By Dan Pompei and Brad Biggs
The Bears and Mike Martz may have taken another step up the aisle Saturday when Martz traveled to Nashville to have dinner with quarterback Jay Cutler, according to multiple sources close to the situation.
If the meeting went well, it's possible Martz could be announced as the Bears offensive coordinator in the very near future.
The former head coach of the Rams met with coach Lovie Smith, general manager Jerry Angelo and assistant coaches on Friday. Concerns about Martz passing too much for the Bears' liking appear to have been allayed.
Cutler's endorsement is an interesting piece of the puzzle. He has been involved in the interview process with previous candidates, and he initially was lobbying hard for the team to hire Jeremy Bates, his old quarterbacks coach with the Broncos.
If the talks with Martz break down, the Bears could turn to Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, who interviewed for the position Thursday.
Interviewing another candidate or candidates also is a possibility, but the Bears would prefer to end the chase sooner rather than later.
Photo: Jay Cutler following an incomplete pass vs. the Packers. (Tribune / Jose M. Osorio)
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And then sign Peppers who wants to play in a 3-4 defense. better D and Better O in a matter of months!
Martz is known to have a very large, even huge playbook. I think there's room for modification of his scheme- most notably the 7-step drops. With Tice onboard, Lovie might make it a "requirement" for Mike to alter his strategy. Regardless, RT now becomes a focus in the offseason if he's brought on as OC.
oh yeah, and whats the problem with a Franchise QB! taking part in the interviews? I HATE the moves the bears have been making the last ohhh... too long to remember a good move but this is a great move, as a QB has to lead the offense or the offense will not go anywhere. This is part of being a leader. Now if Olin will sit down amnd let the leader lead we might do something, The king needs to retire, long live the king!
btw its CHRISTmas present
anyways, have to agree on the hits Cutler takes, boy did you guys see Cutler get beat up this year? I sure did, and that is gonna change with Tice that didnt do that great a job with other teams? and Martz that had a great line once in his carreer? We have to get a great OG for this thing to work and Pace/Olin have to sit, Beekman needs a try at Center and a great OG replaces Omiyale the experiment that failed miserably, Willims will be fine if he has a OG next to him and not a failed OT to OG. Pace didnt do too bad, but its just time to hang em up Probowler - same with Olin, that bs about `he will be great this year' was the exact same thing we heard last year! remember that? reminds me of the harris bs huh??? I dont remember Martz having ANY offense since he had all those probowlers do any of you??? well???
And who else is beating a path to Martz door??? anyone but the bears?? right..
Cutler will be fortunate to make it through eight games in one piece if Martz gets the job. Seven-step drops with the Bears' offensive line? People who think Cutler got beat up this year won't have seen anything yet. And Devin Hester running the 20-yard dig routes that are a hallmark of Martz's system? Wow...maybe Lovie won't make it through eight games either.
"wagging the goat" -I'm sure Cutler doesn't like it any better than you do. Cutler is not an idiot and certainly doesn't sound like the idiot in this story. It was prob Martz's decision to go down there and meet him. He has wanted this job from the beginning and will stop at nothing to get it. Maybe we do need a little of that tenacity on the Offensive calling side of the Bears. Might be a good thing.
Joe, that is just how the media is with Cutler and I don't know why either. I think because he does not cater to their every whim. When he does interview he is real and honest and I guess media doesn't like that also. I find his candid demeanor refreshing. They want a robot like Manning I guess.
Martz is like a kid who just may be getting the xmas present he's always wanted. A really talented QB to work with and mold. That could be good or bad for Cutler. Should be a fun year either way.
So Jaworski gets all bent out of shape that Cutler gets to meet the candidates, but when Aikman got to meet with Norv Turner in Dallas with even less experience than Cutler (and not too dissimilar results), it was a shrewd move by the organization? I just don't get the attitude by most of these national media guys when it comes to Cutler. Did he deny an interview, or is it because he said he had a stronger arm than Elway as a young player?
Hopefully, Cutler is smart enough to know that Martz = shortened career. Too many more hits coming, more turnovers, and asking too much from our wide receivers, who are about as polished as a charcoal briquet. Precise route running, speed in and out of breaks, and perfect timing....Not a single one of our wideouts fits that mold. Not to mention that our 5 OL can't even block their 4 DL, let alone if there is a blitz...
There will be big numbers in that offense, but some of them will not be desirable big numbers. Big sacks, big turnovers, and big hits on Cutler