Tarlam!
05-29-2006, 03:28 AM
Just thought it is the off-season and we could use a thread that offers news about our most frequent victims. Mind, they're not important enough to have a thread named after them or anything!
Martz optimistic in Motown, where pass is half full
May 24, 2006
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
I was talking the other day with Mike Martz, offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, when the subject turned to his passing game and its wide receivers.
Basically, what I wanted to know is if he could raise the Titanic and find something worth salvaging there. What I got was something I never expected.
Martz not only is happy with what he has for a passing offense, he's confident it can evolve into something the Lions haven't been in years -- which is an efficient, productive and successful unit.
OK, so it's not the "Greatest Show on Turf" that Martz ran in St. Louis, but get this: He didn't discourage comparisons with some of those players. And tell me the last time you heard anyone say something that positive about the Detroit Lions.
"I'm excited about the potential," Martz said of his receivers, "but we're a long way off. Still, I wouldn't put a limit on these guys. I don't think that's fair."
The key there is second part of the first sentence. Throughout the conversation, Martz kept emphasizing that the Lions offense -- particularly its receivers -- needs time to develop, learn and, basically, cast off past habits that are in its way.
If there was one guy he singled out it was wide receiver Roy Williams, the former first-round draft pick who could be one of the league's star performers -- if, that is, he can make it through a season without getting hurt.
"He's at an elite level in terms of his ability," said Martz, "but he has a lot of conditioning and getting in shape to do. The guy's got terrific potential."
Williams led the team in catches and touchdowns his rookie year, and while he led the club again last season in TD catches, he tailed off with the rest of the club.
Martz isn't concerned about last year or the year before. Remember, when he joined the Rams as their offensive coordinator in 1999, the club was coming off a string of nine straight losing seasons, including a 4-12 finish in 1998.
Then they won their division, reached the playoffs for the first time since 1989 and won Super Bowl XXXIV. And they did it with an offense that ranked first in scoring and passing.
I'm not saying these Lions are on that track or anywhere near it. But listening to Martz makes me wonder if the Lions might not be one of those bottom feeders to come out of nowhere and surprise people. I know, we're talking about a dead-end club that is 21-59 the past five seasons and on its fourth head coach since the end of the 2000 season.
But the Rams shook off years of mediocrity. Why can't Detroit? Talk to Mike Martz.
"I'm very happy with what we have here," he said.
And what they have there is an offense that has been purged of Joey Harrington and is now in the hands of veteran quarterback Jon Kitna. Martz likes Kitna and thinks the club can win with him. Moreover, Martz likes running back Kevin Jones and can't wait to put the ball in his hands; he likes his receivers, beginning with Williams; and he thinks the Lions can produce the kind of passing attack that has been missing in Motown for years.
Me? I see the league's 26th-ranked passing game and a lot of incompletions, which is why I went down the roster with Martz.
Let's assume you give him Williams as someone who could be an elite performer. Now, what else is there? Charles Rogers? Yes, but he's not part of this equation. Rogers, who was suspended last year, has a long way to go before he can make an impact.
And I'm not sure he can. He hasn't in three years.
So then what? Try former USC star Mike Williams, who did nothing last year as a first-round pick. He made an impression at recent workouts by showing up at 230 pounds, down from a high of 245, and has Martz thinking he can be the receiver the Lions envisioned when they made him the 10th choice in the 2005 draft.
"He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet. He blew me away with his quickness."
Then there's veteran Corey Bradford, last seen running routes for woebegone Houston, where he led the Texans in touchdown catches last season. Martz loves Bradford's speed and sees him as the team's No. 2 receiver.
Of course, you always have Scott Vines, who had 40 catches last year, and return specialist Eddie Drummond. But then what? Patience, people.
Martz mentions former Rams receiver Mike Furrey as assuming the role of an Az-Zahir Hakim or Shaun McDonald in St. Louis, and if that catches you by surprise, get in line. Furrey last year was converted from wide receiver to free safety and not only started for the Rams but led the team in interceptions.
There's also Glenn Martinez, and, no, I hadn't heard of him, either. He has one catch in his NFL career, yet Martz looks at him as someone who is "tall, fast, has good hands and can get in and out of cuts." In short, he's someone who should make this team.
And that's it, folks. So it's not Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Ricky Proehl and Hakim. But Martz isn't concerned. And if he's not concerned, maybe we shouldn't be, either.
Now I know where you're coming from, because I'm in the same neighborhood. The Lions can't be trusted because ... well, because they're the Lions. But at least listen to Martz. I did. And he's a guy we all can trust when it comes to offense, especially when it comes to passing.
"We've got a long way to go," he conceded, "but it didn't just happen in St. Louis. This will take us all through June and a full camp and into the season, but I'm very encouraged. I have no reason not to be."
Martz optimistic in Motown, where pass is half full
May 24, 2006
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
I was talking the other day with Mike Martz, offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, when the subject turned to his passing game and its wide receivers.
Basically, what I wanted to know is if he could raise the Titanic and find something worth salvaging there. What I got was something I never expected.
Martz not only is happy with what he has for a passing offense, he's confident it can evolve into something the Lions haven't been in years -- which is an efficient, productive and successful unit.
OK, so it's not the "Greatest Show on Turf" that Martz ran in St. Louis, but get this: He didn't discourage comparisons with some of those players. And tell me the last time you heard anyone say something that positive about the Detroit Lions.
"I'm excited about the potential," Martz said of his receivers, "but we're a long way off. Still, I wouldn't put a limit on these guys. I don't think that's fair."
The key there is second part of the first sentence. Throughout the conversation, Martz kept emphasizing that the Lions offense -- particularly its receivers -- needs time to develop, learn and, basically, cast off past habits that are in its way.
If there was one guy he singled out it was wide receiver Roy Williams, the former first-round draft pick who could be one of the league's star performers -- if, that is, he can make it through a season without getting hurt.
"He's at an elite level in terms of his ability," said Martz, "but he has a lot of conditioning and getting in shape to do. The guy's got terrific potential."
Williams led the team in catches and touchdowns his rookie year, and while he led the club again last season in TD catches, he tailed off with the rest of the club.
Martz isn't concerned about last year or the year before. Remember, when he joined the Rams as their offensive coordinator in 1999, the club was coming off a string of nine straight losing seasons, including a 4-12 finish in 1998.
Then they won their division, reached the playoffs for the first time since 1989 and won Super Bowl XXXIV. And they did it with an offense that ranked first in scoring and passing.
I'm not saying these Lions are on that track or anywhere near it. But listening to Martz makes me wonder if the Lions might not be one of those bottom feeders to come out of nowhere and surprise people. I know, we're talking about a dead-end club that is 21-59 the past five seasons and on its fourth head coach since the end of the 2000 season.
But the Rams shook off years of mediocrity. Why can't Detroit? Talk to Mike Martz.
"I'm very happy with what we have here," he said.
And what they have there is an offense that has been purged of Joey Harrington and is now in the hands of veteran quarterback Jon Kitna. Martz likes Kitna and thinks the club can win with him. Moreover, Martz likes running back Kevin Jones and can't wait to put the ball in his hands; he likes his receivers, beginning with Williams; and he thinks the Lions can produce the kind of passing attack that has been missing in Motown for years.
Me? I see the league's 26th-ranked passing game and a lot of incompletions, which is why I went down the roster with Martz.
Let's assume you give him Williams as someone who could be an elite performer. Now, what else is there? Charles Rogers? Yes, but he's not part of this equation. Rogers, who was suspended last year, has a long way to go before he can make an impact.
And I'm not sure he can. He hasn't in three years.
So then what? Try former USC star Mike Williams, who did nothing last year as a first-round pick. He made an impression at recent workouts by showing up at 230 pounds, down from a high of 245, and has Martz thinking he can be the receiver the Lions envisioned when they made him the 10th choice in the 2005 draft.
"He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet. He blew me away with his quickness."
Then there's veteran Corey Bradford, last seen running routes for woebegone Houston, where he led the Texans in touchdown catches last season. Martz loves Bradford's speed and sees him as the team's No. 2 receiver.
Of course, you always have Scott Vines, who had 40 catches last year, and return specialist Eddie Drummond. But then what? Patience, people.
Martz mentions former Rams receiver Mike Furrey as assuming the role of an Az-Zahir Hakim or Shaun McDonald in St. Louis, and if that catches you by surprise, get in line. Furrey last year was converted from wide receiver to free safety and not only started for the Rams but led the team in interceptions.
There's also Glenn Martinez, and, no, I hadn't heard of him, either. He has one catch in his NFL career, yet Martz looks at him as someone who is "tall, fast, has good hands and can get in and out of cuts." In short, he's someone who should make this team.
And that's it, folks. So it's not Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Ricky Proehl and Hakim. But Martz isn't concerned. And if he's not concerned, maybe we shouldn't be, either.
Now I know where you're coming from, because I'm in the same neighborhood. The Lions can't be trusted because ... well, because they're the Lions. But at least listen to Martz. I did. And he's a guy we all can trust when it comes to offense, especially when it comes to passing.
"We've got a long way to go," he conceded, "but it didn't just happen in St. Louis. This will take us all through June and a full camp and into the season, but I'm very encouraged. I have no reason not to be."