Ian Allan
When Mike Martz took over in 2008 as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator, he went on and on about the potential of Vernon Davis. How Davis was an unusual talent at the tight end potential and would make a big impact.
Then the season started and Martz forgot all that and ignored Davis.
This time, he’s at least being honest.
Martz has been named Chicago’s offensive coordinator, and he’s already making it no secret that Greg Olsen – as good as he might be – isn’t going to have much of a role in Chicago’s offense. Olsen may have caught a team-high 8 TDs last year, but he’s primarily a pass catcher, and Martz wants blocking at that position.
Early in free agency, the Bears signed Brandon Manumaleuna. He’s little more than an additional offensive lineman – close to 300 pounds – and he’ll be paid twice as much as Olsen.
“All tight ends, their first responsibility, they have to put their hand down on the line of scrimmage and be a successful blocker, and then they move to receiving,” Martz said. “To just skip by that and say, ‘He’s a terrific receiver,’ well, then you might as well just put another wide receiver in there.”
Sounds to me that it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Olsen will be traded before training camps open. It makes too much sense. He has little value to the Bears, and they have plenty of other holes they could fill by moving him. They just need to find a dance partner. Buffalo? Kansas City? St. Louis? I’m not sure of the end destination, but Olsen should be moved.
If not, he’ll have no fantasy value in 2010.
Below, by the way, are the year-by-year most production tight ends in the last nine years that Martz has run NFL offenses (with the Rams, Lions and 49ers). The average numbers for this group: 23 receptions, 268 yards and 2.1 TDs.
MIKE MARTZ’S TIGHT ENDS, 2000-2008
No Yds Avg TD Year
11 102 9.3 3 2000 Roland Williams, St.L.
38 431 11.3 4 2001 Ernie Conwell, St.L.
34 419 12.3 2 2002 Ernie Conwell, St.L.
29 238 8.2 2 2003 Brandon Manumaleuna, St.L.
15 174 11.6 1 2004 Brandon Manumaleuna, St.L.
13 129 9.9 1 2005 Brandon Manumaleuna, St.L.
21 308 14.7 4 2006 Dan Campbell, Det.
17 252 14.8 0 2007 Sean McHugh, Det.
31 358 11.5 2 2008 Vernon Davis, S.F.
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