Chargers and Norv

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I dealt with Norv Turner at least weekly behind the scenes for 2 and a half years. Decent guy, but I don't doubt for one minute that this team is winning despite him. Sure, some of it here might have been the players he had. He expected Gus Frerotte to be Troy Aikman, which he obviously wasn't. But Norv wouldn't budge. Did the same with Brad Johnson, who at least grasped things a lot better than Gus. Norv, similar to Spurrier, seemed to have no concept of what anyone beyond the QB was up to on the team. The whole locker room was filled with chaos and confusion. It was just ugly.

Now I understand he's not entirely to blame, but as the head coach he bears significant responsibility. I can't say I ever saw a time where he took charge and people said "that's our leader."

People speculate, and I would tend to agree, that Marvin Lewis was the true leader of the clubhouse while he was here with Spurrier. I wouldn't be surprised if something similar is happening in San Diego.

Norv's not a bad guy, but he shouldn't keep getting these great opportunities at the expense of others.

While I won't disagree, I will say that Norv's first stint as a head coach was with us, so there was plenty of learning to go around. Also, keep in mind that he led us to 4 winning records in 7 years (he was 7-6 in 2000 when he was fired). We were a doormat and he lifted us from that. No, he did not have what it took back then to get any better than that, and I do not for one second disagree with firing him, but that was a long time ago, and people can learn.