I know it's a little early fellas but....
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...augh-martz-chicago--20100920,0,7446741.column
Enjoy Martz while you can, Bears fans
Offensive genius could be a head coach again soon
David Haugh
In the Wake of the News
7:22 PM CDT, September 20, 2010
When it comes to the Bears offensive coordinator, traditionally the debate around here isn't confined to whether he should run or pass. It's usually buy or rent too.
It can be the most scrutinized, least-satisfying sports job in town. The only thing most Bears fans agree on every Monday is they could have called a better game than the fool who did 24 hours earlier. Too often in past years, they probably were right.
Consider how rare that makes the nearly universal praise heaped on play-calling guru Mike Martz in the aftermath of the Bears' potentially season-changing 27-20 victory over the Cowboys.
Rarely deserved too. Finally.
Enjoy the Martz Magic Show, Chicago, before, poof, it's gone.
The man who has reinvented his NFL coaching career after a year in the studio and already given the Bears offense reason to think it can outscheme every team might not be at Halas Hall long.
There are two likely scenarios. Either the Bears miss the playoffs and Martz exits with the entire Lovie Smith staff as part of an organizational purge or he becomes a head coach again due to the way he reinvigorated a dormant Bears offense that earned a playoff spot.
A one-and-done scenario seems more realistic than Martz, 59, returning for another season as the offensive coordinator on a staff on which he's arguably the most qualified head coach.
Imagine how attractive Martz will be on the job market if the Bears continue to move the ball as they have in the first two games, producing 771 yards. If Jay Cutler surpasses 4,000 passing yards and comes closer than ever to his Pro Bowl potential running Martz's offense, every team with a head-coaching vacancy and an erratic quarterback will want an audience with Martz. Especially those seeking a quick fix.
I couldn't help but wonder if that went through Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' head Sunday after coach Wade Phillips' vaunted defense looked so confused trying to figure out Martz's offense. Jones raved last week during an interview about how fascinated he always has been with Martz. If the Bears and Cowboys keep heading in opposite directions, who knows, Jones may be tempted to see if Martz wants to become a head coach again and save Tony Romo from himself.
Other curious NFL executives likely would call. Only one team can hire Bill Cowher.
It's still early, but a season observing the league from afar appears to have made Martz more pliable as a play-caller. The perceived stubbornness often associated with Martz was nowhere to be found in Dallas as the Bears totally changed their passing game plan to shorter drops and quicker releases after the Cowboys blitz threatened to control the game early.
With all due respect to former Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner, who did a professional job, the Bears under Turner seldom showed a willingness or an ability to adjust on the fly as well as they did Sunday. Martz changed game plans and flipped offensive tackles in the first quarter.
And Cutler's quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches was another sign of open-mindedness. How interesting that Martz turned to a sneak play he was criticized for not using in Week 1. Sometimes genius is simply grasping the obvious.
Issues remain. When Chris Williams returns from a hamstring injury, I would play him at right tackle, where he was solid last season, and leave Frank Omiyale on the left side, where he fits best. I wouldn't force Devin Aromashodu back into the wide receiver rotation as long as Cutler's trusted confidant Earl Bennett continues to catch the type of passes Aromashodu dropped against the Lions. And a team that went 1-for-11 on third-down conversions Sunday really should realize how good a weapon tight end Desmond Clark can be in those situations.
But whether or not Martz heeds any of that free advice, he has regained the benefit of the doubt due to boldness that brings out the best in this offense – especially Cutler. That showed when Martz trusted Cutler enough to go deep with Johnny Knox against Pro Bowl cornerback Michael Jenkins on third-and-15 with the Bears trailing 14-10. Cutler delivered a 59-yard beauty that typified the I-dare-you personality Martz has instilled.
But the most convincing evidence of the Martz effect came after the Bears regained possession at their own 34 with 7 minutes, 23 seconds left leading 20-17. Instead of trying to grind out the clock behind a running game that had struggled, Martz abandoned the Bears' traditional play-not-to-lose philosophy. Four straight passes later, Matt Forte hauled in a TD catch that capped a day full of schematic advantages.
Given that nobody in Cowboys Stadium had a greater impact on the victory, I requested to speak with Martz after the game. The Bears said no. The team permits Martz to speak to the media only on Wednesdays, 72 hours later. Whether that policy was made to ensure Martz doesn't contradict Smith or overshadow his head coach, the Bears missed an opportunity to educate their fans on Martz's thinking as well as trumpet how smart Lovie suddenly looks for hiring him.
But the word's out around the league. In this improbable 2-0 Bears start, nobody has contributed more than the guy who clearly brought more than his reputation back to the sidelines.
