"Let's get the (expletive) out there and do it."

sdbound · Jan 1, 2008

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080101-9999-1s1chargers.html

Inside Norv

What you can't see by looking at the Chargers' coach is . . . well . . . he sees a lot you don't

By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

January 1, 2008

Nick Canepa: This is a column about nothing
Kaeding's bone bruise makes him unlikely to kick off
Chargers won't get into war of words

First, you're wrong about him.
Second, if Norv Turner seems uninterested in what you're saying, it's because he is. If he appears distracted, it's because he is. If the look in his eyes says he essentially left you two minutes ago, it was actually five.

“His head is, not like flighty, but he's got so much going on up there,” center Nick Hardwick said. “I'd like to be in his brain for a little bit. You can see him walking around almost bumping into things. I think he just sees routes and stuff up there. It'd be a trip to be in there for a while – like 'Being John Malkovich.' Being Norv Turner.”

Much of San Diego was fixated this season on how Turner so often looks like he doesn't know what's going on, as if he is caught in a maze he can't navigate.

The truth is Turner notices pretty much everything and is at least two steps ahead of most other people around him. He sees things they don't, knows things they'll know later.

Teams take still photos during games for coaches and players to evaluate between series. Turner, he doesn't need those.

Just last week, he grabbed Philip Rivers as the quarterback came off the field following a third-down incompletion. Turner told Rivers he had missed Buster Davis open on the back side.

After going to the bench and reviewing the photos, Rivers went back to Turner a few minutes later to confirm the coach had been right about Davis.

With a look that conveyed he didn't have time for such a conversation, Turner replied, “I know. I saw it in person.”

As the fans that follow the Chargers and media who cover them adjusted to the reign of Turner, there was much consternation.

There has been analysis of his every facial expression (or lack thereof) and his ability to finish sentences (or lack thereof). While polite, it most often seems he would rather be anywhere rather than in a press conference.

No one should take it personally.

“The thing about Norv is, his mind is always on football,” Chargers President Dean Spanos said. “You'll be out to dinner, wherever, and all he talks is football. Even in casual conversation, it's nothing else. Maybe 30 seconds, if you implement it, he'll talk about something else. It's always football. His mind is 100 percent football.”

Turns out that maybe – if only grudgingly – those who for months lamented his stewardship of the Chargers must now admit that he might even be sort of good at thinking about football.

The Chargers are right where they were expected to be, in part, because they are right where Turner thought they would be.

“We weren't as far away as maybe it looked,” Turner said recently.

It is what he has said all along. And it's how he acted.

While everyone wants to know how Turner turned the Chargers around after a 1-3 start and a bumpy ride into November, he gives the players credit for doing that.

“I think what really is the difference is we're playing with more consistency,” he said yesterday. “Very rarely do we give up big plays defensively, which we were giving up big plays through that stretch, and we're not having the major negative plays we were having during that stretch.”

If Turner did anything, it was to not change.

“He stayed the same,” Hardwick said. “Everyone is flipping out, and he's, 'Hey, this is what we've got to do. This is what we're about. We've got to get this thing good. (Shoot), he was right. It all tied together, built to a crescendo like he talked about.”

Sure, it took longer than anyone expected for the Chargers to jell with a new head coach, new men calling the offensive and defensive plays and five new assistants running position meetings and teaching during practice. It even took awhile for coaches on the staff to trust each other.

And as has been discussed plenty this season, it took awhile for everyone to truly believe Turner knew what he was doing. Players and even assistants are not immune to thinking and acting like fans, and Turner came here with a lot of negative press, along with a career record of 58-82-1.

Turner also followed Marty Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer's speeches were like dramatic readings, sometimes with props and overhead projections. Turner speaks in a monotone and thinks of what he's going to say while taking a shower.

Schottenheimer quoted famous men of yore. Turner says, “Let's get the (expletive) out there and do it.”

Schottenheimer cried quite a bit. Turner can yell in practice, but a smirk is about as much emotion as he usually shows.

“What you see is what you get,” secondary coach Bill Bradley said. “He's the most consistent, most honest man I've ever been around. No wishy washy. It took awhile for everyone to get to understand him.”

All that said, Turner did alter his approach, however subtly. He did listen to his players. He did become more stubborn (his word) with the running game. He did become a little more fiery in his pregame and postgame speeches.

“He adjusted to the team,” LaDainian Tomlinson said. “He said, 'You know what, we're not doing this too well now, but we know we can do this, so lets do this.' Thats a great job on his part adjusting as a coach.”

But that is not to say Turner changed.

He was from his first day a guy who could joke with his players one minute and amaze them the next by recalling a play from 2006 – when he was not here – better than they could remember it. Every day of the season, he visits the training room to check on rehabbing players between 6:40 and 6:50 a.m. He's in the locker room more than any head coach many veterans have known.

“He's a guy that relates well to the team,” defensive end Luis Castillo said. “And it's not a forced thing. It's his personality. He has fun with guys.”

His guys, his team, this game, that is what he cares about.

“He knows who he is,” Rivers said. “He does it. He believes in it. He knows he's got to get to have trust in him, and then he doesn't go out of his way to make everybody else a believer. He doesn't try to do something to show he can be excited. Whatever the label is, he hasn't fought to have it turned around.”

But, just know, you're wrong about him.

boltmanbz · Jan 1, 2008

"Let's get the (expletive) out there and do it."

sounds like what i say before they start every game too ahah

nickelbolt · Jan 1, 2008

So this article basically implies that Norv is Bill Belichick... but without being a cheatin' douchebag cok sucker. :lol:

Electric Chair · Jan 1, 2008

nickelbolt said:
So this article basically implies that Norv is Bill Belichick... but without being a cheatin' douchebag cok sucker. :lol:

Pretty much. :lol:

Savage Lizard · Jan 1, 2008

sdbound said:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080101-9999-1s1chargers.html

Is Canepa talking to B4L in that last sentence?

BFISA · Jan 1, 2008

Savage Lizard said:
Is Canepa talking to B4L in that last sentence?

He ain't gonna like reading it, and he damn sure ain't gonna believe it.

Retired Catholic · Jan 2, 2008

We'll find out whose right soon enough. My money will be on Norv and the boys on Sunday.

BOLTS4LIFE · Jan 2, 2008

nickelbolt said:
So this article basically implies that Norv is Bill Belichick... but without being a cheatin' douchebag cok sucker. :lol:

Norv has rings?

BOLTS4LIFE · Jan 2, 2008

Savage Lizard said:
Is Canepa talking to B4L in that last sentence?

"But, just know, you're wrong about him."

I hope so!!!
I want a Super Bowl title!!!

BOLTS4LIFE · Jan 2, 2008

Retired Catholic said:
We'll find out whose right soon enough. My money will be on Norv and the boys on Sunday.

We ALL expect to win this Sunday!!!
I hope Norv is the answer to a few Super Bowl titles in San Diego because LT is in his primes right now at 28.
It will be a long time till we see a team with this much talent again. No Super bowl title will be a complete loss of an era.
We'll never see another LT again!!!

sdchrger · Jan 2, 2008

BOLTS4LIFE said:
Norv has rings?

Two

Ride The Lightning · Jan 2, 2008

BOLTS4LIFE said:
Norv has rings?

Yes. 2. Now STFU.

PowderLove · Jan 2, 2008

I wonder if sometimes he's so deep in thought that he forgets to send in a play, so they just run it up the middle...

Boltdiehard · Jan 2, 2008

B4L your act is getting quite tired dude.

nickelbolt · Jan 2, 2008

PowderLove said:
I wonder if sometimes he's so deep in thought that he forgets to send in a play, so they just run it up the middle...

:lol: Yeah, that's it! He's stuck on that fake reverse that he's gonna run in the 3rd quarter. :lol:

BOLTS4LIFE · Jan 2, 2008

sdchrger said:
Two

As head coach?

Anyway, my point is that I wouldn't compare Norv to Bill Belichick right now but I hope we can eventually.

sdbound · Jan 2, 2008

PowderLove said:
I wonder if sometimes he's so deep in thought that he forgets to send in a play, so they just run it up the middle...

Great one liner! :lol:

AnteaterCharger · Jan 2, 2008

PowderLove said:
I wonder if sometimes he's so deep in thought that he forgets to send in a play, so they just run it up the middle...

Then its my boy's time to shine :lol:
Norv doesn't think of it, and Clarence rides to the rescue

exodus · Jan 3, 2008

A win on Sunday, would convince a lot more people...

"Let's get the (expletive) out there and do it."

sdbound New Member

boltmanbz Well-Known Member

nickelbolt Fuggedaboutit

Electric Chair New Member

Savage Lizard Charger fan at 7000'

BFISA New Member

Retired Catholic BoltTalker

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

sdchrger Well-Known Member

Ride The Lightning You stay classy San Diego!

PowderLove Former Mod, Current Slacker

Boltdiehard Well-Known Member

nickelbolt Fuggedaboutit

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

sdbound New Member

AnteaterCharger Calibrating Bolttalk, Podcast by Podcast

exodus Well-Known Member

Share This Page

"Let's get the (expletive) out there and do it."

sdbound New Member

boltmanbz Well-Known Member

nickelbolt Fuggedaboutit

Electric Chair New Member

Savage Lizard Charger fan at 7000'

BFISA New Member

Retired Catholic BoltTalker

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

sdchrger Well-Known Member

Ride The Lightning You stay classy San Diego!

PowderLove Former Mod, Current Slacker

Boltdiehard Well-Known Member

nickelbolt Fuggedaboutit

BOLTS4LIFE Banned

sdbound New Member

AnteaterCharger Calibrating Bolttalk, Podcast by Podcast

exodus Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches