Martz excited about Bears' offense, says everyone will 'fit'

With Mike Martz's history of developing high-powered passing attacks, it seems only skill-position players would get the Bears' new offensive coordinator enthused.

But Martz insists he's also excited about this year's offensive line, which will have 2008 first-round pick Chris Williams at left tackle and Frank Omiyale moving from left guard to right tackle. Roberto Garza is back at right guard, with the left guard spot up for grabs. For the 12th straight season, center Olin Kreutz will be one of the keys to the Bears' success, and that's what really has Martz pumped.

"(Kreutz) really is the standard that you use for a center," Martz said. "He has an ability that few have to do it for as many years as he has done it. I'm excited about that whole group, moving Frank to (right) tackle. To have two young tackles with their ability and to be able to develop them with (new offensive line coach) Mike Tice is going to be remarkable."

Martz spoke Tuesday morning at Halas Hall after introducing Kreutz as the veteran recipient of the Bears' Brian Piccolo Award. The award goes annually to the rookie and veteran who best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of former Bears running back Brian Piccolo, who died of embryonal cell carcinoma in 1970 at age 26. It was the team-record fourth award for Kreutz. Wide receiver Johnny Knox was the rookie winner.

Because of his speed and big-play capability, Knox is a good fit for the new system Martz is installing. But questions remain about how well some personnel, specifically tight end Greg Olsen, will fit.

"This system allows you so much flexibility that you can take it any direction you want," Martz said. "When you look at the personnel in this group, I don't see any limitations. This is going to be fun. This is as excited as I've been in a long time."

In his first three seasons with the Bears, Olsen's role has been mostly as a pass catcher with limited blocking responsibilities. That will change under Martz, who requires his tight ends to contribute as run blockers and pass protectors.

"If there's a player who can't fit a system, then something is wrong - if he's a good player - with the system," Martz said. "We will give everybody an opportunity to find who they are and how they'll contribute. Greg has learned things very quickly. I'm very pleased with just the few things that we've done on the field. I'm not disappointed.

"He needs to get grounded in blocking. He knows that. We told him that," Martz added. "We've got a number of tight ends because we anticipate being able to run the football very well."

But constructing an offense that throws the football effectively and frequently is Martz's speciality, and he says he's thrilled with what he's seen from quarterback Jay Cutler. That was obvious when his name came up and Martz couldn't stifle a grin.

"He's better than I thought," Martz said. "I've got to smile because he's just been remarkable. He's so intelligent that he can intimidate you. He is extremely bright, one of the smartest people I've been around, (but) very humble. He really loves this game, has a great passion for what he does. He's bought into everything that we do. He's been a dream for me. I couldn't ask for a better situation."