Martz Interviews with the Dolphins, Raiders Next?

Lions Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz recently interviewed for the Miami Dolphins vacant head coaching position. Martz, it would appear, isn't likely a good fit for the position. Martz places eminent priority upon the passing attack and the Dolphins personnel is built around a strong running attack that features RB Ronnie Brown and, if he returns and doesn't fail a league-administered drug test, Ricky Williams. The Dolphins, at least with their current personnel, do not have the type of quarterbacks who would likely be capable of flourishing under Martz's guidance. The chances of Martz and Joey Harrington ever being reunited on the same team are as close to impossible as you can possibly get. Many believe that Martz would not want to keep QB Daunte Culpepper as the team's starting QB, either. Culpepper is not an accurate enough passer, has too checkered of an injury history, and is viewed to have too much difficulty in reading pass coverage schemes.

Martz would be a more natural fit with the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders don't currently have a QB on their roster that Martz would be enamored with, but Andrew Walter could improve immensely with Martz's help. If the Raiders were to select LSU QB JaMarcus Russell, Martz could be employed to aid Russell's emergence as a top-flight, franchise QB. If Martz were able to reach troubled WR's Randy Moss or Jerry Porter, utilize Ronald Curry's speed, and find another receiver to flourish in the slot, the Raiders may be able to find some of the explosiveness on offense that owner Al Davis covets so greatly. Martz is a devotee of the "Air Coryell"/Ernie Zampese tree of coaches and would likely find common ground with Davis and could reinvigorate Oakland's missing renegade image.

Martz is purported to desire to more personnel input than what he possessed in St. Louis. With that in mind, one has to wonder, does Martz's connection with the Lions and their offensive struggles this season actually reduce the "juice" he once had in league circles? Are teams going to be willing to allow him to become a head coach, in spite if his eccentric image, and hand him the keys to the car, by allowing him to exercise his influence over personnel decisions, too? Martz's offense is incredibly innovative, but it has become apparent that the appropriate personnel needs to be in place for it to operate at optimum levels. The Raiders, who are in rebuild mode, probably have the time to accomodate the implementation of Martz's offense as opposed to the Dolphins, who possess several veteran players and are in more of a win-now type situation.