By PFW staff
Jan. 8, 2008

The 49ers took a big step toward rejuvenating their 32nd-ranked offense Tuesday, hiring Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator. Martz was fired last week by Detroit as its O-coordinator after the Lions finished a disappointing 7-9 season. He will succeed Jim Hostler, who also was canned last week after experiencing a rocky first year running the Niners’ offense. Starting QB Alex Smith battled injury much of the season, forcing Hostler to rely on Trent Dilfer and then Shaun Hill to direct his offense.

“Our players are accustomed to and deserve strong leadership and competency,” 49ers head coach Mike Nolan said Tuesday. “The addition of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator gives our offensive players both. Mike is an accomplished and highly successful offensive coach that has had great success with individuals and entire offenses. I believe the addition of Mike will affect our offense and entire team in a positive way.”

Martz, 56, is returning to his roots in Northern California, having graduated from Fresno State, where he played tight end in 1972.

The PFW spin

After a disappointing 5-11 season that threatened to bring down Nolan, the Niners needed to make a big splash to invigorate an ineffective offense — and rally a disillusioned fan base. Martz would seem to be the right man to accomplish that goal. As offensive coordinator of the Rams in 1999, Martz turned an offense that had ranked 27th in ’98 into the top-ranked unit in the league, as the high-scoring Rams earned the moniker “Greatest Show on Turf.” Martz is known for his difficult-to-defense passing schemes.

Martz is credited with developing Trent Green and Marc Bulger into effective quarterbacks, and that likely was a big factor in his hiring in San Francisco. The 49ers need someone who can develop former No. 1 overall draft choice Alex Smith, and/or backup Shaun Hill, into an effective NFL quarterback for the team to become a winner. Besides, Martz can perhaps insulate Smith from Nolan, considering the rocky relationship between the QB and head coach this past season.

The hiring of Martz does raise some potential issues, however. Martz has a reputation for neglecting the running game at the expense of the pass, and with RB Frank Gore the centerpiece of the offense, that shift in emphasis could create some problems, as it has in other cities where Martz has coached. Also, in light of Martz’s penchant for wanting to control things, a potential conflict with Nolan could arise.

For now, though, the move appears to be a positive one for the Niners.