The problems that beset the St. Louis Rams over the past few years were often laid directly at the feet of their head coach Mike Martz. He consistently made boneheaded decisions and out-coached himself. But during those years, the Rams offense was still incredibly potent. The Greatest Show on Turf, led by Kurt Warner, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce with the abilities of Marshall Faulk in the backfield was a virtually unstoppable offense. Warner's story - from a relative nobody to Arena League star to NFL player to starting quarterback to NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP is a great story, but it really underlines one important thing: that Warner had some great coaching along the way. Martz was behind a lot of that. His offensive schemes put huge pressure on the defense with their complicated patterns and vertical style. But more than that, when Martz is left alone to call the plays and run the offense, he's one of the best in the game. Fast forward to the reports from Detroit that are saying the Lions and Martz have settled on a contract and that Mike Martz is slated to be the next offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. The Lions already have some high draft picks on their roster - Charles Rogers, Mike Williams and Roy Williams - were all thought to be ready to be high-level NFL performers. But Detroit could never quite figure it out. Here's betting that those three woke up and read that news, and began drooling at the thoughts of the season they are going to have in front of them. It will all depend on whether or not Martz can get the most from Joey Harrington. His performance has baffled the Detroit coaches and brass for years. He'll be great in one game, and then take a step or two backwards, before coming back again with another nice game. It doesn't make sense, and the bottom line is that Harrington was probably not settled into an offense. Martz will look at the playmakers he has, and is probably already designing schemes that will utilize the size and speed of his receivers, and will work his butt off with Harrington on improving his abilities. It is premature to say this, but here's betting that the Next Show on Turf will be in Detroit. Like St. Louis, Detroit plays in a dome on carpet. So the speed and quickness that the receivers have will be fully utilized. Kevin Jones still looks to be servicable; Martz will figure out a way to get him involved in a way that maximizes his abilities. Detroit might not make the playoffs in the 2006 season, but I think that their offense will vault to among the best in the NFL. That will make some in Chicago sweat - imagine Lovie Smith trying to figure out ways to stop the offense he once practiced against in 1999! Any way you cut it, the NFC North suddenly got better...and more interesting...