Why the delay between posts? Well, your intrepid blogger has been very busy dealing with legal representatives from a couple of B-list models/actresses. Yeesh. I can only imagine what legal correspondence I would have received if I had posted a picture of an oft-injured 48-year old 22-year old center’s junk. Camila, you are very attractive but I probably won’t be writing about you anymore.
Originally I was going to write at length about Brett Favre, but I’ve now decided to let my thoughts simmer on the back burner for another few days.
In case you missed it, Norv Turner just received a three year contract extension to be the head coach of the San Diego Chargers. In the aftermath of the monumental disappointment of losing to the Jets, I suppose this shouldn’t be all that surprising given the fact that the Chargers finished the season with a 13-3 record.
Hard to kick a coach to the curb after such a superb regular season. I get it. Really I do. However, the local apologists/scribes at the San Diego Union-Tribune act like Turner is the second coming of Lombardi. It’s really nauseating. Evidently I’m not the only one who thinks so and the Union-Tribune surprisingly printed a guest commentary from a guy named D Brent Mote. Here are a few excerpts:
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s two sports columnists, Nick Canepa and Tim Sullivan, as well as Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee, have such a bromance going with Norv Turner you wonder if they exchange Valentine’s cards. Fortunately, they back up everything they write with facts, right?
Well, to quote Mark Twain (or Benjamin Disraeli or Charles Wentworth Dilke, take your pick), “There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Which means if you crop the statistical picture just right, you can support any position you care to take.
So, in the spirit of balance, here’s what I think of the “facts”:
•Turner led the Chargers to a 13-3 record with little or no running game.
Absolutely true. Trouble is, Turner inherited the second best running game in the league and turned it into the worst. (OK, next to worst.) LaDainian Tomlinson went from a league-best 1,815 yards in 2006 under Schottenheimer to 730 this year, and from an NFL-record 28 touchdowns rushing to 12.
Turner has stated repeatedly that he has a commitment to running the football. What he hasn’t said is he has a commitment to running the football well. Look, when you take the No. 2 rushing attack and turn it into the 31st, you’re either exaggerating your commitment or you don’t know what you’re doing.
•The poor running game isn’t Turner’s fault; LT has lost a step.
Yes, he has. But continually slamming him into the line doesn’t help. He’s not built for that, never was. In fact, any sane person would stop doing it at some point. Or, to quote Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
•Turner has the best winning percentage in Chargers history.
Well, why wouldn’t he? At 14-2, the Chargers were one of the most talented teams in the league when Turner took over and few coaches have been given the keys to a juggernaut like that right off the bat. I could be wrong, but I think a dancing bear could go 8-8 with this team. Which, if you recall, Turner did last year.
•Unlike Schottenheimer, Turner is cool under pressure.
I don’t know if “cool” is the right word. “Aloof” or “spaced” might be better, but regardless, it’s worked — until Sunday. Sunday, Turner was anything but cool. Sunday, he was a sputtering basket case. He almost jumped headfirst into a pile for a loose ball at one point.
Couldn’t have said it better myself Mr. Mote. During the season I wrote at length about Turner’s penchant for slamming 5′5″ running back Darren Sproles into the line on short yardage plays (3rd and 1 or 4th and 1). It made absolutely no sense, but Turner continued to do it.
Bottom line: I’ll always be a San Diego Chargers fan but I think the window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl closed after the Jets game. I hope I’m wrong, but with Turner in charge I just don’t see it happening.
