Absence of aerial attack hardly Martz's fault
The real story last week wasn't that Mike Martz reportedly is interested in the Arizona State coaching vacancy.
Before a Bears' game a couple weeks ago a national football writer looked at me and said, “Martz to Illinois.”
At first it sounded like typical press box silliness, like banter over which Kardashian is most qualified to win a Nobel Prize, whether Pierre is the capital of Idaho or Montana and how many inches are in a pound.
Seriously, the guy's expression indicated he was joking about Martz going to Illinois. I assume he was joking about him going back to school at all unless it's to study pottery.
But who knows after the Martz-ASU thing broke? Maybe the Bears' offensive coordinator would go anywhere, even Champaign, to escape Lake Forest.
That gets us to the real story: That few people were bothered Martz might explore alternate employment opportunities.
That isn't his fault. Mike Martz is wasted on the Bears, just as every other offensive-minded mind has been since back when they thrilled the nation with the T-formation.
A week ago I was among those who questioned the play Martz called near the end of the first half that resulted in Caleb Hanie being intercepted.
But overall I'm a Martz fan and awfully disappointed it hasn't worked out for him here as well as anticipated.
Not disappointed for Martz or the Bears but for me.
Like most people who grew up around here I have waited a lifetime for the Bears to have a space-age passing attack.
Martz was the guy who finally would provide one, based on his work with the Super Bowl-champion Rams a decade ago.
The Bears hiring Martz pitted the irresistible system versus the immovable tradition.
Well, with only a few precincts still to report, tradition has prevailed even though the Bears have a legitimate throwing quarterback when Jay Cutler is healthy.
More often than not, Martz's play-calling is berated for being too pass-happy.
How odd considering that for generations, fans here bemoaned the Bears didn't throw enough.
Now they want Martz to run more?
Perhaps that makes sense with Hanie at quarterback. But, oh my, was I ever looking forward to Martz and Cutler combining for their own spectacular lakefront air show.
Never really happened, did it?
No, it didn't, but Martz hasn't failed the Bears. The Bears failed him by not providing quality weaponry for a wide-open passing game.
So to win now, yes, the Bears must revert to their old selves by running more than passing or at least balancing the two.
One of the same old excuses is being used: You have to run the ball in Soldier Field as winter approaches, as if Aaron Rodgers can't, and Brett Favre couldn't, throw the ball in frigid Lambeau Field.
Anyway, there is little concern around here that Martz will leave soon for a job in college football, with the Jacksonville Jaguars or elsewhere.
If Martz isn't able to be a creative offensive imaginer, he should leave instead of trying to fit wings on a Peterbilt.
Anyone can replace Martz and call a conservative game compared to the aerial circus I was hoping for when the Bears hired him.
Under the circumstances, Mike Martz isn't headed for Champaign, but he might as well go install his offensive system in, say, Pierre, Idaho.
mimrem@dailyherald.com