Martz's offense must keep Bears' defense off field

February 9, 2010
BY NEIL HAYES nhayes@suntimes.com

Forgive Lovie Smith for allowing the search for Ron Turner's replacement to drag on, but this was a critical hire not only because the new offensive coordinator will be in charge of Jay Cutler's development.
With all due respect to Rod Marinelli, who was promoted to defensive coordinator Friday, the new offensive coordinator could be the person who makes the biggest impact on the defense next season

The offense, defense and special teams have to complement each other for a team to be at its best, and that hardly has been the case with the Bears in recent seasons. Smith's defensive philosophy revolves around creating turnovers. Unfortunately for him, his offense has been equally adept at producing them.
Turnovers aren't the only issue. For Smith's beloved cover-2 defense to be effective, smaller, lighter defenders need to spend more time on the sideline and less time on the field.

''The offensive coordinator has to wrap his arms around Jay Cutler and say, 'Look, we have to make sure you're successful and understand this game is about making big plays in the passing game and also methodically taking time off the clock as you drive the ball down the field,'' said former Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets coach Herm Edwards.
''Jay can do that because he can get outside the pocket. If you ask this guy to drop back, it's not his game. That's the first thing you have to learn. He has to be outside that tackle to make plays. If he can do that and keep the chains moving, he'll be fine because he'll control the clock and limit possessions.''

Perhaps the most overlooked reason for the Bears' defensive slide the last three seasons is an inconsistent offense that has failed to complement what Smith is trying to achieve on defense.
His unit relies on quickness and speed. If the defense is on the field too long, it loses its advantage. Turning the ball over and not controlling the clock leads to more defensive snaps, more fatigue and greater risk of injury.

Edwards said when he and Smith coached the cover-2 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2000, they didn't want their defense on the field for more than 800 snaps in a season. The Bears' defense has been on the field for more than 1,000 plays in each of Smith's last six seasons, including the Super Bowl season of 2006.
''The offense and defense have to blend together,'' Edwards said. ''If they don't blend together, you have a problem. If Jay Cutler throws 26 interceptions with the way they play defense, you're going to get yourself in trouble because we studied it in Tampa, and that defense is bend but don't break and 800 plays is about the max.

''If you get over that number, you've got problems. If you turn the ball over, you've really got problems.''

Despite his pass-happy reputation, Martz mostly avoided problems for his defense in the seven years he was either the offensive coordinator or head coach of the St. Louis Rams. His defense broke the 1,000-play barrier only twice, totalling 1,006 plays in 2004 and 1,007 in 2005.
Many equate time of possession with running the ball, but it can be achieved in other ways. Sustaining drives is the most critical element. The best way to accomplish that is to pick up enough yards on first and second down to avoid third-and-long situations.

In Martz's system, running backs catch so many passes that the short-passing game becomes an extension of the running game. That helped the Rams to a time-of-possession advantage in each of his seven years.
The Bears, meanwhile, have controlled the ball less than their opponents in all but one of Smith's six seasons. During the Super Bowl season, the Bears averaged 30 minutes, 34 seconds per game while their opponents averaged 29:26.

''Everything starts on the offensive line, everything,'' Martz said. ''They allow you to keep your defense off the field, allow you to protect the quarterback, allow you to do what you want to do on offense. When that's established -- which will get done -- then I think more than anything else, you are getting in a position to hit them right in the mouth.
''That's one of the things with [offensive line coach] Mike Tice, that toughness and tenacity and run the ball and pound it in there and still have a chance to fake and then throw to [Johnny] Knox or somebody streaking to the end zone.''

It hasn't been the collapse of any one unit so much as the inability of the offense and defense to work together that has contributed to the demise of the Bears. Martz's offense and Smith's defense complemented each other with the Rams and must do so again if the Bears hope to return to the playoffs anytime soon.

''Your offensive and defensive philosophies have to mesh,'' Edwards said. ''If they don't mesh, you're out of whack.''