Well that's great, the Chargers hire Norv Turncoat as their head coach. Congratulations. While SD fans may or may not be thrilled about this, Niners fans have had the rug pulled out from under their feet. How does this hiring impact the niners?1. Alex Smith: This guy had a horrible freshman year. Granted, his offense was not very good, thus you couldn't really blame him. Even after that year, he lost his o-coordinator to the Packers. OK fine, lets get someone in there that can help the kid, enter Norv Turncoat. With Turncoat around, Smith's evolution into what could be a very good QB was obvious. He progressed by leaps and bounds, which gave the fan base some hope that he could carry us back to those gloory days. Now he must start over again with his third o-coordinator in 3 years. Is this really being fair to him? Isn't his development being hurt by his? By his third year, yes, he should be better, but how can he get better if he has had a new offensive system every year he has been in the league? Niners fans cannot blame this kid, nor can we expect him to be Joe or Steve, at least not until he's had some stability in the teams offensive scheme.2. Mike Nolan: His record does not show it, but this guy has put us back on track. With a ton of salary cap room, a bunch of draft choices in the 07 draft, he has taken nothing and made it something. Turncoat leaving hinders the teams development into a legitimate playoff contender. It's late in the game to find a quality coach to head up your offense. Again, how can Nolan take the Niners back to the promise land if he keeps losing his o-coordinator? Who is he going to get to run the offense? Jerry Sulivan? He coach's WR's. Niners fans cannot blame Nolan, nor can we expect him to get us back to the playoffs for at least 2 years, it's just not fair to put those expectations on him after Turncoat leaving.The loss of Turncoat hurts, but is hardly suprising. He has no loyalty and is inheriting a great team. Turncoat's coaching record speaks for itself, so maybe he'll take something and turn it into nothing.This just came at the wrong time for the Niners. While i had dreams of playoffs in '07, i cannot hold my team to those expectations anymore, it's just not fair. Niners fans must continue to be patient with Smith and Nolan, they'll get us there. I'm not saying that the Niners won't make the playoffs in '07, but that expectation has evaporated. Maybe they'll suprise me, they did this year.
I think the biggest area where this hurts is that it halts the development of Alex Smith by giving him his 3rd Coordinator in 3 years as you already hinted at. I don't think you can place any fault on him going elsewheres for a promotion though. It would be stupid of him not to.
Yes this is going to hurt Alex Smith, UNLESS they hire in house, meaning they bring someone up from inside the organization that Alex likes playing for, and have that guy not change much of what Norv did.Or just say screw it and hire whoever they want and have him change the offense however he wants, and pray Alex adapts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (makers3245 @ Feb 19 2007, 06:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yes this is going to hurt Alex Smith, UNLESS they hire in house, meaning they bring someone up from inside the organization that Alex likes playing for, and have that guy not change much of what Norv did.Or just say screw it and hire whoever they want and have him change the offense however he wants, and pray Alex adapts.</div>I don't think anybody in house has the expertise required to turn around Alex Smith like Norv Turner had. They should be looking outside and pray someone with a good QB pedigree is interesting in going to San Francisco.
Ummm.... enough about the impact on Smith, what direction do you think the Chargers are headed in with Turner? IMO, they were much better off with Marty, I feel like he was one season away from the big one and they just ruined it big time for him and the rest of the organization.
Reports are that the Niners are bringing in assistants first, then maybe someone else familiar with Turncoats system. Nobody can say definitevly that the chargers screwed this up, but hey, it's the chargers. They have never won a SB and there is a reason why. Hiring Cotrell and then Rivera for defense gives them some good coach's. Add them with that roster and people in SD shouldn't be complaining, the ony thing that can stop them is themselves. Thats what happened this year. But getting rid of Marty was not the right thing to do so late. Again though, it's the Chargers.
I think Nolan would want to interview Ken Zampese (Bengals QB Coach) since his father was one of the very first to run the Coryell offense. And he has a nice resume, coached Carson Palmer to be one of the best QBs in the NFL. It would seem Nolan would want to promote someone in-house, however he likes how the coachin staff is now so Zampese could be the best option since he is a young guy and would just settle into what Norv ran last year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JHair @ Feb 19 2007, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ummm.... enough about the impact on Smith, what direction do you think the Chargers are headed in with Turner? IMO, they were much better off with Marty, I feel like he was one season away from the big one and they just ruined it big time for him and the rest of the organization.</div>This is the thread in the 49ers forum, you'd want the one in the Chargers forum. lol j/k.I don't think they'd go all the way with either coach to be quite honest. Good regular season coach in Shottenheimer, but there are reasons for his history of failure in the postseason. And Norv Turner is just a puppet to keep AJ Smith (One of the best GM's in the entire league) happy. I guess when your resume involves trading Michael Vick for LaDainian Tomlinson and then drafting Drew Brees in the second round and trading Eli Manning for Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding, you can pretty much do whatever you want. lol
