Martz's numbers impressive
His critics say new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz is too hard on players, especially quarterbacks.
His fans say Martz is an offensive genius.
His critics say he's arrogant and has a superior attitude.
His fans say he'll make good players great and great players superstars.
I'm really not all that concerned with what kind of person Martz is, but there are some numbers that you can't help but notice.
When Martz was the Rams' offensive coordinator in 1999, they won Super Bowl XXXIV after a 14-2 regular season. That offense averaged 33 points per game and was the first of three straight 500-point seasons with Martz at the controls, which is an NFL record.
In his first year as a starter, and his second season in the NFL, quarterback Kurt Warner passed for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns. You can argue that Jay Cutler is no Kurt Warner. But Warner was an Arena League player and a bagboy at a grocery store before he played in Martz’s offense.
Prior to that 41-touchdown season, Warner had thrown just 11 passes in the NFL.
"When Martz was the Rams' offensive coordinator in 1999, they won Super Bowl XXXIV after a 14-2 regular season. That offense averaged 33 points per game and was the first of three straight 500-point seasons with Martz at the controls, which is an NFL record."
That's great. But...These Bears are not the 1999 Rams. Those Rams had a pro-bowlers at Guard, Tackle, Wide Receiver, Quarterback, and Running Back. They also played most of their games on a fast track in the climate controlled comfort of a dome. So unless the Bears put a dome on Soldier field and add 5 pro-bowl calibre free agents to this offense, I wouldn't expect the Bears offense to be the "greatest show" of anything except ineptitude. Which is just as well. Fire them all after next year's circus. It's going to be a train wreck, but it should be entertaining in a sick sort of way.