I admit I am powerless over the front office, coaches and players of the San Diego Chargers…

Yeah you are on point, 2009 Chargers are not where we thought they’d be. And likely there will be a whole lot of changes at the end of the season. I’m not sure the inevitable decimation up will help us.

Let’s look at the obvious and simplistic change, coaches. If not Norv then who? Personally I don’t think any of those big named guys wants to partner up with AJ. I think if AJ stays we end up with someone worse than Norv.

If AJ goes I have doubts, about the combined HC/GM approach, but that seems like what all these marquee HC candidates would require. I think loosing AJ would really hurt our talent acquisition.

Two other factors are increasing costs and flat revenue growth.

To me the best course is continuity. Change some of AJ’s goals.

- Focus on depth and talent in the lines (that means first through thirds not fourth through six’s).
- Try to keep the skills players we have healthy (see improved Lines above).
- Jettison the guys that are underperforming their contracts.
- Force AJ to bring in at least one marquee free agent every year, they don’t pan out cut ‘em.

As far as Norv & Rivera go, I don’t think they have anyone looking over their shoulder. Where is the QC? We need to have someone off-line reviewing their real time choices and game planning. Not to criticize or reprimand, but to help them improve and make improvements. Overall there should be some independent review accountable to only Dean.

Of course that’s what I would do if I were king. More likely AJ stays; all the coaches go; the new crop of coaches will be less experienced and do silly stuff; more than half of our free agents leave due to the uncertainly / rebuilding. We are back in the rebuilding phase.

Your article sums up all my thoughts from last night.

Our main competition in the AFC west – Den – has a defense with 8 (I think) FA aquisitions and a new DC and they are performing much better than our defense.
It’s their first year in the 3-4.

Living in Norcal and seeing what Mike Singletary has done with the 49rs who have lesser talent at the skill positions is amazing. Frank Gore is hurt and they are still rolling. They are winning games with Shaun Hill at QB, rookie RB, and Isaac Bruce at WR. There is something to be said for proper game preparation and motivation.

but for me, AJ Smith should be 1st in the list. The team he formed is just not good enough. Too many overrated players

• I don’t think the early game offense problems should be put on Rivers, but rather on the whole offenseive team

I said 2 weeks ago that they are not SB bound. I hoped I was wrong but, I am not. When your head coach is going around saying the team is not very good (rather than fixing the problems and putting a fire under the players), lousy draft choices and free agent picks what do you expect? I say clean house beginning with AJ, Norv and the slacker half-hearted players.

19 games without a1st quarter touch down? Constantly behind in every game this year? This aint the Chargers I remember a few years ago. They have fallen fast.

I was hoping they would win last night so I could say they beat an elite team but they were embarrased again. 14 consecutive Ketchup field losers. I was off the bandwagon 2 weeks ago.

I agree we need a janitor with Cromarties athletic abilities to catch all the plastic beer cups the fans are throwing at Norv Turner.

Do any of y’all think that perhaps one of the big reasons L.T is not gaining yards (aside from injuries) is no more Lorenzo Neal. I think in all retrospect by all the media voices there is never a mention of that all they talk about is diminishing skills as Rb’s age. I think the Chargers have been making mistakes with their veteran players since A.J. took over as G.M. remember a couple players like Brees or Harrison?, San Diego has no real back up RB since Turner, Sproles just cannot physically do it.

Rivers has moments of greatness, yet he also throws some pretty bad passes, part of the reason is he cannot get out of his own way, he needs to quit jawing with the other team and play ball.

Remember that Jamal Williams is out as the run stuffer that is hard to replace, as well as Shawne (the choker of lil women folk) Merriman injured and just not very dominant.

Don’t even get me started on Norv (I inherited a great Shottenheimer team now it is mediocre at best) Turner, his lackluster approach to this team is apparent in the way they play.

reading my mind i see.. quick thoughts
PR: could help his game by manipulating the safeties, a pump fake now and then and looking for the short pass to move the chains.
Norv: hey it’s his team. and you are what you are. .500
LT: he’s not the back he was 4 years ago. but he’s only as good now, as what’s in front of him, and who’s backing him up.
Sprloes: good return man
Cro: move on.
Ron: 4-3 coordinator, coaching 3-4 defense.
AJ: i wish we could give LT as much benefit of the doubt, as we do AJ. but he is ours til 2014

What is most unfortunate is now they just look sloppy. Poor tackling, poor execution, and lazy. The best i can see is a 9-7 season, and unless the Broncos crumble again, which is unlikely, i doubt that we’ll make the playoffs.

As everyone knows, we have the talent. What is clear to me now, is that we don’t have the coaching.

Oh, and one other thing – I’m convinced that we could have a better running game with LT if he gets the ball enough. Even when he was great, he was a 2nd half back who got better with every touch. We’ll never get to a balanced offense if we fall behind by 14+ points in every game though.

What is frustrating is that I care so much, when these guys are getting paid millions and don’t.

look on the chargers obviousman, could not agree more with the analysis.

AJ’s ego won’t let him fire norv and deans lack of cajones prevents him from putting pressure on AJ to do something. Cromartie should be benched at least one game. He commits two stupid penalties turning third and long into first downs. If he hadn’t grabbed the reciever on the first one maybe he comes back and makes the ctch and maybe he doesn’t. If not, fourth down and punt. The second one wher he intercepted the ball, again maybe the guy makes the catch and maybe he doesn’t, but flag and first down. Then to say (twitter) that he doesn’t care? so what? I gaurantee Tomlin would bench his butt in a heartbeat. But, not norv or rivera. And, the steelers threw a halfback pass. tried it another time but ran insted. We used to do that, but we can’t cause no one respects our run game. The only way we reach the playoffs is as a wildcard and I wouldn’t bet money on that. The time to do something is now with the bye week to bring in a new coach and start fixing the mess norv and company has made. But, AJ won’t do that. I think denver will beat us at home on monday night. Our soft drop back 20 yards zone defense will get picked apart and our offense will struggle against a tough denver defense. If they don’t improve, we won’t finish above .500 and I can see possibly going 6-10. JMO

We will be in the playoffs? Did you watch the same game I did? They stink. Being loyal to a team is one thing but, reality is another. They are fading. The defense is too small, and the coaching is horrendous. I am so tired of seeing the camera on Nervous Turner with that dumbfounded/confused look on his face. I can just imagine his pre-game pep …talk “Um guys just go out there and try to win as, we are not that good yet, anyone have a rabbits foot? If we lose don’t worry about it as we are an elite team on paper.” Nervous Turner has to go. Enough said……..

He has to go……….

As much as Norv & AJ "want " to be a physical team that "establishes the run " first….whatever..get real !! You have a depleted O-line that is any thing BUT physical & a worn down RB. Throw your "establish the run ", “let’s get physical” playbook in the ocean, follow New England’s lead & throw the ball … to set up an occasional run etc….Chargers have fast “physical” recievers, make defenses back off !!!

1) This was very evident in game against Steelers. They knew our weakness and attacked it consistently. And it worked. Norv seems to go with the same type of game plan almost every week. Why didn’t they run more screen plays that we run so well? Yeah there were few drops but against a blitzing D like theirs, it’s a perfect counter punch. So is he a great strategist? I think answer is evident.

2) He doesn’t seem to call guys out or motivate them during the game. I see good coaches have one-on-ones with guys that make mistakes on the sideline. They treat these players on one on one level. His body language says, he doesn’t really care or he’s too busy (he maybe with play calling, clock management, etc) and leaves it up to position coaches. That may not be enough. And when some of these guys are making the same mistakes then it’s not getting into their head. Look what Singletary did with Vernon Davis who’s having a great season already after getting sent to the locker room last year. Take some drastic measures and be a leader!!

how about Cason over Cro. Cason already has 2 INTs and seems to be always around the ball.

No. 2 CB Antonio Cromartie had three penalties and gave up a few key receptions, but coach Norv Turner was vague about No. 3 CB Antoine Cason’s prospects for more playing time. “I’m not going to single anybody out. As a group, we need to play better.”

Answer, Norv Turner, AJ Smith, and Dean Spanos. Norv apparently isn’t a good coach. There is no discipline on this team. No one is accountable. Insted of working harder to correct mistakes, he’s giving them the week off to rest. AJ Smith, too egotistical to admit he made a mistake in hiring Norv, or to cut players that have been a total bust (Buster Davis) and Dean (show me the money for a new stadium) Spanos who keeps hiring idiot GM’s ( Bobby Beathard and AJ Smith) And waiting untill the team goes 1-15 before firing said GM. Beathard and Bobby Ross couldn’t get along and Ross got the boot and the chargers went down hill. AJ and Marty couldn’t get along and Marty gets the boot and the chargers go down hill. See a pattern?