[moklerman]

I couldn't agree more... no way I would want to have been the HC during that FO and ownership. Can you imagine what Mike would have done if he would have had ESK, Demoff & Snead?

I...well, many have pondered the same thing. I think it's important to remember that Martz was a first time OC in 1999. He'd never even been a coordinator before essentially being handed the reigns as the HC in 2000.

In retrospect, I guess it would have been better to keep Vermeil and Saunders and hoping Martz would stay another year or two. But, ushering Vermeil out the door too soon is just another example of...well, I'm no fan of that particular front office. As much as acquiring Faulk worked out, I don't think they deserve anything but criticism overall.

I think Martz could still be a successful HC. I have to assume he's been black-balled at this point but if given a chance, I'll be watching his team. Rams or otherwise.

[Stranger]

Nobody liked Mike Martz more than I did, in fact, I thought he was going to be to the Rams what Joe Gibbs was to the Redskins, it's sad it did not end that way, but he's done as a play caller IMO and it's time to close that chapter in the Ram saga.

why is he "done"? just would appreciate your thinking here.

[Elvis]

Nobody liked Mike Martz more than I did, in fact, I thought he was going to be to the Rams what Joe Gibbs was to the Redskins, it's sad it did not end that way, but he's done as a play caller IMO and it's time to close that chapter in the Ram saga.

If Fisher's not the guy then we'll see if Kroenke empowers Les Snead or moves on....When hiring Fisher he was using the New England Patriots as a paradigm by hiring a strong Head Coach who would then sign off on a GM he could work with and thus is how the Fisher/Snead regime was formed not sure if Kroenke would stray away from that formula, but IMO, if it's not Fisher then not sure where the Rams would go from there.

When Kroenke was talking about his philosophy we hadn't hired Fisher yet and Kroenke said somebody would be "the guy" could be the coach, could be the GM. If we hired Fisher he'd but the guy but if Fisher went to Miami, might hire a GM and he'd be the guy.

Because Fisher hired Snead, not sure he'd survive (or want to stick around) after a Fisher firing.

Still a lot of football to be played and location issues to be resolved before Fisher's job becomes an issue...

[moklerman]

Nobody liked Mike Martz more than I did, in fact, I thought he was going to be to the Rams what Joe Gibbs was to the Redskins, it's sad it did not end that way, but he's done as a play caller IMO and it's time to close that chapter in the Ram saga.

why is he "done"? just would appreciate your thinking here.

I don't get that either. Let him do his thing and if that fails, then okay. Maybe the league has passed him by.

But look at what NE's done and continues to do. They stole Martz's offense and have run it to great success. In today's NFL, there's nothing wrong with being unbalanaced and passing a LOT. I think Martz could figure it out.

[dieterbrock]

I hate when these types of threads appear. Because it gives me some sort of misguided sense of hope that its not entirely out of the realm that Martz could return. Which is just not possible.

Aint gonna happen.

Would like the NY Giants bringing back Steve Spagnolo
Oh, wait a second....

[den-the-coach]

why is he "done"? just would appreciate your thinking here.

He's been offensive coordinator with three teams since leaving the Rams and some will make excuses for him with the 49ers and Lions so okay, but he then went to work for his good friend Lovie Smith in Chicago and Lovie eventually fired him or did not renew his contract, but that is the same thing.

IMO the NFL caught up to Martz and he did not adjust and because nobody else wants him, he's now retired. I loved him too, but that ship has sailed and you can't turn back time. The Rams as an organization tried that with George Allen and Chuck Knox and how did that work out?

I understand you're advocating him as OC and not as Head Coach, but he failed in San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago I would rather find a young Mike Martz (an up and comer) not a coach that had worn out his welcome in three other cities. We study history so we are not doomed to repeat it and I for one would not like to repeat his lack of success since leaving St. Louis.

[BuiltRamTough]

why is he "done"? just would appreciate your thinking here.

He's been offensive coordinator with three teams since leaving the Rams and some will make excuses for him with the 49ers and Lions so okay, but he then went to work for his good friend Lovie Smith in Chicago and Lovie eventually fired him or did not renew his contract, but that is the same thing.

IMO the NFL caught up to Martz and he did not adjust and because nobody else wants him, he's now retired. I loved him too, but that ship has sailed and you can't turn back time. The Rams as an organization tried that with George Allen and Chuck Knox and how did that work out?

I understand you're advocating him as OC and not as Head Coach, but he failed in San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago I would rather find a young Mike Martz (an up and comer) not a coach that had worn out his welcome in three other cities. We study history so we are not doomed to repeat it and I for one would not like to repeat his lack of success since leaving St. Louis.

Martz could make it in the NFL no doubt but he has to have a roster similar to the GSOT. Elite QB elite Oline elite WRs elite RB. Hall of famers basically. I don't think that's going to happen. It's rare to have that much talent in the NFL now a days.

[moklerman]

He doesn't need elite talent and a unique situation, he just needs to have a decent GM and the freedom to do things his way. Just because he and Lovie were friends, doesn't really mean much to me. Not when you consider how much of a coach-killer Cutler has been. For example, Trestman was a much better OC than Cutler was a QB. But Trestman got fired.

Now does Martz need the "right" players for his system? Sure, most systems do. But I don't hold that against him. Saying his system "only" worked with Warner and Faulk, etc. is just exaggeration. Green, Warner, Bulger, Kitna to some degree, Shaun Hill...there have been plenty of QB's who played well or much better for Martz.

I think Martz is a victim of his own success and reputation. Expectations drift toward overnight turnarounds and making no-names into MVP's and it isn't fair to Martz.

[den-the-coach]

He doesn't need elite talent and a unique situation, he just needs to have a decent GM and the freedom to do things his way. Just because he and Lovie were friends, doesn't really mean much to me. Not when you consider how much of a coach-killer Cutler has been. For example, Trestman was a much better OC than Cutler was a QB. But Trestman got fired.

Now does Martz need the "right" players for his system? Sure, most systems do. But I don't hold that against him. Saying his system "only" worked with Warner and Faulk, etc. is just exaggeration. Green, Warner, Bulger, Kitna to some degree, Shaun Hill...there have been plenty of QB's who played well or much better for Martz.

I think Martz is a victim of his own success and reputation. Expectations drift toward overnight turnarounds and making no-names into MVP's and it isn't fair to Martz.

I'm not so sure think about how many chances coordinators get once in a while you need to have some success and it's been too long for Martz. Add to the fact he's tough to control and a loose cannon and it just doesn't sit well for most organizations.

I don't know if he can be successful again, but I do know that most likely he'll never get another chance and Marc Trestman was not fired as offensive coordinator, he was fired as the Head Coach and that was because the inmates were running the Asylum! In the end Martz understands he's not getting another shot thus the reason for the retirement Add to the fact that his reputation is tarnished for some of the stunts he allegedly pulled.

Mike Martz to retire from coaching

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

[Elvis]

I loved him too, but that ship has sailed and you can't turn back time. The Rams as an organization tried that with George Allen and Chuck Knox and how did that work out?

There was that Dick Vermeil retread.

I understand you're advocating him as OC and not as Head Coach, but he failed in San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago I would rather find a young Mike Martz (an up and comer) not a coach that had worn out his welcome in three other cities. We study history so we are not doomed to repeat it and I for one would not like to repeat his lack of success since leaving St. Louis.

I think he actually did pretty well in Detroit but i do agree that considering his lackluster post-rams career and the baggage he seems to be carrying, hard to see him coaching again.

But personally, i'd love to see it...