San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith's personnel decisions have been mainly brilliant. Since his promotion in April 2003, Smith has been responsible for many of the decisions that have helped the team improve from a four-win season in 2003 to 14 wins in 2006.
His ability to identify stars and lock them up in long-term contracts before their value is evident to others has provided the Chargers with a strong core of players who are capable of extending the team's successful run.
His choices have not always been popular with the fans, but he has been decisive and usually right.
However, his part played in the firing of former head coach, Marty Schottenheimer, has some wondering if the magic is over. Smith and Schottenheimer had a dysfunctional relationship that bordered on comical.
While both men were proficient at their jobs, they lacked the ability to set aside their differences and work together. Throughout the tumultuous relationship, team president Dean Spanos attempted unsuccessfully to keep the winning, yet dysfunctional, pair together.
Reminiscent of a Three Stooges plot, the trio stumbled through the weeks following the Chargers' playoff loss to the New England Patriots. As the team and its fans grieved their collective unrealized expectations, the events leading to Schottenheimer's eventual firing began to unfold.
The Chargers front office declined to give Schottenheimer a contract extension, opting instead to leave the former coach hanging in the wind with a one-year contract and lame-duck status.
The mixed messages sent by the front office likely contributed to the exodus of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and other assistants.
Given the huge coaching turnover the team would already be required to endure, management made the call to make the turnover complete and fired Schottenheimer.
Meanwhile, as the drama of Larry, Curly, and Moe played out other NFL teams went about their business of head coaching and other staffing changes. By the time the Chargers had reached the seemingly inevitable conclusion of Schottenheimer's firing, precious little experienced head coaching talent was available.
The end result: Schottenheimer's replacement by then-San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Could the Chargers have done better by either keeping Schottenheimer and some of his staff intact or by making a quicker decision and having a shot at some of the other coaching talent? Probably.
Was Turner really the Chargers' first choice? They'll never admit it, but probably not.
What of the Chargers assertion that Turner is the stable path? After all, this is the offense that Turner helped put in place as their offensive coordinator in 2001. But that 2001 Chargers team went 5-11 — hardly a ringing endorsement.
Turner assumes head coaching responsibilities for one of the best teams in the league. This will be a much different role for Turner than his previous stints as head coach for the Washington Redskins (1994-2000; 49-59-1 record) and Oakland Raiders (2004-2005; 9-23 record). Both of those teams were in shambles when Turner took over.
However, expectations for this Chargers team are high. The talent is in place. The team has demonstrated the ability to win. If Turner takes this team to the Super Bowl or at least deeper in the playoffs than his predecessor, his previous failures as head coach will likely be forgotten.
Should the Chargers fall short of expectations or have a setback from last year, though, Turner's head coaching days may be done forever. Underachieve with weak teams, okay, but underachieve with this Chargers team and that would probably slam shut the door on most head coaching jobs.
Will Turner spiral yet again due to his level of incompetence or will he prove to be up to the task now that he holds the reins to this high performance Chargers team? Time will tell.
Todd Beckstead is founder of MonsterDraft.com, a value-based draft tool for fantasy football.
March 2, 2007
nathan:
I think you’re right about alot of things. I’ve been a CHarger fan for a long time now and I have to say that A.J. Smith is eventually going to let his enormous ego get in the way of reality too many times and run this team back into the ground.
A.J. simply doesn’t like someone, that someone has a short life with the team. A.J. is now responsible for running off players and now coaches who have been replaced by lesser talent. Let’s examine.
A.J. and Marty. A.J. made sure that Marty didn’t get a real extension knowing that coaches wouldn’t want to stay on a lame duck staff. It was a dilberate act to remove Marty.
A.J. and Donnie Edwards (LB). A.J. doesn’t like Donnie after 2 years ago when Donnie asked for an extension. Ever sonce then A.J. has tried to trade Donnie. This year he was by far out best LB, and leads the team in tackles over the last 5 seasons. But, A.J. doesn’t like him, so he’s gone.
I could list 6 other examples. But I’ll spare you the long post.
Can you really tell me that Norv Turner, Ted Cottrell, and 7 new coaches are an IMPROVEMENT or Marty? NO.
How about Matt Wilhelm or Stephen Cooper to replace Donnie Edwards? NO.
A.J. will cause his own undoing. Just like most ego-maniacal GM’s around the league have in the past. I just hope there’s something left of a team when he’s done.