National Football League

A meeting of the minds; Martz's pass-first game must mesh with Tice's need for runs to help O-line

Published Oct. 15, 2010 10:11 p.m. ET

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If the Bears' coaching staff thought it was under a microscope before, wait until quarterback Jay Cutler takes the field Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field.

Coach Lovie Smith boasts that having four current or former NFL head coaches on the same staff is a huge positive. The key this week will be getting offensive coordinator Mike Martz's pass-first mentality to mesh with offensive-line coach Mike Tice's desire to run more to help a struggling offensive line.

The Bears thrived behind the run last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers -- something they needed to do with Cutler out of action -- but they can't rely so much on the ground game facing a Seahawks defense ranked No. 2 against the run.

''If we can build on those things from Sunday and find a mixture, whatever that mixture is going to be ... certainly we're not going to be a run-first football team,'' Tice said. ''But if we can find the right mixture to help, gain some type of rhythm with those guys, it's going to help.''

Martz was heralded for adjustments he made against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. The moves he made to combat the New York Giants' fierce pass rush were less successful.

The biggest positive to come out of the team's most recent victory was the physical toughness the offensive line displayed after getting pushed around through four games.

Now comes the real test.

Game-planning for the Panthers was easy. They were vulnerable against the run, and backup quarterback Todd Collins hadn't started since 2007. What did Martz do? He ran the ball 42 times, which was clearly the best course of action.

With Cutler back after missing a week with a concussion, it won't be as simple against a Seattle defense that defends the run well but is No.31 against the pass.

Logic says this is a week to throw and throw often. The problem is, that puts Cutler at greater risk while he's recovering from a concussion and needs to be protected more than ever.

It's also important to maintain momentum in the running game while Tice continues to shuffle a fragile offensive line.

This is precisely the point in the season when things could get interesting, especially on a staff filled with former head coaches who have their own philosophies and ways of doing things. No matter how much politically correct coaches deny it, there are times when members of a coaching staff have competing interests.

Tice may believe the best thing for his offensive line is to run the ball, while Martz may decide the best way to attack the Seahawks is to plan a full-out assault against an overmatched secondary.

Nobody is claiming any major disagreements have occurred, or that Tice and Martz aren't marching in lockstep, but the potential for conflict remains.

''We're pragmatic in our approach,'' Martz said. ''When we play a game, it's whatever it takes to win. If we have to run the ball 40 or 50 times and that's what you need to do to win, that's what we'll do. Of course, it works the other way, too. It just kind of depends.''

Game plans depend on a lot of factors, but after five games, it's looking more and more like it will take Martz and Tice working in perfect harmony to compensate for this team's flaws.

RUN-DOWN FEELING

Sunday's game should be an aerial showcase if current statistical trends hold true. Where the Bears and Seahawks rank among the league's best and worst in top categories:

Top Rushing Defenses

1. Steelers 62.2 yards allowed

2. Seahawks 72.8

3. BEARS 78.6

32. Bills 182.4

Top Passing Defenses

1. Giants 146.0 yards allowed

2. Ravens 156.6

3. Chargers 159.8

17. BEARS 216.6

31. Seahawks 302.0

32. Texans 329.6