[Odd8483]

At the end of the season, the Chargers organization (Dean Spanos + AJ Smith) wanted to keep a 14-2 the same as possible. They wanted to keep all the same players and all the same coaches. Marty Schottenheimer was not calling plays on either side of the ball and he gave a lot of responsibility to his coordinators Cam Cameron and Wade Philips and other coaches below him. Since he was still under contract for one more year and he went 14-2 so the Chargers did not want to fire him, but his failure in the playoffs prevented the Chargers from offering him a proper contract extension (very minimal and not appropriate for a coach of his stature and ability due to the $1,000,000 team buy-out option) and he becomes a lame duck coach.

One of the many reasons Marty Schottenheimer is such a motivational force and successful regular season coach is that great players want to play for him and great coaches want to learn and coach under him. They feel this way because Marty has always looked out for his coaches well being and professional careers. When he was not offered a contract extension and other teams requested permission to interview the linebackers and tight ends coach for coordinator positions, he gave such permission. If one of his subordinates can get a promotion, with more money and more job security (they could be gone when Marty was gone), he whole-heartedly supports their career improvements.

Under the current rules in the NFL, permission is required to interview coaches from other teams for NON-head coaching positions. Permission is not required when interviewing another coach for a head coaching position, and due to this permission is always given, much like a man asking the father of his girlfriend for his daughter's hand in marriage. It is not required, but very cordial and polite. Now the Cowboys interview Wade Philips and hire him as their head coach and the Dolphins interview Cam Cameron and hire him as their head coach, and Cameron promptly hires the assistant strength and condintioning coach from the Chargers.

Now the 14-2 team the Chargers wanted to keep intact is down five coaches including the two guys who who made all the play calls over such a spectacular season. Dean Spanos and AJ Smith now have to replace all these coaches, and no matter who they bring in, Marty will have to take on more responsibility and be more involved in the play-calling, the exact situation they wanted to avoid. If they are going to need a head coach who has some play-calling responsibility, they decided to fire Schottenheimer and hire a coach who installed the offense and has shown in the past his ability to call the plays in the Super Bowl, in Norv Turner. They then add a respected, out of work, 3-4 defensive coordinator to further the philosophy of keeping a 14-2 team as similar as possible.

To summarize, The Chargers wanted to keep everyone from a 14-2 division champ, including the motivational Marty Schottenheimer, who turned down a very hollow contract extension. Due to their success, everyone else in the NFL wants a piece of the team with the best record, and five coaches leave with the blessings of Marty Schottenheimer. Now, the main reason they wanted to keep Marty is gone, and they do not want to keep Marty the play-caller so he is let go. Heading into the 2007 the Chargers have a great offensive play-caller, a great defensive coordinator, and a possibly absent motivator.

As a fan of the Chargers, do I have to recognize Norv Turner as the head coach? Can I look at the team as being led by a three headed giant of offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, defensive coordinator, Wade Philips, and general manager, AJ Smith?

[MJHMarc]

You don't have to love him, Odd8483.

However, you should deal with him and support him.