Moon: Could Enderle pass Hanie for No. 2 spot

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05-17-2011, 07:26 AM
dabears54

Moon: Could Enderle pass Hanie for No. 2 spot

Moon: Could Enderle pass Hanie for No. 2 spot?

Monday, May 16, 2011
Posted: 10:58 a.m.

By John Mullin
CSNChicago.com

Whether he keeps it into the season (whenever that finally does arrive) remains to be seen, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz was sporting some distinctive chin upholstery, a goatee/Vandyke combo, at Saturday’s Bears Care Gala, one of the truly outstanding charitable efforts by this or any franchise.

“This is the first time,” Martz said. “I think I was just bored.”

Neither Martz nor the rest of the Bears staff appear to be getting remotely bored in this non-offseason. The embargo on coach-player contact during the owner-player impasse has given the coaches more time to analyze both the past season and the future (Lovie Smith told CSNChicago.com that they already are studying film on the Atlanta Falcons, their Sept. 11 Opening Day opponent, and why not? They know they’ll be looking at Matt Ryan, barring the loss of any early season games.)

But Martz did make a couple of things quite clear:

Despite a story that he was offered a contract extension without a pay raise, Martz has no plans on coaching anywhere but Chicago.

“I’m very happy here,” he said. “That stuff all works out. I don’t plan on coaching anyplace else. This is where I want to be. As long as they’ll have me, I’m sure I’ll be here. That’s the way it goes. This is a great situation for me, I appreciate it, and I want to be here.”

Last offseason he made little secret of wanting a veteran backup behind quarterback Jay Cutler. He was not convinced of the NFL viability of Caleb Hanie.

Now he is. Sort of. More on that in a second.

Martz has a characterization of the Bears’ quarterback situation that sounds remarkably like the depth charts Green Bay had beneath Brett Favre, with an Aaron Brooks, Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselbeck or Aaron Rodgers in training.

Martz had a hand in the drafting of Idaho’s Nathan Enderle, giving the Bears not one NFL starter (Cutler), not two (Cutler-Hanie), but three (Cutler-Hanie-Enderle). This simply does not happen in Chicago.

“I think Caleb should be a real solid No. 2,” Martz said. “We don’t want to just sign or draft a quarterback where that’s what he is, a third quarterback. That doesn’t make us any better. We want someone with some quality at that position who can be a starter in this league. I think all three of the guys are like that.”

That wasn’t said last year after the drafting of Dan LeFevour.

The absence of an offseason all but locks in Hanie, with his one-year tender offer, at No. 2 and Enderle at No. 3, but “eventually in time [Enderle] should be a guy who competes for that [No. 2] job and plays very well.”

You do have to wonder if Hanie will ever win Martz over completely. Probably not. Enderle has never taken an NFL snap of any kind and Martz is projecting him as a challenger for the No. 2 job.

And three times last season Hanie came off the bench after a Collins disaster, in the games against the Giants, Panthers and Packers. Martz described now as “Caleb’s time” and acknowledged that Hanie “did some good things” in relief of Cutler and then Todd Collins in the NFC Championship game.

“But he’s got to get better and he knows that.”
05-17-2011, 07:44 AM
Henry Burris

This just sounds like they're putting words into Martz' mouth here. The only thing he said in relation to Hanie's performance is at the end of the article. I do like that they drafted Enderle in hopes of turning him into an NFL starting caliber QB, but this article is kinda reaching. The best thing I personally got out of it, is that the coaching staff is studying game film of our opponents, so even if all the players aren't ready, the coaches have all this extra time to study the opponent and are doing so.
05-17-2011, 08:26 AM
dabears54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

This just sounds like they're putting words into Martz' mouth here. The only thing he said in relation to Hanie's performance is at the end of the article. I do like that they drafted Enderle in hopes of turning him into an NFL starting caliber QB, but this article is kinda reaching. The best thing I personally got out of it, is that the coaching staff is studying game film of our opponents, so even if all the players aren't ready, the coaches have all this extra time to study the opponent and are doing so.

reporters are lazy for the most part( and not just chicago but all places)..they are so used to being 'spoon fed" the info, and not have to work for it.. ie just show up at rookie camp or OTA's and get a week's worth of quotes/stories while at halas hall..

Now they have to do some work for stories and nothing is getting done. Why not instead of repeating same stuff- actually do a sit down with hanie? And find out what he's doing?Do a story on what enderle or other draft picks have done the last 2-3 weeks.. Why not call Martz and actually talk with him, instead of using 2 week old quotes?

heck last night chris harris brought out the "race card" after the union lost in Court. Why not a story on this and get him to explain his viewpoint in more than 140 charachters?

Why not do some more stories on what the bear players are doing in the offseason? why not, while the coaches/players can't talk.. be a " go between" and get some stuff from both sides and do some intesterting stories on both their sides of this offseason? Do a story on how trina tillman is doing and how peanut's foundation is helping others with a heart condition..
05-17-2011, 09:18 AM
GeorgiaJeff

Of all the Ch-Town football writer John "Moon" Mullin is my favorite.

Look, Hanie is the backup (end of story) and as a fan I feel really good about the QB situation.
05-17-2011, 09:29 AM
dabears54

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaJeff

Of all the Ch-Town football writer John "Moon" Mullin is my favorite.

Look, Hanie is the backup (end of story) and as a fan I feel really good about the QB situation.

he's ok, but sometimes he sure goes off the reservation with his ideas jeff..lol,, he's gotten alot wrong also... remember his saying bears happy with melton and will not be taking a DT in first or 2nd?
05-17-2011, 10:54 AM
soulman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

This just sounds like they're putting words into Martz' mouth here. The only thing he said in relation to Hanie's performance is at the end of the article. I do like that they drafted Enderle in hopes of turning him into an NFL starting caliber QB, but this article is kinda reaching. The best thing I personally got out of it, is that the coaching staff is studying game film of our opponents, so even if all the players aren't ready, the coaches have all this extra time to study the opponent and are doing so.

That's exactly what he's doing. Any respect I may ever have had for Mullins has flown far south. Every article that he's written of late slants facts and twists words to fit whatever headline he choses to print under his banner. I hate this style of journalism and its use as a means to get read and sell papers. The guy is a very poor sportswriter but then again what can we expect from the newspaper who once hired Jay Moron-otti.

Could Enderle pass Hanie? Of course he COULD!!! Hell he COULD even replace Peyton Manning someday and he COULD be a HOF electee on his first ballot. COULD it also be that Mullins is so deparate for something informative to write about, but so lacking in talent and imigination, that all he can do is sensationalize potential QB controversies and coaching contract issues? The guys a jerk.
05-17-2011, 01:06 PM
GeorgiaJeff

Quote:

Originally Posted by dabears54

he's ok, but sometimes he sure goes off the reservation with his ideas jeff..lol,, he's gotten alot wrong also... remember his saying bears happy with melton and will not be taking a DT in first or 2nd?

I don't recall that, but I take you at your word.
05-18-2011, 06:15 AM
dabears54

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman

That's exactly what he's doing. Any respect I may ever have had for Mullins has flown far south. Every article that he's written of late slants facts and twists words to fit whatever headline he choses to print under his banner. I hate this style of journalism and its use as a means to get read and sell papers. The guy is a very poor sportswriter but then again what can we expect from the newspaper who once hired Jay Moron-otti.

Could Enderle pass Hanie? Of course he COULD!!! Hell he COULD even replace Peyton Manning someday and he COULD be a HOF electee on his first ballot. COULD it also be that Mullins is so deparate for something informative to write about, but so lacking in talent and imigination, that all he can do is sensationalize potential QB controversies and coaching contract issues? The guys a jerk.

This is why really hope, for the "miracle" of both sides getting back to the bargaining table.. so we can get real info and real stuff to finally talk about.. not rehashed stories... crossing fingers : )