By Dan PompeiFormer Rams head coach Mike Martz would like to be reunited with Lovie Smith if the Bears are interested in Martz as their offensive coordinator.
Martz told the Tribune on Tuesday he has not spoken with Smith since September, and he is sensitive about appearing as if he has campaigned for Ron Turner's job. Martz and Turner are friends, and Martz worked for Turner's brother Norv Turner in Washington.
But now that Ron Turner has been fired, Martz doesn't mind expressing his interest in the job.
"I really hope I get a phone call," he said. "I'm excited about it. Obviously, I'd love to work for Lovie. From a selfish standpoint, it would be a great situation for me. Working for someone you know and believe in would be ideal. There is real potential there."
Photo: Mike Martz would be "excited" to work again with Lovie Smith. (Kyle Ericson/AP)
Martz hired Smith to be his defensive coordinator in St. Louis, and the
two also worked together at Arizona State. He would like to work with
Jay Cutler as well as Smith.
"Cutler has more talent than anybody I've ever seen," Martz said. "When he came out I gave him the best grade of any quarterback I've ever graded. But I don't know him. Until you sit down and work with a guy, you don't really know him."
Martz also was Rod Marinelli's offensive coordinator with the Lions until Martz was fired after the 2007 season. Martz said there are no problems between he and Marinelli from his standpoint.
"I can't speak for Rod, but it was very complicated," he said. "He's a very classy guy. It was just time for me to go."
After working for the Lions, Marinelli hooked up with the 49ers for one year. He spent the 2009 season working for the NFL Network, but he was in the final year of his contract with the 49ers.
"I'd like to coach again, but the situation has to be right," Martz said. "Otherwise you go back into TV if that's available."
Martz is one of football's preeminent offensive minds. A Don Coryell disciple, his aggressive passing attacks put pressure on defenses. He does not operate an offense that "gets off the bus running," and has been criticized at times for playing a high risk style that gets his quarterback hit a lot.
But he was 56-36 as a head coach in St. Louis and his teams averaged 26.5 points per game -- more than any head coach in history.
What's more, he has had success with quarterbacks who had been considered rank and file guys. Among them were Trent Green, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Jon Kitna.
"Cutler has more talent than anybody I've ever seen," Martz said. "When he came out I gave him the best grade of any quarterback I've ever graded. But I don't know him. Until you sit down and work with a guy, you don't really know him."
Martz also was Rod Marinelli's offensive coordinator with the Lions until Martz was fired after the 2007 season. Martz said there are no problems between he and Marinelli from his standpoint.
"I can't speak for Rod, but it was very complicated," he said. "He's a very classy guy. It was just time for me to go."
After working for the Lions, Marinelli hooked up with the 49ers for one year. He spent the 2009 season working for the NFL Network, but he was in the final year of his contract with the 49ers.
"I'd like to coach again, but the situation has to be right," Martz said. "Otherwise you go back into TV if that's available."
Martz is one of football's preeminent offensive minds. A Don Coryell disciple, his aggressive passing attacks put pressure on defenses. He does not operate an offense that "gets off the bus running," and has been criticized at times for playing a high risk style that gets his quarterback hit a lot.
But he was 56-36 as a head coach in St. Louis and his teams averaged 26.5 points per game -- more than any head coach in history.
What's more, he has had success with quarterbacks who had been considered rank and file guys. Among them were Trent Green, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Jon Kitna.
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Smith, Marinelli, Tice, and then Martz would make 4 head coaches on the team. At least the job search will be convenient after Lovie gets canned...
Mike Martz as OC in Chicago. Offensive minded Guru. Sounds wonderful to me. Getting sick of being the most
predictable team in football. On the other hand it strikes me funny that players that cant seem to get it done
with the bears have success elsewhere. Our player personnel group needs to become NFL class instead of third
class. Also the first thing we need is an offensive line
upgrade. We sure as heck cant run block & pass blocking isn't a whole lot better. Martz? I love the idea, but
we have a lot of other issues that need fixed along with that before we start becoming credible in this league again!
Martz was successful in Detroit and SanFrancisco in terms of the scope of what he was asked to do, which was to
produce yards and points.
Yards and points fell off big time after his tenure with those teams. In fact, 49ers were last in offense in 2009 this year after they canned Martz.
Hiring Martz for a struggling offense is an easy decision!!!!!!!!
What about highest points per game as head coach in NFL history do you people not understand!!!
He has changed the game of football for the better!
St. Louis Rams have not and won't be anytime soon near as successful since he left.
Any team that gets and keeps this guy will succeed as long as the defense holds up to their end of the deal!
SIGN MARTZ! Right now. He is friends with Lovie Smith, therefore deserves the OC post and it will be considered "change" to the organization. I wonder if Virginia wants to bring back the honeybears? Maybe lovie's wife can join the cheerleading squad! All of lovie's friends have been given jobs, whats a few family members????....good work bears! The buddy system is still in effect at halas hall!!!!!!
Bring in the Rat!
I would have agreed with Weis also, but he has agreed to go to KC. Martz is not the answer and has done nothing since leaving St. Louis. He was figured out long ago. I agree it only brings back together a losing combination. I also agree Bates may be a decent QB coach, but not OC. Offense at USC certainly was nothing special this year. Broncos offense wasnt spectacular with his help either. There has gotta be someone else out there. Would Jim Harbaugh interested?? Likely not, maybe a bad move for him?? Perhaps Tom Clements of Green Bay would be a good move for the Bears. He has OC experience with the Bills and a lot of experience with QB's. The more I think about it, I like Clements.
Screw Charlie Weis!!
What does HE bring to the table, besides a dumb look on his face.
Boy, I sure hope that Mike Martz gets the OC job.
The Bears could sure use some a$$ kicking coach for a change, instead of the "zombie look" of Lovie!
If you want conservative play calling, go to college ball. If you want a gutsy, confident, strong offense, then you want Mike Martz. Jon Kitna sucks, even with the best coach in the league he couldn't turn into a mediocre quarterback. Cutler is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league right now...he just needs some coaching. And as for Singletary...he's a HAS BEEN.
Hey, Wes. You obviously have zero knowledge of how the NFL politics work. Mike would bring the "O" back into the offensive. During the seven years that Mike was involved with the Rams,they went to two of the franchise's three Super Bowls. His record of 55–5 with a lead any time in the 4th Qtr [91.7 winning %] and 26.5 pts a game as a head coach were the best of ALL TIME at the end of 2005 season by any coach in the history of the NFL. Chew on that for a while. Cutler needs an offensive leader and that is Mike Martz.
They BETTER NOT let the Kansas City Chiefs steal Charlie Weis away from us.
Give him what he wants!
Mike Martz? Sure why not, Marinelli, Babbich and even Lovie's son still have their jobs, why not hire Martz too? He can't seem to keep a job anywhere else, may as well work for Lovie's buddies.
Martz was fired by st. louis, fired by marinelli in detroit, fired by Singletary in S.F. as soon as Samurai had the head coach job. So why not come to the bears and run the offense and work with the bears best young qb in half a century? This would be about as dumb a move as not firing Angelo and Lovie because they were given big contracts by Phillips.
Packers and Viking and even Lion fans are laughing their guts out over this. They know the bears by rights should easily be the dominant team in the NFC north and cruise into the playoffs every year. That is if the bears had a single competent team official. This is getting to be as bad as the way the Tribune ran the cubs all those years.
All you Mike Martz haters: I suggest you check some stats of his past 15 years. He led the Rams to 2 superbowls, and created Kurt Warner. He is an offensive genius, and he is just what the Bears need. Friend of Lovie or not, he's the best fit for the Bears needs. Oh, and Charlie Weis should stay in college, he's a horrible coach.
OH.. WTH why not bring in that idiot Mike Martz, hell be a perfect fit with angelo and lovie still there. Im disgusted how this is about money and how the mccaskies dont care about the fans. Im not spending 1 more dime on Bears merchandise till Smith and Angelo and that idiot Phillips is gone! I actually wish THe mccaskys would sell the team to someone that gives a damn.George Hallas himself is probly rolling around in his grave over all this! RIP
Im a die hard fan and never miss a game, but i tell ya im really dissapointed about retaining a sorry coaching staff and front office. Im certainly not looking forward to next years bears football, may be for the first time in my 35 years.
IM SIK AND TIRED OF LOVIES BUTT BUDDIES BEING HANDED THE COACHING JOBS THAT CLEARLY THEY HAVENT EARND. IM SORRY TO INFORME U PPL BUT AS LONG AS LOVIE MENTALITY OF (STAY IN UR GAPS, TACKLE WELL, DONT MISS ANY OF UR ASSIGNEMENTS AND WELL WIN DA GAME).AND WE ALL KNOW HOW LOVIE GETS ALL EXCITED WEN HE TALKS!!! AND AS FAR OF HIS SO CALLED COVER 2 SCHEME "SUCKS"!!! I THINK ITS TIME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WE I SAY DAT DA PLAYERS ARE NOT RESPONDING WELL ON DEFENCE EVEN WITH THE URLACHERS AND THE LANCE BRIGGS!!!!!!!!! FIRE ANGELO FOLLOWED BY LOVIE AND GET SOMEONE ONE HIRED THAT ACCTUALY KNOWS FOOTBALL AT A VP STAND POINT AND I ASSURE U "WE WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING YEAR NO Q ASKD!!!!!!!!!
>F'n fools on January 5, 2010 9:30 PM
>All this talk about Cutler being brainless?? wtf? HE WENT TO VANDERBUILT!!!
>He's a BRAINIAC.
>The need to get a competent coaching staff in Chicago,
> anyone is an upgrade from Ron Turner!
>Yeah, because everybody knows athletes are treated the
>same as the students when it comes to academics.
Actually it does. Not to the degree that students are at academically oriented schools, but much more than pure football factories like Miami, Oklahoma, etc.
It is well known that schools like Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Stanford, etc strive to get athletes that will focus on education as well as football. They encourage their student-athletes to study and attend classes. It is no coincidence that graduation rates are close to 90% at academically oriented schools while they are at a pathetic 50% at football factories.
Charlie Weis is not coming to Chicago. Reports are that Chiefs are a much better fit for Weis:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/01/05/chiefs.weis/index.html
He has worked with Chief's GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley before. That situation is perfect for him.
The best remaining option for the Bears and Jay Cutler is Jeremy Bates, offensive coordinator of USC. Apparently Bates and Cutler worked well together in Denver. But I am not sure he is going to want to come to lame duck Lovie in Chicago, who will most likely get fired at the end of 2010 unless there is a miraculous turn around.
So another decent option could be Bruce Arians, the Steelers ex-offensive coordinators who was fired yesterday. With Arians at the helm for the past three season, the Steelers' offense ranked seventh out of 32 teams in total offense in 2009.
Do we really want someone who failed in Detroit? I know Martz probably looks at the Bears and sees a team that has a pass blocking offensive line, a player similar but less talented than Marshall Faulk, and a great quarterback with a lot of WRs with potential. The Greatest Show on Turf part 2, right?
Wrong!
Martz's offense has been figured out. We want to take a turnover prone QB and let him take EVEN MORE RISK? I don't like it. I would have liked it with a guy like Orton who has shown he can actually read defenses. Cutler needs to show me a lot better decision making and a lot less panicing to work with a coach like Martz. He might throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions with Martz as the OC.
Lovie: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not bring in Mike Martz. I BEG YOU! Get Charlie Weis in Chicago. PLEASE!
Martz is a perfect fit for the new Bears Madness. The greatest show on turf will be denied because of Lovie's insistance on the Bears being a running team. How bad can Martz be??? He was fired by Marinelli because his play book was so complicated and while with Singletary and the 49ers he refused to run the ball and control the clock. Makes Martz is a perfect fit for Lovies last year as a head coach...
If Not Cowher, we shouldve gone back to the Roots! Ron Rivera(should never been let go) Jim Harbaugh, Leslie Frazier.... I don't think Martz will mesh Jay, "He doesn't get it" probably is in Jays mind.... Martz is Head Case Too! We should Also Hope, the New O-coordinator brings in a quaility Line Coach! Does the front office get a consulting firm before the Draft? Angelo's History(Recent;Okwo, Buzuin, Wolfe....) isn't exactly paying off! They must be throwing darts at a College Player Board?
YOU ALL ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING = the greatest show on turk does not equal the greatest show on the 'SOLDIER FIELD RESOD TURF'
Martz's receivers will be slipping and falling out of their breaks all day. SLIP = PICK
Please NOOOOOOOOOO!! Martz will get Cutler Killed. He also said some VERY disparaging things about Jay on the NFL network. The guy is a jerk.
We also don't need anymore of Lovie's Kroneys. Please NO!
I would love to see Martz coaching Cutler. I don't think he'd get him killed because I think Lovie would pull the reigns in on him a bit. Keep in mind, Lovie's greatest frustration in St.Louis was having to run a defense that never has to defend an entire field due to how high risk the offense was. That being said, when you run a wide open offense your people get better! You don't get better at passing by running up the middle for a loss or gain of one on every first down.
Here is why I love Martz. You are not going to stop an offense with the speed and ability this team has and the ability Cutler has if you have somebody who knows what to do with it - enter Martz. Let's see Hester, DA, Bennet, Knox, Olson, Forte....and Cutler running it? Open up the offense - how do you stop it?? You don't. You have to score with it.
Another reason I love Martz is because our Defense next year is going to get substantially better with Brian and Tino coming back. What are other teams going to do when they can't score more than 13 points a game against a team with the weaponry we have? We sign Martz and avoid huge injuries (Cutler, Brian) we'll be playing for the NFC in the bowl, probably rematching the Colts.
Sorry my bad. Manning threw 23 Int's his 4th year. 28 INT's his first year. I made a remark that he threw more Ints than Jay did this year in his 4th full year.
Fans all over the NFL are the same. They talk with their hearts, and don't really look at the situation with their heads. Come on guys do you all think Peyton Manning sucks? Look at his first 5 years in the NFL. Lots of yards, lots of Int's. In fact one year (his 4th) threw more INT's than Cutler did this year, but today he is a lock at the Hall of Fame. A QB that is great is not defined by his first 5 years. it is after that the great ones shine through. You have a QB in Cutler that is showing a lot of good stuff, and some bad things, but all the great ones have. This year was his 3rd full year! His rookie year he only played the last 5 games. 53 games is it. Peyton was still throwing 19 INTs after 80 games. Calm down. Cutler will be good is my predicition
All this talk about Cutler being brainless?? wtf? HE WENT TO VANDERBUILT!!!
He's a BRAINIAC.
The need to get a competent coaching staff in Chicago, anyone is an upgrade from Ron Turner!
Mark-
Take Orton. I like when a QB can come off the field and smile after throwing a INT. It is a game after all. It shows he is not scared. Cutler reminds me of Farve. I am not saying he is that good yet, but has the potential. Orton is another Plummer for us. We can win a superbowl, but our defense has to be steller, kind of like Baltimore was for Trent. otherwise it won't happen
Red Rover-
guy has one bad year and you think he sucks? I suppose you think Brett Farve sucks too! He has thrown 20 ints or more 6 times in his hall of fame career. He broke a lot of Bronco Records....that Elway had. Had 3 games in a row as a Bear with a 100+ rating which has never been done in Chicago. What was he the last 2 weeks 8 TD's and 1 INt? Yes one game against Detroit, but one was also against the Vikings. I would give you Kyle back in a heartbeat for Cutler.
Cutler in 2008 25 TD's, 18 ints, 4500 yards, a defense that gave up 448 points, and still goes to the pro bowl, over guys like Peyton. Look at Peyton manning his first 5 years. 28, 15, 15, 23, 19 interceptions, and all those years around 4000 yards with more td's than Int's....except for the 1st year. I suppose you think he sucks too! Has no brain. Please. Being a QB is hard in the nfl.
I'm a Bronco fan too. After what I saw of Cutler this year, I'd take Orton anyday. Orton didn't throw INT's, then come back to the sideline and smile like nothing happened.
How about Brett Farve?
As far as the running game goes, we shall be better with a healthy Forte, a healthy Kevin Jones, and an emerging Khalil Bell. They could be the new Earth, Wind, and Fire. My vote would be for Charlie Weis. You know that anybody from the Patriots coaching branch will be a no B.S. strict and militant coach. And you know that the players will somehow be a reflection of their coach. Look at Belichick and the Patriots. They are the most sound,disciplined and well prepared team. That's what we need.
I am a Bronco Fan first, But have been a bear fan since 92'. I live in Denver, and I can't believe that we got rid of Cutler. I am still mad about it. The guy has the potential to be really good with many pro bowl years ahead of him. So far in his career he has had no help from his defenses. I can't believe how bad the Bears defense was this year! I saw some games where offenses seemed to be scoring at will. Your defense gave up 375 points this year. The 2008 Broncos gave up 448 and in 2007 410 points. Cutler had to throw all the time. It was your first year, new oline, new receivers, new QB. There is some talent on that offense. You guys beat good teams this year, and should take it as a positive.
Get Forte going, the defense needs to improve, bring the total points down to around 300, and stop giving teams such big leads. Cutler will be good, just give him time. You have the QB that can be like a Bret Farve. You all have plenty memories of that guy, he can make you mad and make you scream for joy all in the same game..........It is possible you guys have that now. This year kinda sucked, but it will get better. All Cutler did in Denver was get better and set records.....kinda like he did in Chicago...
In the words of the less than infamous Rudy Martzky: "A...MIKE MARTZ!"
I understand Martz is the king of back stabbers. How will that fit in? Too bad Don Coryell isn't around.
Why not just get it over with and merge with the Lions. Two horrible teams could form a kind of mega sucky team the likes we have never seen.
Cutler, give him an O-line that can keep the defense incheck for more then 3 seconds and he can move a mountain.
Cutler had more hands grabbing him then a hooker at a bachelor party.
about the run.... Turner couldn't crack open the door to a confessional, much less on the defensive line.
Lovie... I'd like to see the expression on his face if someone told him his cat just died.
receivers.... put a jet engine up their kiester and a lot of super glue on their hands.
Lovie and Angelo still here. Martz on the radar. I really hate when the next season is over before the last one is.
They'll never do it, but I'd love to see them pay Charlie Weiss. He wouldn't put up with Little Lotto's(pick 5, get it?)b.s. He's no threat as a head coach, and let's face it, Lovie could go 1-15 next year and they'd still keep him.
Martz is done. He got lucky with Warner and the team assembled there. Just like Ditka got lucky with the team he coached to the Super Bowl. Yeah, I said it. Ditka couldn't coach. McMahon ignored his play calling all the time.
Sorry, just a littlew fed up with a Bears team that doesn't seem to care.
Go Blackhawks!
I am so ""DISGUSTED"" that phillips, anjello and lovie are still employed!!
Those 3 hunyuks are the main reasons why the Bears will fail again.
The Bears D got worse over the past 3 years, and lovie still believes in his system. What an IDIOT !!!
phillips is an accountant, anjello can NOT draft, and lovie would sleep thru an orga$$m.
Yeah..and Marshall Faulk is the greatest PASS catching running back ever...but he was a real running back when he played for the Colts!!
everyone that is talking stuff on martz about him not using the running back in the offense dont forget he had marshall faulk in st. louis and he is going to the hall of fame. i dont know if he is the right fit for the bears but he definitely knows how to spread the ball around. if cutler can keep his int's to a minimum then i like the idea of hiring mike martz.
Two things about Martz that make him a terrible fit for this team:
1) he runs a lot of guys into the pattern, leaving only the 5 OL to protect the QB. We do not have the line to pull this off, and Cutler will get killed on the 5 and 7 step drop patterns that are a staple of Martz' offense
2) The receivers in his offense have to be lightning fast in and out of their breaks, and run precise routes to hit the windows for the QB on timing. Our receivers can't even manage to run a quick slant correctly, and will take 2-3 years to assimilate the complex offense of Martz
This guy has a solid system, but for once, we need to understand what our personnel is, and hire someone that fits what we do best. That is why I still go back to Jeff Jagodzinski. Solid run game, downfield passing off play action, and an aggressive screen game are the tenets of his system, fitting what we do well, and what our personnel can do best.
Martz would be another setback in Cutler's development, assuming he even survives the season...
If Martz comes in and the Bears fire Lovie after next season and promote Martz, at least they will have hired a head coach who has been a head coach before. As for him hating running, check Marshall Faulk's stats and then bite your tongue.
Freddie you are an IDIOT! Good for only 1 Superbowl? What are you 12 years old? Look at the stats his Ram's teams put up!
Martz is one of Lovie's Buddies. He will pick him! As far as the other assistants go...doesn't Lovie have a few sons too? Why not bring them in too Lovie? You brought in all your buddies, might as well bring in family too. It sickens me how much the McCaskey's do not care about the fans...its all about money!
At this point, whomever we hire as the OC better be the right guy. I don't like Lovie as much as the next guy, but I really want him to succeed next year and here's why: Last year, Cutler had an offense to run. This year was a new offense. Next year will be a new offense. Do we really want to go for a 4th one in a row just because we want Lovie to get fired? So if Martz REALLY is the right guy, then fine (although I don't think he is). But if he's not and the whole staff is a sitting duck, then we've wasted a lot of Cutler's prime (if the guy is even legit, which is up for debate). Championships are won on consistency from the top down. A newly hired coach doesn't usually go in and win a Super Bowl. Hell, everyone wants Cowher and it took him like 15 years to get his first one. So I think everyone here should kinda chill out on calling for Lovie's head next year because you might just get what you want (you guys sound like a bunch of Redskins fans, btw. Sign this, fire that...c'mon man!). We're stuck with Lovie, so lets hope he can get this thing turned around...
For Martz it's either da Bears or da unemployment line
You people are ignorant. Mike Martz is the offensive coordinator that designed "the Greatest Show on Turf." After Vermeil cried his way out of St. Louis, Martz ran that team to a +20 winning record. Just because the guy had a couple bad seasons as the OC of dog offenses that had no QB (i.e. SF, DET) doesn't mean he sucks. A losing situation begets losing attitudes. Look at it this way, if Martz gets the job we either get "the Greatest Show on the Shore" or we get a completely new coaching staff next year. It's a win-win situation for Bears fans. Quit your crying and lrn2footballnubs!
How the hell does Angelo keeping slipping by? Starts with that fool. And as far as Martz goes, we don't need Smith getting fired next year and Martz being promoted at a bargain price...don't tempt the Mccaskeys. If I was Forte I would demand a trade if Martz get's hired!
Well, here we are... someone wants that job that's fully equipped with elite receivers that all the NFL is just sweating over. Get over it...Ron Turner is probably relieved he's gone. Let somebody else deal with this mess-they don't like paying for talent so what was out there this year means that's what will be out there next year. I don't know of any elite OC that would want this job...a qb is not enough because they would like the rest. Jeremy Bates in NOT an OC, he is a qb coach and that's completely different...it's far more difficult. That's why the great ones want the Cowboys to fire their coach so they can get that job.
Jeff -- Martz could actually be a win-win situation. He could run an offense that actually scores a lot of points and we make the playoffs OR his backstabbing way undermines Lovie's authority and destroys another season hence everybody gets fired. WIN - WIN!!!
-- Its really a WIN-WIN-WIN situation. Yes, Lovie will get fired next year when he and Martz screws up. But then ANGELO WILL BE FIRED TOO!!! HOOORAY!!!
If Martz is so great why is it he can't hold down a job in the NFL? Everyone refers to him as some sort of evil genius - come on, give me a break. They guy calls plays by closing his eyes and pointing at his play sheet. It only seems like genius because no sane coach would make those calls. Randomly hitting buttons on the Nintendo only works for so long...
With the speed WRs we have, Martz could make next year exciting. Cutler could have a MVP like year in '10 in that type of system.....BUT why hire a retread who wasn't able to stick as an OC for more than one year in his last two stops?
Martz could actually be a win-win situation. He could run an offense that actually scores a lot of points and we make the playoffs OR his backstabbing way undermines Lovie's authority and destroys another season hence everybody gets fired. WIN - WIN!!!
DING DONG TURNERS GONE, DING DONG THE WEAK OC IS GONE.
STOMP YOUR FEET CLAP YOUR HANDS DING DONG RON TURNERS GONE!
Bring back Shoop!
I hope Angelo and Lovie aren't trying to be the Mayor Daley and Todd Stroger of football and hire guys who have six degrees of separation between them. Just get an assistant coach who knows how to use Cutler's canon arm and build the offense around it. Do everything you can to give Cutler a passing lane with receivers who can catch.
Bring in Charlie Weiss, try to get Brandon Marshall, but for sure GET JULIUS PEPPERS!!!
Martz doesn't know any rushing plays. If Lovie hires him, he'll have to say 'we get off the bus passing." There's got to be someone better.
I think there will be a couple of really good offensive players coming out of Denver soon. Brandon Marshall will no longer be a Bronco and would work well with Cutler, since they know each other so well. And the running back Hillis, who is in McDaniel's dog house. This guy is a load and would really help the Bears in those short yardage situation. I hope the Bears can get these two guys.
Martz?! ... Martz?! Are you serious? huh?! You are going from bad to worse?! Fine Lovie hire this guy this assures me you'll be fired at the end of this season which means Bill Cowher will take over with a high draft pick and a youthful team.
Lovie -- go for it!!! Just like Ron Turner, recycle another one...
Bringing in Martz is a HUGE MISTAKE!! We all know he doesn't believe in the run. He is a pass-happy coordinator. We need a balanced offensive attack. Charlie Weiss is DA MAN DA BEARS NEED!!!
Until the Oline is fixed it wont matter
Can we start with a new fullback? We have not had one in years and it seems a waste to fill a skill position on offense with a rb who can't block, can't catch and can't run like we presently have.
QB with a brain like Brett Bazanez or the lamer Caleb hanie then we would 0-16!
At least Martz will provide da Bears with some sort of an established offensive mind who can spread the field and scare defenses. Wanna know why Forte averaged 3.6 yd per carry? It wasn't because da Bears have the worst O-line in football. Presently, the line is about average. It was primarily due to Turner calling i-form and single back twin-TE all the time. Two WR sets, and sometimes just one WR, do not force the defense to adjust. He also rarely used motion either, which is something Martz likes to do. Defenses put 8 in the box against i-form and big formations, disallowing running lanes and confusing the o-line. When passes were called out of those formations the defense can rush the quarterback with ease considering they are five yards away to begin with. Martz runs a form of the run & shoot. Cutler has the mobility to side-step pass rushers if he is rolling out, moving to his right or in the shotgun. He does a good job of surveying the field and throwing 15-20 outs, slants, posts and the deep ball. Bring Martz in and start a new era in Chicago. Look at all the passing teams in the playoffs this year. It sets up the run, not the other way around.
Everyone likes to talk about the elements at Soldier Field. Well this year it really didn't get bitter cold till December and it hasn't snowed on gameday since the NFC championship game. Screw "we get off the bus running!" Is Payton or Neal Anderson still playing? I don't think so. This is Cutler's team and run & shoot, spread offensive scheme should be implemented.
NOOOOOOO!!!! Martz is a good coordinator, nuts anyone?!?!?
His system was good for ONE Super Bowl. After that it failed again (rams) & again (lions)...If he cannot get the Lions to win, what chances do the Bears have?
I am sure he will be hired seeing the McCaskey's run their team like Illinois runs their politcs, keep it in the family & friends...sad...the Bears really should have cleaned house, first on the list should be that drunkard Angelo!
it dont matter if the bears bring in bill belichek bill parcells bill cowher mike marsh and john madden all ao once.as long as they have to cow tow to the general morangers every wish .things wont change
Martz sounds like a good pick for me....
Bring in Charlie Weis. This guy molded a six round pick to the QB that he is now in NE. A QB guru and awesome offensive mind.
Isn't Shoop at North Carolina State?
Friend of Ron Turner, automatically disqualified. Next.....!!!
just love these comments, nothing they could do would please any of you it seems .
Charlie Weis.
If at all possible, get Weis before this guy.
If the Bears organization has any brains (doubtful) and they want to break up the Lovie/Marinelli/St Louis cabal, they'll bring in someone who's going to think a little differently than they do.
Charlie Weis.
Gosh I thought Martz didn't want the job? Didn't you and Haugh both write articles assuring Bear fans he was not intrested in the job. 10 seconds after Turner is fired, Martz is jumping up and down waving his hand.
Martz is a proven OC who has shown he works well with Lovie and Rod. Where would we get a better guy? Especially with our young receivers.
Why is this guy always one and done?? lions,49ers the bears should bring back terry shea he was a great oc before lovie fired him.
He had better than rank and file WRs.
I think bringing in Martz would be a mistake, although he is a brilliant offensive mind, it would be too many parts from broken systems brought in to try and fix a system that is broke. Does not make sense to me, time to bring in a young proven assistant that is ready for a coordinator's job, they would bring fresh ideas to the team and Lovie and have something to prove, just like this team. I think they will look to Bates from SC he knows Cutler and it's his time....Go BEARS
from all reports, Martz is a low quality human being.
I agree with Jeff that it sounds like he's a back stabber.
Might be some justice that Lovie would get that treatment after he stabbed all of us fans in the back for the last 3 years with his circus show.
Lovie, watch out for your job, this guy did no favors to mike singletary in San fran.
he is a real good cordinator, but he can be a back stabber.