I didn't read Norvs last interview as a cut on the players and AJ did have final say on talent other than the final roster. You can't build a house of brick if all you have is straw and sticks to work with. Meachem just couldn't get the x's & o's down coming from a trash and dash system, it didn't look like he can read a defense. Royal was a MASH unit unto himself and seemed to drop as many balls as he caught. The O-line is indescribable, maybe Harris' baptism by fire gave him a head start on next year but that remains to be seen. Hopefully whatever is left in the deep freeze, Dombo, Schilling and the Trout under the right guidance might be useful come next season. Defense I don't see as needing as much rework, SILB, one CB and a SS in addition to the foundation and they should be able to run with the big dogs. Of course this is taking into account the offense can sustain some drives and score TD's. Limit giveaways and some of the back to back penalties committed when in scoring position and killing even a FG attempt. Their first year under Pags has been better than the three prior years and they are young and still have a high ceiling above them. With the right GM and HC, I can't see them getting much worse than last year and I'm sure they can get better and compete. Who knows, with the right tweaks a strong push can lead to a wildcard spot with parity and injuries all being equal.
The Chargers basically need 4 new starters on the line (LT,G,C,RT). Two of them might be on the roster already (Harris at RT, Molk at C), and we can probably add a LT to start while keeping Gaither on the roster as a back-up (or the other way around). We could stand improvement at the TE position, and we need depth at CB. Other than that, this team is good to go. Our front 7 needs no real work whatsoever, except maybe to add another passrusher, with that being a luxury acquisition, rather than a desperate need. We could probably sign any RB off the street who can hold onto the ball if we can just get some road graders at guard or an OC willing to adopt a ZB scheme. I think that the bottom line with Norv's viewpoint is that this team is far away from being in the playoffs in the context of being able to get there using his scheme. I think that a HC/OC who actually fits his scheme to our personnel would likely find the task less impossible.
The OL was a huge problem, but that was created by AJ, and AJ is responsible for not providing even an OK backup to Gaither who has had injuries and laziness issues and for not providing anyone worth a crap at LG and continuing to ride the Clary wagon at RT. So although the OL was the biggest on field problem, that problem was a result of AJ failing to do an adequate job. So yes, AJ and Norv were the 2 biggest issues because nearly all other issues are a result of their failures
I was speaking more in general terms there than I was specifically about this quote. I should have specified that a little better. People seem to be of the belief that just because something is the truth that it means it's fine to state it anywhere and everywhere. That's not always the case. It probably is here, though. As for the rest, I don't think it's as unrealistic as Norv states it is that this team can make the playoffs next year.
Fun fact: Norv Turner is the only head coach in the history of the NFL to have 100+ wins and 100+ losses and a sub-.500 record.
Norv is right. But this is also part of the reason he should've been fired. He allowed it to happen and kept his mouth shut. He is too nice to be a Head Coach in the NFL. While AJ was f--king things up in negotiations, Norv should've been rocking the boat publicly and letting Dean know this was killing his organization. But that's not Norv's style. So he leaves with the respect of the players, coaches, and executives... but not the fans. I think he's comfortable with that. And at some point he'll be the OC on a team that ends up thumping the Chargers. And he'll smile big.
Can, but frankly I thought it was classy that he asked for the fans to be patient for the incoming regiem. I dont see it as negative or pot shots at all.
AJ explained it earlier this year. He felt that Gaither backed up by Dombrowski was the way to go. AJ clearly screwed the pooch on that one.
You know , listening to this BS from Norv makes me laugh. If Norv had any kind of nuts at all he would have been in AJs office demanding players and maybe questioning some of the moves and draft choices. But not Norv. He is such a milquetoast that he just sat quietly and watched it all happen. I put it all on AJ at this point. AJ hires a know toady/ yes man to be his coach and then walks all over him, just like everyone thought he would. We all said when Norv was hired that he would be a pantywaist and he was. But now Norv standing there and telling us all tht the team has run dry of talent... Well... No sh1t Sherlock. Why is it tat you never spoke up Norv and demanded real talent for tis team instead of sitting there with your lips locked and silent?
How the **** do you know what Norv said to AJ? Do you have some special knowledge of their working relationship?
If Norv was unhappy he could always have left (like Marty did) but he didn't, he was willing to go along quietly with every mistake AJ did.
Marty didn't leave, he was fired...... Dean fired him. If Marty "left", then Dean wouldn't have had to pay him what was left on his contract, now would he?
Norv's gone and good riddance. Who really gives a crap what he thinks now? IF he thought the team was so low on talent why didn't the guy say or do something? Nope- he kept his mouth shut- proving he was nothing but AJs "yes man". Nothing stinks of sour grapes worse than pooping on your GM on the way out the door. It doesn't take much in the nuts department to bad mouth your boss on the way out the door. When he should have said something- when it could have made a difference - he was quieter than the Sphinx on a hot Egyptian summer day.
I'd hazard to say that you haven't a clue what Norv did, or did not, say to AJ......... no ******* clue.
