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From Charlotte Gazette
June 06, 2004
Mitch Vingle
Rams’ Martz knew Bulger would be special
ST. LOUIS RAMS head coach Mike Martz flew into Charleston Friday for a good cause.
In order to help the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, he attended a black-tie gala at the Civic Center.
But even before putting on his tux, Martz had a tie to West Virginia. A strong one, in fact, in Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, the former WVU standout. And it didn’t take but a few minutes after landing at Yeager Airport for the subject to be broached.
Which brought a smile to Martz’s face.
“We just love the guy,’’ said the coach. “He’s like the players’ little brother. He’s just so humble. You can’t help but like him.’’
Martz and the Rams more than like Bulger, though. They signed him to a four-year, $19.1 million contract in April — and released two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner, who led the team to two Super Bowls.
Of course, there’s little to dislike about Bulger. The guy is 18-4 as the Rams’ regular-season starter. But even Martz admits the rise of the QB is storybook. Bulger was cut by the New Orleans Saints before being plucked by the Rams from the Atlanta Falcons’ roster.
“I remember the first time I saw ,’’ Martz said. “I was breaking down tape. I was watching him and he didn’t have a real good senior year , but the guy who was running our college scouting at the time — John Becker — said, ‘I really like this guy.’ He said, ‘Don’t look at his senior tape. Go back and look at his junior season.’ ’’
So the coach did.
“I went back and looked at his junior tape — and was just astounded,’’ Martz said. “I’d never seen anybody with that quick of a delivery before. I mean, he was like Marino. He had that Marino quickness of getting the ball out of there.
“He was accurate and had plenty of arm strength, but he was injured and in a new system his senior year so things didn’t go well.
“We were fine, obviously,’’ the coach continued. “We had Kurt and didn’t feel our quarterback situation was a real big need. So we did what we call a ‘red tag.’ We put a ‘tag’ on him. We decided to follow him through his career, and if he would come up again, then we’d decide if we wanted to bring him in.’’
Now, he’s a Rams team captain along with stars Marshall Faulk and Aeneas Williams. Sure, Bulger threw 22 interceptions last season, but he finished second in the NFL in completions. He also earned a Pro Bowl berth and was named the game’s MVP.
Martz claims it didn’t take long to realize Bulger was special.
“First series in his very first start in 2002,’’ said the coach. “We were playing the Oakland Raiders. We were coming off the Super Bowl loss and were 0-5. Kurt was struggling, then he broke his thumb. Marc started that week. Jamie Martin had been hurt the week before.
“Well, the Raiders were 4-0. They led the league in offense and defense. We stopped them on their first drive on our 2-yard line. They went for it on fourth down. Marc then took us 98 yards on about five plays for a touchdown.’’
The coach still shakes his head when he thinks of Bulger’s first completion, a 30-yard out to a double-covered Isaac Bruce.
“Marc had about a 2-yard window and stuck it right in there,’’ Martz said. “I thought, ‘I don’t know too many guys who can do that.’ ’’
Martz, though, eventually went back to Warner — until the QB fumbled six times in last year’s season opener against the New York Giants. Bulger has been the man since, leading to the April signing and Warner’s recent ouster.
“Very difficult decision,’’ Martz said. “But if I can’t make those decisions, I shouldn’t have this job. That’s what I get paid to do.’’
Martz said Bulger is “more than talented,’’ calling him “astounding’’ in spring practices this past week.
And remember how the coach compared Bulger’s release to Marino? Well, you’ll never guess to whom he compares the player’s personality.
“Like a Joe Montana,’’ Martz said. “That’s what makes him so appealing to the other players. He doesn’t see himself like this. Also, he doesn’t want attention. He doesn’t want a TV show. He just wants to go play ball.’’
Pretty heady stuff for a skinny kid who left WVU without much fanfare.
“Who’s to say, right?’’ Martz asked. “I never thought I’d be an NFL coach. I just wanted to be a high school football coach. But opportunities come up, and he’s one who took advantage.’’
Martz spoke on behalf of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, which specializes in Alzheimer’s disease and is named after Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s mother, who battled the disease for nearly a decade.
Martz said he visited Charleston because of a call from the NFL. Apparently, Sen. Rockefeller and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue are tight.
But the cause is also dear to Martz. His mother suffered from the disease.
“For anybody who has ever had a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s — particularly the primary care-giver — they know it can be devastating,’’ said the coach. “It’s devastating to watch someone you love so much — someone who was always so sharp, vibrant and full of life — be robbed of years she should really enjoy. It’s a tragedy.’’
June 06, 2004
Mitch Vingle
Rams’ Martz knew Bulger would be special
ST. LOUIS RAMS head coach Mike Martz flew into Charleston Friday for a good cause.
In order to help the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, he attended a black-tie gala at the Civic Center.
But even before putting on his tux, Martz had a tie to West Virginia. A strong one, in fact, in Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, the former WVU standout. And it didn’t take but a few minutes after landing at Yeager Airport for the subject to be broached.
Which brought a smile to Martz’s face.
“We just love the guy,’’ said the coach. “He’s like the players’ little brother. He’s just so humble. You can’t help but like him.’’
Martz and the Rams more than like Bulger, though. They signed him to a four-year, $19.1 million contract in April — and released two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner, who led the team to two Super Bowls.
Of course, there’s little to dislike about Bulger. The guy is 18-4 as the Rams’ regular-season starter. But even Martz admits the rise of the QB is storybook. Bulger was cut by the New Orleans Saints before being plucked by the Rams from the Atlanta Falcons’ roster.
“I remember the first time I saw ,’’ Martz said. “I was breaking down tape. I was watching him and he didn’t have a real good senior year , but the guy who was running our college scouting at the time — John Becker — said, ‘I really like this guy.’ He said, ‘Don’t look at his senior tape. Go back and look at his junior season.’ ’’
So the coach did.
“I went back and looked at his junior tape — and was just astounded,’’ Martz said. “I’d never seen anybody with that quick of a delivery before. I mean, he was like Marino. He had that Marino quickness of getting the ball out of there.
“He was accurate and had plenty of arm strength, but he was injured and in a new system his senior year so things didn’t go well.
“We were fine, obviously,’’ the coach continued. “We had Kurt and didn’t feel our quarterback situation was a real big need. So we did what we call a ‘red tag.’ We put a ‘tag’ on him. We decided to follow him through his career, and if he would come up again, then we’d decide if we wanted to bring him in.’’
Now, he’s a Rams team captain along with stars Marshall Faulk and Aeneas Williams. Sure, Bulger threw 22 interceptions last season, but he finished second in the NFL in completions. He also earned a Pro Bowl berth and was named the game’s MVP.
Martz claims it didn’t take long to realize Bulger was special.
“First series in his very first start in 2002,’’ said the coach. “We were playing the Oakland Raiders. We were coming off the Super Bowl loss and were 0-5. Kurt was struggling, then he broke his thumb. Marc started that week. Jamie Martin had been hurt the week before.
“Well, the Raiders were 4-0. They led the league in offense and defense. We stopped them on their first drive on our 2-yard line. They went for it on fourth down. Marc then took us 98 yards on about five plays for a touchdown.’’
The coach still shakes his head when he thinks of Bulger’s first completion, a 30-yard out to a double-covered Isaac Bruce.
“Marc had about a 2-yard window and stuck it right in there,’’ Martz said. “I thought, ‘I don’t know too many guys who can do that.’ ’’
Martz, though, eventually went back to Warner — until the QB fumbled six times in last year’s season opener against the New York Giants. Bulger has been the man since, leading to the April signing and Warner’s recent ouster.
“Very difficult decision,’’ Martz said. “But if I can’t make those decisions, I shouldn’t have this job. That’s what I get paid to do.’’
Martz said Bulger is “more than talented,’’ calling him “astounding’’ in spring practices this past week.
And remember how the coach compared Bulger’s release to Marino? Well, you’ll never guess to whom he compares the player’s personality.
“Like a Joe Montana,’’ Martz said. “That’s what makes him so appealing to the other players. He doesn’t see himself like this. Also, he doesn’t want attention. He doesn’t want a TV show. He just wants to go play ball.’’
Pretty heady stuff for a skinny kid who left WVU without much fanfare.
“Who’s to say, right?’’ Martz asked. “I never thought I’d be an NFL coach. I just wanted to be a high school football coach. But opportunities come up, and he’s one who took advantage.’’
Martz spoke on behalf of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, which specializes in Alzheimer’s disease and is named after Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s mother, who battled the disease for nearly a decade.
Martz said he visited Charleston because of a call from the NFL. Apparently, Sen. Rockefeller and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue are tight.
But the cause is also dear to Martz. His mother suffered from the disease.
“For anybody who has ever had a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s — particularly the primary care-giver — they know it can be devastating,’’ said the coach. “It’s devastating to watch someone you love so much — someone who was always so sharp, vibrant and full of life — be robbed of years she should really enjoy. It’s a tragedy.’’
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