The Bears Offense Will 'Catch Big Air' In 2010

So says new offense coordinator Mike Martz:

Martz said the Bears' stable of receivers can be a "real strength" of the team and said the matchups with Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu and Devin Hester could be "extreme."

Bears football 2010: Go Big Or Go Home.

As you know, I'm on board with Martz. For the situation the Bears are in, I really can't think of anyone better.

Martz is a cast-off, someone who lives on the fringe of the football world. There's a reason he was openly lobbying for this job as five other candidates passed: how else was he going to get back in football? No one would trust the long-term well being of a franchise with Martz, but the Bears aren't in that position. 2010 exists by itself. If the Bears fail, everyone is fired, the slate is wiped clean.

David Haugh has led the pro-Martz charge in the local media by arguing he was the "most qualified candidate", which makes me laugh. Sure, Martz can diagram a play, but he brings more chaos to this franchise than stability. Again, that's not a necessarily terrible thing for the Bears: this whole operation is probably gettin' blown up real soon, so you may as well go down swinging.

Quickly, here's my optimistic/pessimistic breakdown for the 2010 Bears.

Pessimistic: they were terrible last year but their 7-9 record was inflated due to playing the NFL's easiest schedule. They can't spend a bunch of money in free agency because of the current labor situation going on in the NFL. They don't have draft picks the first two rounds. They need a talent infusion, and they can't get one. Lovie isn't an awful coach, but it seems like the players have heard his voice for too long. With Martz in charge, this will be the third new offense Cutler is learning in three years.

Optimistic: Cutler will never be as bad as he was last year. Urlacher will be back. Hester will have another season of experience under his belt at wideout. The Bears will have Aromashodu for a a full season. Johnny Knox could make a jump in his second year. It's reasonable to expect a bounce back year from Forte. Chris Williams > Orlando Pace. Since the Bears are the only team in football that redshirts their draft class, guys like Jarron Gilbert, Henry Melton, and Juaquin Iglesias will have a chance to become established.

I think this ends badly, but that was probably inevitable anyways. There's no use waiving the white flag yet, though. Crazier things have happened in the NFL than a Mike Martz-fueled playoff run.