Why Turner, Chargers Will Succeed
Despite Lackluster Track Record New Bolts HC in Position to Succeed
Another early playoff exit for the Chargers, so they have unloaded Marty Schottenheimer and brought in Norv Turner who, despite a lackluster track record, should do well.
What happens when the Chargers lose not only their head coach but also almost all of their coaching staff? The Bolts replace them with a head coach who basically installed the offense they run now, along with the defensive coordinator of a Super Bowl team for the linebacker coach, and Ted Cotrell as defensive coordinator with extensive 3-4 defense experience.
It seems that regardless of what happened with the Chargers’ coaching situation the team would have been placed under scrutiny. If they kept Marty that means no playoff wins. Now the team won't even make the playoffs because the new coach has a sub-.500 record with previously mediocre at-best teams. Norv Turner went 49-59-1 with the Redskins and 9-23 with the Raiders but who could have succeeded with those awful 2004 and 2005 Oakland squads? Unlike his previous head coaching gigs with the Redskins and Raiders, Turner is entering a position very similar to that of now-heralded Bill Belichick. Belichick was 36-44 with the Browns and 5-11 (combined 41-55) in his first year with the Patriots. Up until that point did people think of him the same way they do now?
Here are six reasons why the Chargers WILL succeed with such an awful, no-talent hack of a head coach:
- Chargers have the best combination of talent and youth on their roster. They have won 35 games over the last three years and have 27 key players locked up through at least the 2009 season. Eleven of those players have re-upped in just the past 12 months. In the last month or two alone, the Chargers have secured the futures of guard Kris Dielman, fullback Lorenzo Neal, linebacker Shaun Phillips and center Cory Withrow. Since 2003, the Bolts have reached agreements on new contracts with 24 different players, including two new extensions with Neal.
- The upcoming draft is sure to yield major contributions thanks to the best general manager in the league, according to Forbes. Smith has most recently produced stars such as Marcus McNeil, a left tackle taken in the second round this past year who finished third in offensive rookie of the year voting, Shawne Merriman, taken in the first round two years ago and the defensive rookie of the year winner, and Luis Castillo, also drafted in the first round two years ago and considered by Dick Vermeil to be one of the top young talents in the game today.
- The Chargers possess on their roster the reigning most valuable player and the best player in the league in LaDainian Tomlinson, along with a front runner for defensive player of the year next year and a good shot at 20-plus sacks in Shawne Merriman.
- Turner is great at developing young quarterbacks such as Troy Aikman and Alex Smith and he has a very good one on his team right now, Philip Rivers, a first year starter Pro Bowler who should only improve. He's also good at bringing along young running backs (Emmitt Smith, Terry Allen, and Frank Gore). However, he won’t have much to help improve in Tomlinson, a player who shattered records last season with 31 TDs and 186 points.
- Offensive and defensive playbook plus scheme continuity. Yes the personnel is different but they are familiar (in Turner's case VERY familiar) with what the Chargers already run. The exception is linebackers coach Rivera but his knowledge in the 4-3 can actually help with suggestions for the third down pass rush as most 3-4 teams go to a four-man line in third and long situations. Also, don't forget he's fresh off a Super Bowl season and his defense has been tops in the league the past two years.
- One of the most dynamic and explosive offenses in the league along with arguably the best front seven that delivered the best pass rush last year and the top run unit the year prior.
Not many things in life are a guarantee; unfortunately, the saying doesn’t go, “there are three things in life you can count on: death, taxes, and a [insert your favorite team here] Super Bowl win.” Therefore, of course there is a possibility that Turner and the Chargers will fail just as there is a chance that every time someone flips a coin either heads or tails will land. However, the Chargers differ from a coin in that while the possibility of heads and tails landing is split 50/50, the chances of the Chargers succeeding in this coming season are better than most.
