NOT OT: Mike Martz on the NFC West

[moklerman]

Something about this is just too weird. St. Louis, Cardinals, Rams, Warner, Martz...so many connections that aren't really connections but seem like they are. Or aren't.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-9-643/Martz-weighs-in-on-Rams--Cards--Favre--Cutler.html

Martz weighs in on Rams, Cards, Favre, Cutler

August 19, 2009 10:26 AM


Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Frank Cusumano of 590 The Fan in St. Louis caught up with former Rams coach and 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz. I found the audio in the media player on their site, but did not see a direct link to it.

Martz offered his thoughts on a range of subjects, saying he thought a healthy and committed Brett Favre would make the Vikings an elite team.

Martz on the Vikings: "The only thing missing is that quarterback, and it is missing. The guys they have there now are really 2s and 3s. ... For Brett, this doesn't make sense if he is not completely healthy or if he is not sure he wants to come back. Then it would be a catastrophe for the club and Brett. If he is healed and ready to go, then I think this is a wonderful thing."

Martz on Kyle Boller starting while Marc Bulger is hurt: "You know how I feel about Mark. I just think he is exceptional. I think he is so unusual in so many ways. I think he can do so many things. Kyle, this is just about his time. I think it takes four years in the league, sometimes five, for guys to really get it. It did with Trent , it did with Kurt . It's his time. He's had a lot of experience. When guys get a little bit down at a club and they change clubs, it gives them new life and I think there's a real chance that will happen with Kyle."

Martz on the Cardinals: "I think they have a chance to be an elite NFC team. This past season, I thought Kurt played exceptionally well. I thought he played even better the year before, though the team wasn't as good. I think Kurt is playing better than he ever has right now. I think he's playing better than he did even with us when we went to the Super Bowl.

"I think that as you look back at his career and you look at Kurt when this whole thing is done, he does something better than anybody in the league has ever done. He sees things so well and can digest it and make good decisions with accuracy better than anybody I have ever seen. He is truly unusual. I think he's got this year left and if he can stay healthy, the arm feels good, he has defied the odds his whole career, so who is to say he doesn't have this year and another year, anyway?

"I do think they needed a running back bad. I don't know if they've got that guy down there. Time will tell. The offensive line has improved. Defensively, I've always felt like has been really talented on defense. Just a little confused at times. They were weak in the secondary. They have bolstered that now with the young corner that they got last year. This is going to be a strong NFC team, no question about it."


Martz on Jay Cutler in Chicago: "You have a great quarterback, you can have an average group of receivers. He is so accurate. There are so many things he does well. When I graded him, I gave him the highest score of any quarterback I ever graded coming into the NFL. I thought the three best were Roethlisberger, Manning and Cutler that I either worked out or graded on tape.

"Cutler does so many things so well. His ability to make plays off-balance under pressure is uncanny. He has the best arm of anybody I have seen, but the arm strength has never really impressed me as much as the accuracy along with that. He makes all the throws, he's smart, when you visit with him, he's got tons of character.

"This is just a great time for Lovie and I think those receivers, the ball gets out so quick, much quicker than it has in the past, it gives them the opportunity to run after the catch. It'll change their way of running routes and their enthusiasm. It will give them a lot of energy."

As for Martz? He's out of football this season. He said he needed the year off and he hopes to return in some capacity next season.

Sonofa..! Thats gonna leave a mark!

 

[Mulli]

I heard an interesting tidbit about how poorly teams play the season after Martz leaves the team.

 

[moklerman]

I still haven't figured out if it would be better to let Martz have full control or try and keep him reigned in as an OC.

I think his stuff would still work but he needs someone who can really identify talent putting the pieces in place. New England is a good example. They pretty much took everything that was good from Martz but did it with a good QB, o-line and receivers. Martz has had rejects, retreads and misfits for so long that it seems like his offense won't work.

He'll be coaching a UFL expansion team next year though.

 

[CardLogic]

Martz on the Cardinals: "I think they have a chance to be an elite NFC team. This past season, I thought Kurt played exceptionally well. I thought he played even better the year before, though the team wasn't as good. I think Kurt is playing better than he ever has right now. I think he's playing better than he did even with us when we went to the Super Bowl.

I agree with him.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I heard an interesting tidbit about how poorly teams play the season after Martz leaves the team.

So, are you saying it's 0-16 for the Niners?

 

[conraddobler]

Martz on Kyle Boller starting while Marc Bulger is hurt: "You know how I feel about Mark. I just think he is exceptional. I think he is so unusual in so many ways. I think he can do so many things. Kyle, this is just about his time. I think it takes four years in the league, sometimes five, for guys to really get it. It did with Trent , it did with Kurt . It's his time. He's had a lot of experience. When guys get a little bit down at a club and they change clubs, it gives them new life and I think there's a real chance that will happen with Kyle."

So let me get this straight.

Martz, who is credited with Kurt Warners first success, says that it takes four or five years to get it, says it took Kurt that long, your hero but Matt is a bust because?

Because you like Warner that's why

 

[moklerman]

So let me get this straight.

Martz, who is credited with Kurt Warners first success, says that it takes four or five years to get it, says it took Kurt that long, your hero but Matt is a bust because?

Because you like Warner that's why

Where did Martz say Leinart was a bust?

 

[Ryanwb]

Since when did Martz' opinion become relevant?

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I think it takes four years in the league, sometimes five, for guys to really get it. It did with Trent , it did with Kurt .

LOL, could have fooled me.. It looked like Kurt "got it" pretty well in years 1 and 2.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

LOL, could have fooled me.. It looked like Kurt "got it" pretty well in years 1 and 2.

Kurt's success did not happen in his 1st two years in the NFL.

 

[stewdog1]

LOL, could have fooled me.. It looked like Kurt "got it" pretty well in years 1 and 2.

If you don't include the Packers, Arena, NFL Europe and the Rams backup the previous four years.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

If you don't include the Packers, Arena, NFL Europe and the Rams backup the previous four years.

No I don't include the Packers training camp he attended as a year, nor would I count Arena ball as time spent in The League, when the league Martz' was describing was most likely the NFL.

NFL Europe and the Rams backup the previous four years.

huh?

 

[stewdog1]

huh?

Here:

In 1998, Warner was signed by the St. Louis Rams and was allocated to NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals. Warner led NFL Europe in touchdowns and passing yards.[8] His backup was Jake Delhomme, now the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. He spent the 1998 season as the Rams third-string quarterback behind Tony Banks and Steve Bono.

 

[moklerman]

Martz didn't actually specify but I think the point is valid. Warner started playing professionally in '95 for the Barstormers so by '99 it had been 4 years of professional ball.

I don't think anyone will argue the value of playing time. The really great one's are able to come out of the meat grinder after being thrown in too early(Manning, Elway, etc.) while others get chewed up and the playing experience just exposes their weaknesses(Banks, Couch, etc.). The lucky one's are brought along a little slower and aren't expected to save the franchise(Roethlisberger, Rivers, Rodgers...Leinart?)

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Here:

Ahh, I knew this... reading comprehension failure on my part,
I read

NFL Europe and the Rams backup the previous four years.

didn't realize you were lumping them all together, so I was trying to figure out how you thought Warner was in the NFL Europe and/or a Rams backup QB for 4 years.

I still maintain Martz is talking about the NFL when he mentions the league.

 

[lauraw]

The NFL is all that counts when facing talent counts...

 

[mojorizen7]

Since when did Martz' opinion become relevant?

I tend to agree with you here....I'm always interested in what he has to say(obviously).....but I don't consider Martz a guy who's analysis of anybody's football team should be taken too seriously. The man couldn't evaluate or draft anybody worth a crap and he couldn't manage a football game. Good guy to have that can teach your QB how to complete passes and take a beating while doing so.
Great offensive mind of course, and if i were to meet him on the street I'd glady high 5 the guy for '99/'00/'01

His work as an OC/HC is a little overrated IMO, he had all-world talent back in the St Louis years and when that talent began to age and/or run out ,his prolific offense suffered.
What has he done since '05?
Ok he improved the Lions passing game, he also nearly got Kitna killed doing it.

 

[moklerman]

I tend to agree with you here....I'm always interested in what he has to say(obviously).....but I don't consider Martz a guy who's analysis of anybody's football team should be taken too seriously. The man couldn't evaluate or draft anybody worth a crap and he couldn't manage a football game. Good guy to have that can teach your QB how to complete passes and take a beating while doing so.
Great offensive mind of course, and if i were to meet him on the street I'd glady high 5 the guy for '99/'00/'01

His work as an OC/HC is a little overrated IMO, he had all-world talent back in the St Louis years and when that talent began to age and/or run out ,his prolific offense suffered.
What has he done since '05?
Ok he improved the Lions passing game, he also nearly got Kitna killed doing it.

It's certainly hard to defend Martz too much but Detroit went from 28th in points in '05 to 21st and 16th under Martz in '06 & '07 and back to 27th when he left. That 7 and 9 record in '07 under Marinelli, Martz and Kitna probably didn't seem so bad in '08.

The 49ers went from dead last in offense up to 22nd under Martz with a lame duck coach(Nolan) a pants-dropping coach(Singletary) and a first time starter at QB.

It's true that Mike Martz is his own worst enemy and he can't indeed make any undrafter QB into an MVP but I think if he was put into a situation where the HC was in complete control and he had some legitimate talent on offense to work with that Martz could be a successful OC again.