Mike Martz hired as 49ers offensive coordinator

[Chester McFloppy]

49ers hire Martz as offensive coordinator

By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News

Article Launched: 01/08/2008 01:37:18 PM PST

Mike Martz is taking on the daunting task of reviving the 49ers' moribund offense.

Martz, 56, has been hired as the 49ers' offensive coordinator, a team spokesman confirmed today. Martz and Coach Mike Nolan were going to be madeavailable on a conference call this evening.

Word of Martz's hiring comes the day after he interviewed with Nolan at the 49ers' team facility.

Martz replaces Jim Hostler, who was fired after overseeing an offense that ranked last in yards and points scored while giving up a league-high 55 sacks in2007.

Nolan also interviewed former Dallas Cowboys coach Chan Gailey over the weekend, and had expressed interest in Cam Cameron and Brian Billick. Cameron wasdismissed as the Miami Dolphins' coach and Billick was let go as the Baltimore Ravens' coach.

Known for his wide-open attack, Martz was dismissed last week after two years in Detroit as the Lions' offensive coordinator. He was the offensivecoordinator with the St. Louis Rams in 1999, when they rode their "Greatest Show on Turf" offense to a Super Bowl victory. He spent the subsequentsix seasons as the Rams' coach, taking them to the playoffs four times.

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His first task will be to replace Darrell Jackson with a real wide receiver.

 

[fundamental21ticket]

Good choice. I don't think Nolan had any other option being that next season will be his make-or-break as the Niners coach.

 

[stringer bell 32]

 

[trillipinotrapstar]

Good hire, but all Martz needs to do is minimize turnovers that's it.

 

[eg47]

i hope he does good

i think cam cameron would have been the better choice.

 

[tootthatthang]

^^^ well said i was looking forward to cam too but martz is that dude.... with a reciever and a decent performance from alex smith
the niners are in good shape

 

[acidicality]

yess a real offensive coordinator for the first time in a year.

 

[d0nt w0rry about it]

i really think cam cameron would have been a MUCH better fit for the niners.

 

[ady2glude707]

yea everyones saying cam would be better than martz. either way alex is under a new oc again this year, not saying that we didnt need martz tho but we neededsomeone new

 

[frenchblue23]

Good Move by the Niners new GM.

 

[lazyj10]

So next up is what, a QB, offensive line, and the WR's to make Martz look good? I wouldn't get my hopes up quite yet. Some personnel moves need to bemade besides this.

Don't get me wrong, definitely a better choice given what they had.

 

[ooiron manoo]

Good move....Offene can't be as bad as last years.

 

[fraij da 5 11]

pretty good move by the Niners... wish it happened this past year.... Gore was my #1 overall fant pick

 

[tootthatthang]

Originally Posted by fraij da 5 11

pretty good move by the Niners... wish it happened this past year.... Gore was my #1 overall fant pick

Mine too

 

[truthmain]

Niners don't have the personnel for a Mike Martz offense to be successful. Alex Smith doesn't have a quick release, no good WRs, and the offenseline can't hold for an insane amount of time for the WRs to get open. I don't think this is a good move, and I guarantee he will butt heads withNolan.

If he can't do it with the talent that Detroit had, I don't see how he can do it with the non-talent SF has. Sorry Niner fans.

 

[sf savage]

wanted Cam but after last year at least with Martz we should be able to put points on the board. Gore's stats are going to jump up alot next year

 

[chikickz]

Mike Martz is the undead coach. You can't kill him. Some NFL team is desperate for offense and will always hire this guy.

Buddy Ryan had many lives, but Mike Martz is the undead NFL coach. You need Zombie skills to kill him.

 

[GreenNGold89]

Originally Posted by LazyJ10

So next up is what, a QB, offensive line, and the WR's to make Martz look good? I wouldn't get my hopes up quite yet. Some personnel moves need to be made besides this.

Don't get me wrong, definitely a better choice given what they had.

Agree 100% and I am a Niner fan.

 

[acidicality]

i'm sure the niners will try their best to improve that crap offense the best they can..if they don't then

. this means new WRs, a better o-line, andpotentially a new QB-even if it's Shaun Hill, they need to be more focused running the ball with Gore.

 

[lightweight champion]

I listened to KNBR when this happened and they had a great big discussion about the whole thing. They said that Smith would be the better option in Martz'soffense compared to Hill because Hill can't throw the deep ball all that well, which I agree with. But that still doesn't say a lot because Smithisn't much of a quarterback, so when draft tie comes around...do I smell a drafting of Colt Brennan???

 

[curtiscarter23]

Well looks like im not Pickin up Frank Gore on my fantasy team next season.

 

[chikickz]

Can Frank Gore catch balls out of the backfield?

Kevin Jones isn't anything close to Frank Gore. It helps a coordinator when he knows he has weapons that will fire when triggered.

 

[kingaj619]

how is mike martz gonna get any points on the board with alex smith? He makes horrible decisions.

 

[koolbarbone]

Norv Turner as OC > Martz as OC

 

[srvballer]

Martz should make a big difference...