Mike Martz Approval Rating: October 2011 Edition

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 25, 2011 11:00 AM CDT in Approval Ratings

Mike Martz and his Martzfense is always a hot topic around here. A couple weeks back I was taking him to task for his playcalling and his scheme, then last week I gave the Devil his due and praised the game plan that was used against the Vikings. Now this week it was a tale of two halves as the Jekyll and Hyde like (fitting as the game was played in London) Mike Martz seemed to stray from the game plan against the Buccaneers after having a 21-5 lead. Fellow WCG writer Mr. Householder even posed the question; Should Martz be fired? I'll pose a different question in today's poll...

Poll

Do you approve of the overall job Mike Martz is doing this season?

Yes

127 votes

No

447 votes

574 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 42 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I voted yes.

Just because I like gold bars.

Took the 'G' out your waffle, all you got left is your Ego.

Editor at windycitygridiron.com | @KDoggers

by Kev H on Oct 25, 2011 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

Unless there is an epic turnaround in playing and play calling

I want a new OC next season

WCG's Resident Nickelback and Boy Band fan

Also rated Worst WCG Blogger by Dr. Steven Schweickert's extensive "Total BR" (Blogger Rating)

by ThorCo on Oct 25, 2011 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

FIFY

I want a new OC next ~~season~~ week!

by Mike Mueller on Oct 25, 2011 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

He came with an offense that needs a strong offensive line

JA has provided no offensive line, let alone a good one. Bringing in an OC and not giving him the talent to run his system is stupid and not the fault of Martz. Even last week, with a bunch of adjustments, Cutler was throwing with people in his face all game. Replace JA and Martz will look better.

by MrPants on Oct 25, 2011 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

this has some truth to it

Whenever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft, it changes its call sign to Bear Force One.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 25, 2011 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

At some point Martz has to adjust his offense to his players, though.

Obviously the Bears’ line could be much, much, much, much better. But Martz calling plays like he still has Pace in his prime protecting Jay’s backside is the definition of insanity.

by oripunk3485 on Oct 25, 2011 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Agree

Martz is not completely to blame, but he has to realize who he has playing on the field. And then he needs to stick with a successful gameplan.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Oct 25, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Truth as well

Whenever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft, it changes its call sign to Bear Force One.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 25, 2011 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions

And he has

The bears offense has had success late last season and has had some success this season, albeit not great success. JA’s pieces do nt fit together. If he had bigger receivers it would be easier to run shorter routes and jump balls, instead we have speed receivers who do not have the time to run deep routes. We could have smaller quicker lineman who could pull better to run outside, except JA gives Tice giant lineman who should be better inside. However, Forte isn’t really a grinder. The pieces do not fit together. Of the current offensive line there is only one player I would leave in position, the rest I would move or cut. The fact that Martz has run an offense with such poor talent up front is a testament to his ability.

by MrPants on Oct 25, 2011 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree on the point, and counter point

Yes, I know my screen name is out of date.

by Fire Ron Turner on Oct 25, 2011 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Replace JA today

That rhymes. I am not really a Martz fan after seeing how he destroyed the Lions when he was their OC. But, he is bending a little. In Detroit, it seemed as if he believed that he would die if he dialed up a run play. I am really down on Jerry Angelo and the front office. Angelo is the reason that we have a mediocre O-line. I’d like to see Angelo replaced today, before he chases Forte and Briggs to another team.

by Sirbrek on Oct 25, 2011 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

Martz is trying to run a system that requires at least above average pass protection.

by JimmyMack on Oct 25, 2011 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Replace JA and everything would improve

except the lives of late round DE’s and CB’s

WCG's Resident Nickelback and Boy Band fan

Also rated Worst WCG Blogger by Dr. Steven Schweickert's extensive "Total BR" (Blogger Rating)

by ThorCo on Oct 25, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Ruskell would probably be the successor and well is he any better than JA?

Stephen Hawking was paralysed after Mr. T pitied him so hard he was hurled through the air and crashed into an orphanage, killing 50.

by Ditkavsworld on Oct 25, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think this is true

Ruskell came over to work with JA, not replace him.

by MrPants on Oct 25, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Jerry's contract runs out next year I believe

wanna take a wild guess at the supposed in-house replacement

WCG's Resident Nickelback and Boy Band fan

Also rated Worst WCG Blogger by Dr. Steven Schweickert's extensive "Total BR" (Blogger Rating)

by ThorCo on Oct 25, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I think its true.

Stephen Hawking was paralysed after Mr. T pitied him so hard he was hurled through the air and crashed into an orphanage, killing 50.

by Ditkavsworld on Oct 25, 2011 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Martz has to go.

Not during the season, though. After the season. And maybe Jay gets a voice at the table when the new coordinator is decided upon. Not veto power, mind you, but an opinion.

"No I'm not going to 'limber up'. You ever see a lion stretching before it takes down a gazelle?"

by Swarley on Oct 25, 2011 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

I voted yes because

Bears are 17-9 with him as their OC. Including a total destruction of the Seahawks in the playoffs and an NFCCG appearance.
Give Jay a good LT and a beast receiving target to throw to and this offense would be nasty.

Also Jay Cutler has never had the same OC for more than 3 years in a row. I think they should keep Martz for another year and see how he does. they gave Turner like 4 years to prove nothing, so Martz deserves at least another year or two.

He has done a really good job at adjusting the game plan the past 3 or 4 weeks and Matt Forte is second in the NFL in rushing and 1st in total combined yards (rushing + receiving).
Martz took this offense from 28th to 18th (so far this year) So i say he deserves a few more years to implement some more things.

And for those of you who want him gone this season, really? Why? Why would you dump an OC and completely start over in the middle of a season? If Martz goes, his offensive playbook goes too. It doesn’t get to stay. which means the Bears would have to implement a whole new offense in the next 10 weeks. That’s a DUMB thing to try and do.

Keep Martz and give Jay a serious WR weapon and a LT.

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders

It's all about THE []_[] baby!!!

~"Smile when u being attacked,laugh when they talking boutcha,wave when they hating on u and Pray when they leave u alone Somethings wrong!"~ Deion Sanders

At least FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER before you judge me fool

by suckmyditka on Oct 25, 2011 11:51 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Also Jay Cutler has never had the same OC for more than 3 years in a row. I think they should keep Martz for another year and see how he does.

I agree with you. Although I’d hate to see him relapse and get Jay concussed, changing OC’s every other year never works out well.

by oripunk3485 on Oct 25, 2011 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I voted no, but it was a weak "no."

I give Martz credit for at least attempting to alter his scheme and for having some success the last couple weeks. But every once and a while, he’ll just go insane and pull out some impossible play or go back to 7-step drops. If he could just stick with what works and not outsmart himself, I could change my opinion. But I get the feeling he’s going to sabotage a few games and take the Bears out of playoff contention.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Oct 25, 2011 11:52 AM CDT reply actions

See this is what i don't get

He has the reverses and 7-step drops in his playbook for a reason, because they HAVE worked. Why not try them? Especially when the Bears are up (like they were Sunday), why not try running a reverse to Hester, the most dangerous man in the NFL. Or why not try a 7-step drop and see if they can’t get Jonny Knox deep? You know that long pass to Hester against the Vikings? That was a 7-step drop, albeit off the play action, but stil la 7-step drop nonetheless.

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders

It's all about THE []_[] baby!!!

~"Smile when u being attacked,laugh when they talking boutcha,wave when they hating on u and Pray when they leave u alone Somethings wrong!"~ Deion Sanders

At least FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER before you judge me fool

by suckmyditka on Oct 25, 2011 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I didn't mean those plays should never be called

he just seems to call them at bad times or when the matchups are bad. The Hester TD was a nice play but it was from max protect, which was part of the gameplan. My problem is when Martz strays from the plan and goes rogue.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Oct 25, 2011 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I have a feeling

They’ll be another sort of hardcore coaches meeting this bye week, and the offense will be an amped up version of the conservative approach from last years post-bye week game plan.

Whenever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft, it changes its call sign to Bear Force One.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 25, 2011 12:09 PM CDT reply actions

I wrote a post on Hogs Haven about Kyle Shanahan in Washington

The same attitude towards OC is alive and well there too. But my argument for Martz remains the same as Kyle. I don’t think it’s so much Mike’s play calling, but rather, he believes he has more in regards to personnel to carry out his offense than he really does.

All coordinator’s need the weapons and Oline for their system to work, Martz doesn’t have those but he believes in the guys he has. Maybe that’s bull-headed of him, but either way, I expect an offense heavy draft come April. Just don’t know if Martz will be around to see it.

by Dammit Cerrato... on Oct 25, 2011 12:12 PM CDT reply actions

He could be doing better, but...

The Bears are 12th in the league in points per game (24.3). Granted, that includes defense and special teams, but it isn’t like this offense is anemic.

They are 17th in the league in yards per game (337.4), which is better than the Atlanta Falcons (18th, 335.0) who spent their draft on a stud WR.

So the Bears have been without their best receiver, and their first round draft pick RT, and are still in the middle of the pack offensively, even though they don’t have a receiving tight end, or wide receivers that can catch/run routes, or an above average offensive line. Cutler and Forte are playing well, but Martz deserves some credit.

by BusterK on Oct 25, 2011 12:19 PM CDT reply actions

They've also played decent defenses thru 7 weeks

They’ll have a couple of opponents in December where they should be able throw up some statistics
But going off of what you said, total offense, total yards, those take a backseat to total points. It’s the same with defense, I put more stock into points allowed by that defense than yards given up. Each one tells a story, yards a game may tell you difference in time of possession, but ultimately, finding the end zone remains the most important stat, and the Bears have done a decent job this season.

by Dammit Cerrato... on Oct 25, 2011 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I voted yes because he is finally giving forte the ball

Forte is as dangerous as any player right now when he gets the ball.

Redzone offense needs to improve, we got away on sunday with bad play calling even after Talib gave us another 3 downs.

I still want to see him use Davis in the redzone, dude is 6’7…… come on Martz……6’7

Guns dont kill people. Brian Urlacher kills people.

by Bear Lovin 21 on Oct 25, 2011 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

i voted yes as well

Because you have to look at the big picture. Why are Brady, Rodgers, Manning so good? they all have played in the same system for a number of years. If we do fire Martz, Jay’s is going to have to learn yet another new system. I think what this team needs is continuity. They need to keep running the system and trust that things will fall into place. Now i dont know the offensive ranks from this year to last year but i am sure they’re better. I do agree that some of these 7 step drops need be scaled back, and he needs to call more plays suitable for our line but he has a 16-8 record as the OC…thats not to bad IMO

by lowkeyman on Oct 25, 2011 1:12 PM CDT reply actions

I voted

EN OH…But I want JA gone first

We Are Guardian Force...READ IT!...BAM!!!

by T.Moore on Oct 25, 2011 1:37 PM CDT reply actions

Jeremy Bates...

Is still looking for work I think, and has history with Cutler. Pretty much the only option I see if they opt to drop Martz mid-season.

by Jacob Hayes on Oct 25, 2011 1:57 PM CDT reply actions

Wasn't he in Seattle at some point with Carrol?

Whenever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft, it changes its call sign to Bear Force One.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 25, 2011 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions

got fired after last year

WCG's Resident Nickelback and Boy Band fan

Also rated Worst WCG Blogger by Dr. Steven Schweickert's extensive "Total BR" (Blogger Rating)

by ThorCo on Oct 25, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

FIYAD!

(I feel random today)

We Are Guardian Force...READ IT!...BAM!!!

by T.Moore on Oct 25, 2011 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, they had difference of opinion or whatever...

Basically, he was pass happy with a bad QB, but then again this is the same guy that called the plays when Jay went to the SB, and it’s not exactly like the Seahawks had a good RB or a good anything else.

by Jacob Hayes on Oct 25, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Should be able to vote for both

Because that’s how I feel about him during a game, let alone during the season. But I’m going with a very weak “yes”.

by lmfsilva on Oct 25, 2011 2:07 PM CDT reply actions

A lot of the Martz support in this thread is very logical

Whenever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft, it changes its call sign to Bear Force One.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 25, 2011 3:43 PM CDT reply actions

I do not think Martz...

was a good hire for this team and I have said so repeatedly. I do agree with many here that dumping him at season’s end (or even now) isn’t the best solution. He is a good OC and is quite capable of running an NFL offense, but the offense he wants/likes to run is not available to him in Chicago. The best scenario is for him to abandon all hope of resurrecting the pass happy insanity of STL and structure his play around Forte and Cutler. Personally, I would love to see a TON more play action passes. Let Forte’s reputation assist the poor O-line and give Jay’s WRs a chance to get open even if they cannot create separation on their own. My prediction is he’s gone at season’s end, barring a major playoff run.

FORTE: PAY THE MAN!

by LostInSTL on Oct 25, 2011 4:00 PM CDT reply actions