Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Gase gets a visit from his mentor
Former Rams’ coach Mike Martz works to help with Fins’ offense
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase is hosting one of his biggest coaching influences at practice this week.
For two years, Gase has been badgering former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz to come to South Florida to work with him, and the architect of “The Greatest Show on Turf” finally showed up this week to help Miami’s coaches fine tune the offense.
“You could always see [Gase] had it in him. Of all the guys who I worked with, he had the best understanding of my passing concepts,” said Martz, who has a reputation for being an aggressive play-caller. “They always came to him easier than it did the others, and he’s such a student of the game. I always knew he’d be in this position.”
On Tuesday, Martz was spotted instructing Miami’s offensive coaches on the art of helping a receiver free themselves from press coverage, which was a specialty of his Rams offense that helped the team win Super Bowl XXXIV.
On Wednesday, Martz, who coached the Rams from 2000-05 and was offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears in the decade that followed, was accompanied to practice by former Rams receiver and South Florida native Isaac Bruce.
“It’s been great for me because I’ve been able to pick his brain on some different things that we’ve never really talked about before,” said Gase, who worked under Martz in Detroit and San Francisco as a scouting assistant, quality control coach, offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach.
Even though Gase was brought into coaching by Nick Saban, the former Dolphins coach who left Miami to create a dynasty at Alabama, he has repeatedly stated that Martz was the biggest influence in his career.
“The majority of what I’ve learned is from him,” Gase said of Martz, who owns a 56–36 record as a head coach, including a 3-4 postseason mark. “Especially about offensive football. But also how to present in front of players. Whether it be installing things, just like those side conversations with guys, and in front of the group. I don’t know if you want to call it motivation, but maybe more confidence.
“He was the best I’ve ever been [with] as far as when he was in front of the group. You walked out of the room and you thought you were going to score 60 every game.”
Gase, who is 16-16 in two seasons with the Dolphins, is working to make Miami’s offense more efficient with the return of quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Last season with Jay Cutler as the team’s starter, the Dolphins’ offense ranked 25th in yards per game (307.7), finished last in third-down conversions (32 percent) and 28th in points per game (17.6).
Martz is convinced his protege, who he calls his fourth son because of the bond they’ve developed over the years, will get the job done.
“He’s always had that in him, the ability to command a room, relate to guys and get everyone on the same page.” Martz said. “He had success his first season, but the journey’s just beginning for him. He’s going to figure it out and be a good one.”
Martz will be at the Dolphins’ practice facility until Monday, attending practices and meetings.