'Philosophical differences' lead to Martz's exit from Bears

Since coach Lovie Smith chose not to address the media Tuesday in the wake of offensive coordinator Mike Martz's resignation, it was left for team president and CEO Ted Phillips to explain.

“Lovie met with Mike,” Phillips said. “They had some philosophical differences, and a parting of the ways. That's the way to put it.”

Smith did release a 32-word statement through the Bears addressing the “parting of the way with Martz and quarterbacks coach Shane Day.

“After meeting with Mike (Tuesday) afternoon, we both felt it was best to move in different directions,” it read. “I appreciate the job he and Shane did for us over the last two years.”

When Martz was the Rams' head coach (2000-05), he employed Smith as his defensive coordinator (2001-03), until he left to become the Bears' head coach.

Martz's offense finished No. 30 last season in total yards, dead last in sacks allowed, No. 28 in passing yards, 27th in third-down efficiency and 21st in points. The Bears were better this year, but not by much, even though they did rush for more than 2,000 yards for only the second time since 1990. They were 24th in total yards, 26th in passing yards, 17th in points, 28th in sacks allowed and 27th in third-down efficiency.

Regardless of who directs the Bears' offense next season, it will be the third offensive coordinator for Jay Cutler in his fourth year with the team.

The most egregious philosophical difference was Martz's reluctance to run the ball more and refusal to take other actions to reduce the 105 quarterback sacks the Bears suffered the past two seasons.

As recently as Sunday's victory over the Vikings, Martz repeatedly called for slow-developing pass plays that required five- or seven-step drops by Josh McCown, who was sacked seven times. Not until Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen had racked up 3½ sacks did Martz provide any extra help from tight ends for overmatched left tackle J'Marcus Webb.

Smith is not happy with the amount of punishment Cutler and the other quarterbacks have taken in the past two years because of the sacks.

“Whenever your quarterback is getting hit, that's a concern,” Smith said. “We have a franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler, who is as good as there is. Our quarterback has been hit too many times around here. That's one of the areas that we'll need to improve, but it can be done.”

With Martz gone, maybe it already has been.