellodave
This Is for Mike_From_Chicago.
I don't think that he's Stupid or Injured. Its the Coaching staffs failure for developing talent. look at D.A. Cedric Benson, Bernard Berrian, Justin Gage, Lousaka Polite, Mark Colombo Bobby Wade, and others. Gaines Is just another whom they've failed to Develope.as always.
Have to get this off my chest - what's the deal with giving up a 2nd round draft pick for Gaines Adams? The guy has been in the league for a few years and he's good enough for a 2nd rounder, but he can't get on the field? He can't get on the FIELD? It's not like the D-Line was so good we didn't need him. How hard is it for a guy to pick up the defense? Is he stupid? Is he injured? What's the deal?
Let's not forget that Aikman still suffers post-concussion symptoms from all the blows to the head he took while he played.
Agin, I will not question the "success" of Martz' offenses, but the offense needs 3 things to work successfully:
1. A QB who is capable of making pre-snap reads and delivering the ball to a spot on time: we have this
2. An offensive line that can consistently keep defenders off the QB while he makes his 3,5, and 7 step drops without help from backs or TEs: Our line can barely protect on a 3 step drop, so Cutler will get hit a lot
3. Wide receivers who can run precise routes, get out of their breaks quickly, and separate as they move to the delivery spot on time: Most of our receivers can't manage to run the right route, let alone get separation from CBs. This is a big issue that needs to be fixed to help the transition.
While QBs put up good numbers for yards, TDs, and completions in this offense, they also put up hgh numbers in two categories that are not so good: sacks and turnovers. Martz does not reduce turnovers where he coaches, and actually de-emphasizes the importance of turnovers. Not a good thing when your QB throws 26 INTs in a ball-control offense.
Now that Bates is out of the picture, we have a few guys out there that could help us:
1.Tom Clements--has experience as a play-caller, and has done good things with Rodgers over the last few years
2. Jim Zorn--was a good QB coach and offensive coordinator in Seattle with Holmgren, and knows how to move the pocket to create mismatches down the field
3. Jeff Jagodzinski--proven OC and head coach that runs a very sound offensive scheme, ideally suited to Cutler. Down the field throws, an aggressive legitimate screen game (no bubble screens), and a diverse running game
4. Tom Cable?--IF Al fires him, he is a solid OL coach, and I think he can get a solid QB coach to come in. Or could be hired as an offensive line coach.
5. Bill Musgrave--QB coach in Atlanta, has been an OC in two places
Whoever they get, they had better be able to coach offensive line and QBs, either themselves, or through a solid position coach.
lol Aikman knows Hester should be a true KR/PR. Only way Bears go back to the Super Bowl.
Aikman said "They've got some people in the wrong positions." I bet he was talking about Devin Hester as a wideout, first and foremost. He should be returning kicks, and, at the most, playing 3-5 offensive plays a game only running fly patterns...to stretch/scare a defense. Although they haven't seemed too scared the last couple of years.
This would be like marrying a stripper - you'll either end up REALLY REALLY happy - or REALLY REALLY miserable. I love the idea.
You think this man can create the greatest show on grass!? I think so. Straight bomb first been blast.