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Martz thinks small, gets big turnaround
By mike mulligan mmulligan@suntimes.com .hideTime { display:none; }Dec 8, 2010 12:30AM
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz tries to get a pass interference call against the Eagles. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
The transformation of the Bears offense since the bye week is nothing short of astounding. Not because offensive coordinator Mike Martz isn’t smart enough to adapt and adjust — the guy has been called a genius with both sincerity and sarcasm for more than a decade. The surprise is because he was humble enough to adapt, whether of his own will or the force of another’s.
In order to find balance in the Bears attack, Martz has had to take a bulldozer to the sacred temple where he once worshiped. The scheme-driven coordinator thought to hold the key to the deepest mysteries of long-haul football has somehow become a proponent of small ball.
Balancing act
Many talk of change and have change demanded of them, but few ever pull off a switch. But in five games since the Bears’ bye week, a break that followed successive home losses to inferior opponents, Martz has found the tender balance between genius and madness.
He’s balanced the run with the pass, created nearly six more plays per game as a result and watched steady improvement through a style that complements in a supporting role.
Martz said earlier in the year he’s “not trying to be John Wayne,’’ but who thought he’d willingly co-star a la Walter Brennan?
“To let your ego go and not have it get in the way, that is hard, very hard to do,’’ a team source said. “I’m not sure people thought he had it in him.’’
The request for change came from every area, including coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo One source said even team president Ted Phillips talked to Martz about altering his scheme during the bye week. But the greatest impetus for change, according to a different source, was a heart-to-heart meeting between Martz and offensive line coach Mike Tice. Tice, the source said, told Martz exactly what the offensive line could and could not do and emphasized deep drops by quarterback Jay Cutler were only leading to disaster.
Whatever the inspiration, Martz effectively abandoned what he was doing through the first seven games. He changed to the point where one veteran scout who watched the Detroit game on Sunday said the Bears look as if they are running a completely different scheme. A cynic might wonder why it took half a season and two bad losses before the Bears got back to the kind of offense they played at the end of last year, or why it took near disaster to bring change.
Frankly, the bar has been set so low on offense that any sign of progress is usually embraced as significant and dramatic innovation. And in fairness, the offense has served as springboard in two straight victories during the current five-game winning streak.
If the Bears are going to continue their turnaround — the offense still ranks No. 29 in the 32-team NFL — it will require more of the same to overcome a New England team that comes in as perhaps the best opponent the Bears will face this season. Certainly, the Patriots are on a roll after stuffing their AFC East rival N.Y. Jets 45-3 on Monday night. The victory was a bit more effortless than the Bears hoped with New England coming out healthy and barely breaking a sweat in what was billed as the game of the year in the AFC.
Even Pats have flaws
The Patriots are not without flaw. Their defense ranks 31st and features an inexperienced, finesse group that was manhandled earlier this year by the woeful Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland’s offensive line, led by left tackle Joe Thomas, left guard Eric Steinbach and center Alex Mack, aided by fullback Lawrence Vickers, helped the Browns attack Patriots star linebacker Jerod Mayo and free bruising 6-1, 240-pound running back Peyton Hillis to a 184-yard rushing day. The Browns put up 404 total yards, including 230 on the ground and dominated time of possession (38:08).
The Bears don’t have that kind of beef, but need to commit to the running game in order to keep Patriots quarterback Tom Brady off the field. It starts with the opening coin toss where the Jets deferred and allowed New England to build a 17-0 lead. The Bears deferred against Detroit and fell behind by a touchdown themselves.
Teams with faith in their defense will do that with the idea of getting a final possession of the opening half and the first possession of the second half, but against New England it’s important to play from a lead.
The team is unlikely to make any lineup changes while on a winning streak, but infatuated as they may be by rookie offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb, it’s probably time to move veteran Kevin Shaffer into the starting lineup. Webb has good feet and natural pass blocking ability, but when the Bears get to their evaluations at the end of the year will they be looking for an upgrade at right tackle? The way the offense is geared these day, a mauler like Shaffer is a better fit.
The Bears are unlikely to change up their defense to match New England, other than running more nickel with D.J. Moore, a good idea anyway since linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa is down with a knee injury. If the team can win in the red zone this week, the victory will be theirs. Forcing field goals is the way to go.
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Originally Posted by BearStuff 
Restore the roar!
