Martz returns to St. Louis as Detroit's coordinator

~ The Lions are 0-3 and struggling on offense.

ST. LOUIS -- The coach known as Mad Mike when he directed the high-powered St. Louis Rams has a much lower profile in his new job.

The Detroit Lions did not make Mike Martz, on the comeback trail as an offensive coordinator, available to the media before today's game against the team he led to two Super Bowls. New coach Rod Marinelli downplayed the St. Louis connection.

"Job at hand is what we talked about," Marinelli said. "We have a job to do this week. When you're on the job and on your details, you focus on your job and details."

Regardless, the architect of the "Greatest Show on Turf" is the focal point of the matchup.

Martz was fired in January following a turbulent 6-10 season in which he missed the final 11 games while being treated for a heart ailment. His medical condition did not prevent a feud with the front office from boiling over, although his former players remember the good times.

"He's been good to a lot of people around here," Rams defensive end Leonard Little said.

Wide receiver Dane Looker expects Martz, who was 56-36 with the Rams, to get a nice reception.

"It's a fresh start for him, it's a new era for the Rams," Looker said. "There should be nothing but gratitude. If you look back, the Rams were the most exciting team to watch in the NFL, and he was a big part of that."

Martz's replacement also has only nice things to say. Scott Linehan recalls Martz telephoning congratulations when he was hired in January, and the Rams' new coach acknowledges Martz's influence.

"I know I've admired him for a lot of years," Linehan said.

The Rams (2-1) have scored only two touchdowns in three games with Linehan calling the plays, leaning instead on a ball-hawking defense that has produced a league-leading plus-10 turnover differential.

The Lions (0-3) totaled 13 points the first two games before stepping it up in a 31-24 loss last week to the Packers.

"You guys know what coach Martz is all about, how demanding he is, tempo and pace, and how he works at it," Marinelli told reporters. "We're grinding these guys pretty good."