Norv goes to the Chargers

by 42Blackout on Feb 19, 2007 9:08 AM PST

[EDITOR'S NOTE] - And so indeed it has happened. Norv is gone and we're in need of an offensive coordinator. I'll try and work on a post about candidates while I'm here in Las Vegas, but it may happen after I get back this weekend. Either way, go ahead and continue the discussion of potential candidates. Heard it this morning on KNBR. Our beloved Norv Turner has accepted the head coaching job with the San Diego Chargers. I can't honestly blame him. I mean, being an offensive guru and going to a team with Tomlinson, Rivers, Gates and Co. and with a defense that is built to win NOW, how can you be mad at the guy?

As a Niners fan, I am a little bummed out. What does it mean for our team? What does it mean for Alex Smith? Who will replace Turner? Will it be an inside guy? An established NFL or college OC? How will this move influence the team in the draft and with free agents?

There were a lot fewer questions before this morning. yesterdays 10-6 could ultimately be todays 8-8. Not ready to throw in the towel yet, but we shall see.

Poll

How do you feel about Turners departure

Bummed out. Good for Turner, bad for us.

21 votes

Bad for us, but screw Turner. Traitor!

11 votes

Good Riddance.

1 votes

Indifferent.,

1 votes

Horray!!!!! Call Mike Martz

0 votes

ITS THE END OF THE WORLD AND ALEX SMITHS CAREER!!!!!

1 votes

35 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Comments

I voted

Screw Norv, because I'm mad, but really it's a good move for him. I mean, maybe when he fails at this job people will finally stop giving him chances. Then his life will settle down and he'll have a whole lot less stress to deal with.

It'll be pretty hard to fail with this team, though, so he'll probably have some moderate run of success. I'm just not sure why Turner keeps getting these job offers. It really does help to have friends in the league (Jones and Smith both).

Now, what are we going to do? <joke>Does Nolan start making the calls on offense, too?</joke>

I'm still relatively optimistic about Alex Smith. He's gone from High School to College to Pro to Another Pro offense so quickly while continuing to develop that I feel somewhat good about his ability to adjust...

What does this do to the much revered two TE sets, though? Who is even available to hire this late in the game?

I just hope Norv doesn't take our best OC option to fill his void.

And too bad for Singletary. Isn't it about time he actually got a chance (this in contrast with my "Isn't it about time Norv stopped getting chances" stance). Seems a bit stilted.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Feb 19, 2007 11:08 AM PST reply actions

I agree

Singletary should have gotten more of a look. I thought Ryan out of Baltimore was going to get the job for sure, but that was just really wishfull thinking on my part.

I've gone on about 'retreads' on another post, and I agree with you here too. Turner is a notorious 'retread'. No matter how bad he does as a HC, he is an amazing OC and people think that he can duplicate that. He gets shot after shot. It sucks for us, b/c no we have to go hunting again and Turner will probably be available in a couple of years.

He will have success in SD, but just wait untill LT or Rivers go out on injury or Merriman gets busted for juicing again. Then Turner will be exposed.

I'm not crazy...*INSTITUTION* You're the one that's crazy...*INSTITUTION* You're driving me crazy...*INSTITUTION*

by 42Blackout on Feb 19, 2007 2:47 PM PST up reply actions

Offensive Coordinator

While he interviewed for head coaching jobs, Jim Caldwell of the Colts would be a good option. He's the Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks coach, and would likely be a help in the continued development of Alex Smith.

If it wasn't for his recent struggles in Baltimore, I'd consider Jim Fassel more strongly. He's good with quarterbacks, and has an offensive background.

Rick Neuheisel is another guy I'd strongly consider. He has a solid coaching background and helped tutor Troy Aikman while he was at UCLA. I think he'd be worth a shot.

by gatling on Feb 19, 2007 1:59 PM PST reply actions

It's tough

Because head coaching jobs usually don't open up this late.

by JasonB on Feb 19, 2007 2:13 PM PST reply actions

Continuity

I think the most important thing now is to get an offensive coordinator who is can run the current system. Otherwise, Alex Smith will be running his 4th different offensive scheme in 4 years (including college). If that means biting the bullet with Sullivan for a year, so be it. If somebody better (e.g. Fassel) feels comfortable running Turner's system, then go for it. Even if you get a talented up-and-comer, if they run a different scheme, Smith will go yet another year without being able to grow within a system.

"You gotta bring ass, to get ass." --EDDIE DeBARTOLO JR.

by Josh from Hollywood on Feb 19, 2007 2:19 PM PST reply actions

sullivan for a year?

it doesn't make much sense to bring in sullivan for a year. theres not much difference in 3 systems in 4 and then switching to a new system then making 4 in 5 years compared to 4 in 4 years now and then staying in the same system for hopefully a few years. i think it would be more important to get someone who we'll be able to hold onto for awhile.
this team is still building and and i'd rather us take a little step back this year than taking a step back next year when this team could be the real deal. either way this is a pretty tough situation to be in.

by methodrampage on Feb 19, 2007 3:42 PM PST up reply actions

That's not what I meant

You're assuming Sullivan won't be able to do the job. I meant that you bring him in for a year to see if he can do the job, not as a lame duck. He has O.C. experience, in Arizona, and even though the results were average, he was saddled with Jeff Blake at QB, and an aging Emmitt Smith at RB. And he still helped Boldin become the Rookie of the year that season.

If Sullivan does the job, you have your O.C. If not, you can have the whole off-season next year to consider who to hire, not pick through leftovers. And at least then you'll get to see what Smith can do to improve within a system, an important step in his growth process no matter which system he ultimately ends up running.

"You gotta bring ass, to get ass." --EDDIE DeBARTOLO JR.

by Josh from Hollywood on Feb 19, 2007 5:32 PM PST up reply actions

Alrighty then

you said, "If that means biting the bullet with Sullivan for a year, so be it." to me that reads as we use sullivan this year and figure something else out next year. if sullivan fits into our long term plans as an oc then i've got no problem with him getting the job. if he doesn't we need to make the change now.

by methodrampage on Feb 19, 2007 8:05 PM PST up reply actions

Guess we're gonna suck next year

Bummer bummer bummer. Good for Turner, very bad for us. Is it back to the West Coast Offense for us?

by War on Feb 19, 2007 3:54 PM PST reply actions

I don't think we're gonna suck next year

I thought we were gonna suck this year, and we suprised everybody! This team will continue to move in the right direction. Nolan is as solid as you can get with a coach and he'll help to make the right decision here. This team will go at least 8-8 this year which will be an improvement over last season. Wow! It's a long time until the next kickoff.

I'm not crazy...*INSTITUTION* You're the one that's crazy...*INSTITUTION* You're driving me crazy...*INSTITUTION*

by 42Blackout on Feb 19, 2007 7:42 PM PST up reply actions

What about Mooch?

I know it won't happen, but the guy was pretty good with the offenses he handled, no? Alas, he probably wouldn't be a good fit b/c like the traitor Norv, he'd have one foot out the door looking for his 3rd chance at a head coaching gig.

Bring back Eddie D.

by nostocksjustbonds on Feb 20, 2007 8:26 PM PST reply actions

I actually

liked Mariucci, but it was his maddeningly mistimed conservative playcalling that drove me crazy enough to not mourn his loss. He's a bright offensive mind, to be sure, but I'm not sure how many "run it up the middle"s I can watch on 3rd and 15 while down by 10 before losing my mind.

I'd also kind of prefer seeing a "Nolan" guy come in, where I think Mariucci would necessarily be thought of more as an "old niner guy" than anything else.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Feb 21, 2007 2:22 AM PST up reply actions

Rumors

Supposedly, the 49ers requested to speak with Cincy QB coach Ken Zampese (so of Ernie, Norv's mentor), but the Bengals turned them down, saying it was too late into the preparation for the 2007 season. I wonder if other teams will follow suit. If so, it's more and more likely they promote from within. Scout.com profiles the in-house candidates here:

http://49ers.scout.com/2/620431.html

"You gotta bring ass, to get ass." --EDDIE DeBARTOLO JR.

by Josh from Hollywood on Feb 20, 2007 8:46 PM PST reply actions

This

Makes me kind of hope for either Jim Hostler or Pete Hoener, if it's coming from in house. I love relative unknowns, especially guys who have had some kind of success despite not having significant time in the league.

It could very well be time for Sullivan to get another shot, and I wouldn't begrudge the move (his success, or lack thereof, in Arizona is highly questionable because of how bad that team was), but I feel naturally slow to get excited about a guy who has spent so much time in the league without getting more than one shot at this kind of high profile promotion. Something has to be keeping him out of a coordinator spot, and I'm not sure I want to find out the hard way what that thing is.

The other guys are younger (I believe) and more exciting with a greater spectrum of possible outcomes, but also are low profile enough that they could be directed without much trouble to work with a similar offense to last year's - which I think has to be a key consideration.

Thanks for the link.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Feb 21, 2007 2:30 AM PST up reply actions

an in house guy

at this point, it pretty much has to be an in-house guy, as it will be difficult to get permission from other teams this late in the process (ie right before combines and the draft). Also, and perhaps more imporantly, an in-house guy like Sullivan will bring continuity. With such a guy, the play calling might not be as clever as Turner's, but the guys on the field, particularly Smith, won't have to learn a new system overnight.

Bring back Eddie D.

by nostocksjustbonds on Feb 21, 2007 9:13 PM PST up reply actions