October 1, 2007 - Hey A.J. Smith, I'd like to address your decision to fire Marty Schottenheimer this past off season with the following quote from Home Alone: "look what you did, you little jerk!"
By canning the coach that led his team to a 14-2 record last year after all of his coordinators had already departed for other jobs, the Chargers' general manager all but ensured his ultra-talented team would have a plethora of unnecessary obstacles to overcome this season. By hiring Norv Turner of all people, Smith then ensured that his team would have little to no help - no steadying influence - overcoming those same inevitable obstacles. Turner's hiring was troubling, not merely because he's a perennially below-average coach who's failed to amass a winning record in numerous stops around the league, but because he's a pass first, run later game-manager on a team that boasts the best rusher in the entire league.
All it takes is one look at LaDainian Tomlinson's numbers so far - a less than impressive 263 total rushing yards - to realize Turner is not capable of understanding the obvious - that rushing LT for 25 to 30 times a game and sticking with his running back even when it's not working is the easiest way to ensure his team's victory. No ifs and or buts about it, the Chargers' horrible 1-3 start can be blamed largely on Turner's failure to put his team's fate in the hands of his best player. And as culpable as Turner is for that maddening blunder, the Chargers' early-season troubles should be blamed first and foremost on San Diego's stubborn general manager.
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Wheres Marty Ball ???
Wheres Marty Ball ???
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