DougHaller Doug Haller
Hearing Bears offensive coordinator and former ASU assistant Mike Martz has interest in the Sun Devils job.

The Stache wrote:Dont let the door hit you on the way out

MINNEAPOLIS -- The future of offensive coordinator Mike Martz remained one of the top storylines in the wake of the Chicago Bears' season-ending 17-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings, but it's clear the team's three top receivers want the assistant back in 2012.

Earl Bennett, Devin Hester and Roy Williams said Martz deserves an extension and that the widespread criticism concerning the coach is "unfair."

"I definitely think he deserves to be back with us," Bennett said. "He's done a great job these last two years of putting us in position to succeed."

On Wednesday, Bears coach Lovie Smith was annoyed by a question about Martz's future.

"What kind of a question is that, anyway, at this time?" Smith asked. "What kind of a question is that? Why would you ask a question like that any way?"

Martz was linked to various college coaching jobs. Smith called the reports at the time "made up," and Martz attempted to defuse rumors that he wouldn't be back with the Bears in 2012. He repeated his desire Wednesday to return to the Bears next season.

Williams said that although it's Martz's job to call the plays, it's the players' jobs to execute, adding that he understands that criticism comes with being the offensive coordinator of an NFL team. Bennett said the offense's struggles have been the result of "multiple guys making multiple mistakes" and "that's not on the coach."

Hester's season as a receiver never unfolded the way he expected after putting together a strong showing at training camp. But he said Martz has "taught me a lot as a receiver," and recalled the coach taking the extra step of pairing the six-year veteran with Isaac Bruce, who once played for Martz and is considered one of the best receivers to ever play the game.

"I'm not in charge of that situation," Hester said of Martz's future. "He knows the game real well. That's plain and simple. When it comes to offense, he's one of the best to ever come up with plays. But at the same time, it was kind of tough on him with the injuries. His top guys got hurt this year. When you've got a star quarterback like Jay Cutler and then you've got a phenomenal running back like Matt Forte, who missed five, six games and still made the Pro Bowl, that speaks for itself. It's just tough when you're put in a situation like that."

Martz hasn't directed a top 10 offense since 2004 in St. Louis. Since then, Martz's offenses have finished 22nd, 24th, 29th, 23rd, 22nd and 24th in total yardage. In 2005, Martz's Rams ranked No. 11 in scoring. But since then, none of Martz's offenses have ranked better than 16th (Detroit in 2007).

With Martz at the controls, the Bears finished 2010 ranked No. 30 in total offense and 21st in scoring, yet the team still managed to advance to the NFC Championship Game. The Bears entered the game on Sunday ranked 20th in total offense, and 16th in scoring despite losing five offensive starters to season-ending injuries.

Bennett also missed five games with an injury.

"I think we were rolling when we were on that [five-game] winning streak [from Weeks 6-11]," Williams said. "We had everybody in place -- had our quarterback, running back, offensive line, wideouts -- everything in place and we were rolling. So why break it up? Why break it up?"

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... mike-martz

Indianplaya17 wrote:1. Cutler has learned the offense. Why put him through a whole new system to learn. He finally had some stability.

Indianplaya17 wrote:2. Offense was progressing with Cutler.

Indianplaya17 wrote:3. We need more talent on offense. Which is Angelo's fault not Martz. His offense is proven and can work. Just get the proper personnel in.

Old Style wrote:I agree as well. The only thing that really frustrated me was that Martz didn't seem to be calling plays for Caleb Hanie appropriately. That might not have been his fault though, as Hanie could just be that bad.

Former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz resigned his post with the team on Jan. 3 and is now retiring from the coaching profession.

The NFL Network first reported the decision Monday. Then on Tuesday, Martz told the Chicago Sun-Times that "it's time."

A 20-year NFL coaching veteran, Martz -- who also served as coach of the St. Louis Rams -- directed Chicago's offense to a pair of mediocre seasons in which it ranked 24th in total offense in 2011 and 30th in 2010, culminating in the coach leaving the Bears over what team president Ted Phillips called "philosophical differences."

On the heels of an 8-8 season, Bears coach Lovie Smith called Martz's departure a mutual decision. But less than a year prior, the team reportedly offered Martz a one-year extension, which the coach declined. Martz expressed a desire to return to the Bears prior to the end of the 2011 season, but it appears he and Smith couldn't come to consensus as to the direction the offense should take next season.

Martz came under fire throughout his tenure for his play calling, which at times seemed too dependent on the pass. Martz's time in Chicago was further marred by protection issues along the offensive line in 2010, and injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte in 2011 that played a role in the club losing five of its last six after rolling to a 7-3 start.

During the 2011 season, reports surfaced linking Martz to multiple college openings. But at the time, sources believed Martz actually played a role in generating the speculation in an attempt to gain leverage with the Bears in a bid for a more lucrative extension with the club. Complicating the situation was the fact the team was in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

Sources said the situation became a distraction.

Martz did not return calls seeking comment.

Eventually, the team promoted offensive line coach Mike Tice to offensive coordinator, leaving vacancies on the staff for an offensive line coach and passing game coordinator.

Martz, 60, landed his first collegiate job in 1974 at San Diego Mesa Community College before moving to the NFL in 1992 as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to coming into the NFL, Martz worked for Santa Ana College, Fresno State, Pacific, Minnesota and Arizona State.

In 1999, Martz became the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, helping the offense set NFL records as it gained the nickname "Greatest Show on Turf" on the way to winning Super Bowl XXXIV. Martz was named Football Digest's Offensive Coordinator of the Year and USA Today's NFC Assistant Coach of the Year.

From 1999-2001 with Martz directing the Rams' offense, quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk won three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. During that span, the Rams led the NFL in total yardage (20,177 yards) and scoring (1,569 points).

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... z-retiring

Marshall Faulk defends Mike Martz
By Jeff Dickerson
ESPNChicago.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk fiercely defended his former St. Louis Rams coach and ex-Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, saying the now retired playcaller was forced to work with "lesser talent" during a two-year stint with the Bears.

"Listen man, I'm going to say this and whoever plays for the Bears, if they want to have a conversation with me, so be it: Martz was working with lesser talent than he was accustomed to working with," Faulk said on Tuesday during Super Bowl media day.


"If they keep providing you lesser talent, you have to leave. I mean, other than Matt Forte, there wasn't anybody who would scare a defense. When you go and get Roy Williams and he becomes your No. 1 wide receiver, that's an issue. I'm defending Mike because I can only imagine how hard it was to game plan (with that roster). You look at what Green Bay had on the field offensively, and you look at what Detroit put on the field offensively, and you have to face them twice a year?"

Martz announced his retirement shortly after he left the Bears due to what the team claimed were "philosophical differences" on the direction of the offense. But Faulk believes Martz is still capable of guiding an NFL offense, even though his two years in Chicago were at times tumultuous.

The Bears finished No. 30 in total offense in 2010, and No. 24 this past season.

Martz and Faulk enjoyed great success together during in St. Louis, where Faulk led the NFL in yards per carry three times and also set a then-NFL record with 26 touchdowns in 2000. They were a part of five postseason berths, two Super Bowl appearances, and one world championship in 1999.

"I know that he has a lot to offer," said Faulk, now an analyst for NFL Network. "It's bad that he takes a knock for being a passing guy when you look at this NFL. What we did (in St. Louis) and how we did it, that's what everybody is doing right now.

"I believe they played in the NFC Championship Game, at home, against the Packers where Jay Cutler went down and Caleb Hanie went in the game. And they were still in that game. So if he didn't do a good job, you should have let him go then.

"You do your best, and I believe he did his best."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... mike-martz