Marty Schottenheimer Gets Shit Canned, Chargers hire Norv Turner as HC

[Glenn]

Norv it is...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=st&type=lgns

Chargers name Norv Turner coach

February 19, 2007

SAN DIEGO (TICKER) -- Norv Turner was not the choice to succeed Bill Parcells in Dallas. But he is the choice to replace Marty Schottenheimer.

The San Diego Chargers on Monday named Turner as their coach.

Since firing Schottenheimer last Monday, the Chargers interviewed six candidates - Turner, defensive coordinators Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, Gary Gibbs, Mike Zimmer and linebackers coach Mike Singletary - for the coaching job.

Turner was the only one with offensive expertise and he inherits a team that ranked first in the NFL in scoring with 492 points (30.8 per game). He also has familiarity with the team. Turner was the offensive coordinator of the Chargers in 2001 when LaDainian Tomlinson was a rookie.

Tomlinson set a single-season record with 31 touchdowns and won the rushing title with 1,815 yards this past season as San Diego finished with the NFL's best record at 14-2. However, the the Chargers lost in the divisional playoffs to fourth-seeded New England, 24-21.

Turner was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator this past season and served as a tutor for quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Turner was a finalist for the Cowboys' job after Parcells retired last month, but owner Jerry Jones decided to hire former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Turner was the offensive coordinator under coach Jimmy Johnson when the Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992-93.

The departure of Phillips led to the firing of Schottenheimer, who wanted to hire his younger brother Kurt Schottenheimer to replace Phillips. That did not sit well with Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, who already had a contentious relationship with Marty Schottenheimer.

The Chargers had already lost offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to become coach of the Miami Dolphins in January.

Turner did not have much success in his last coaching job with an AFC West team, compiling a 9-23 record in two seasons with the Oakland Raiders before being fired in January 2006. Included in that record was a 1-11 mark against division opponents.

Turner previously coached the Washington Redskins from 1994-2000, guiding the team to the playoffs in 1999. He compiled a record of 51-62-1 with Washington before getting fired.

I'm guessing that he'll nab Ron Rivera to be his DC.

[Black Dynamite]

Norv it is...



I'm guessing that he'll nab Ron Rivera to be his DC.

Actually I heard Ted Cottrell is the leading candidate for DC..That guy who was supposed to resurrect the Vikings defense with all those signings, then gets shitcanned with Tice.

[Zip Goshboots]

Spanos also has the distinction of being the ONLY donor to the U of P.

[Glenn]

Actually I heard Ted Cottrell is the leading candidate for DC..That guy who was supposed to resurrect the Vikings defense with all those signings, then gets shitcanned with Tice.

You might be right Gutz, I based my opinion on hearing that if Norv got the job in Dallas, they were going to hire Rivera as DC.

Maybe Jones liked Rivera more than Norv did?

Another possibility is that Norv is too insecure to bring in a guy like Rivera that could eventually replace him in SD.

[Black Dynamite]

You might be right Gutz, I based my opinion on hearing that if Norv got the job in Dallas, they were going to hire Rivera as DC.

Maybe Jones liked Rivera more than Norv did?

Another possibility is that Norv is too insecure to bring in a guy like Rivera that could eventually replace him in SD.

You're thinking about it too deeply. Norv is a puppet, thats why Snyder, Jones, and Davis all hired him beforehand. The defensive coordinator hire will be an AJ Smith decided hire. Remember its AJ Smith who didn't like Marty and took insult to Marty asking about why he let Drew Brees go. The guy doesnt like free minded HC's, and now he's got the HC he wants.

One thing I like about Al Davis is that if a coach impresses him enough(i.e. like a young unknown Gruden did), he'll give him a say. But the coach gotta have the balls to demand it. AJ Smith seems to not like having his coach have an opinion or a say in personnel moves. Draft wise you can't argue against his results, but he may have just screwed his team over because of his ego.

[Glenn]

Well, they did in fact hire Rivera, but all he got was linebackers coach.

He went from hot young head coaching candidate in Dallas and SD to a demotion.

Strange hire, all the other DC jobs must be locked up.

[Black Dynamite]

Well, they did in fact hire Rivera, but all he got was linebackers coach.

He went from hot young head coaching candidate in Dallas and SD to a demotion.

Strange hire, all the other DC jobs must be locked up.

The knock that keeps him from getting a HC spot is that he has no 3-4 experience at all. He joined SD to learn more about that scheme and extend his resume. Cotrell better watch his back IMO.

[WTFchris]

I thought Rivera made a strange move as well, but there were no DC spots left. Chicago didn't want to pay him to leave next year. He'll be a HC somewhere next year I suspect.

[Glenn]

It's kind of funny how Marty's assistants leaving for HC jobs (Phillips and Cameron) was used against him, when it actually says a lot about the quality of assistants that he hired in the first place.

AJ Smith didn't want Marty picking assistants again, maybe because they might be "too good" and might leave again? Marty always lets his assistants have the opportunity to interview and if hired, leave, if the job is a step up, and while I find that admirable, AJ Smith disagrees apparently.

Smith did not want to grant permission for either Cameron or Phillips to leave. Why would you want to be an assistant in SD knowing this? Unless you're on a 1 year contract, that is.