The Turner Zone (Merged)

[Om]

Originally wrote this for the blog but opted against including it. Damn thing was long enough already. Figure this is a subject Skins fans who lived through the Norvous Years might get a kick out of tracking this year, though, given that our franchise and this decent but star-struck man will be tied together in the pages of NFL history forever.

At any rate, I'm planning to track our former boy all year, so please feel free to participate. If this turns into anything I'll probably move the series to Around the NFL in future weeks. And if it simply dies quietly on the vine right here, so be it. It would seem appropriate somehow.

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The Turner Zone - Week 1

I know it’s preseason and all, but I couldn’t keep from tuning in as Norv Turner--the NFL’s answer to salt spilled on a black cat--took to the sidelines for this debut as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. Coming off a 14-2 season, playing at home before an adoring, expectant sellout crowd under a sparkling southern California sky, Norv wasted little time introducing his unique aura to Charger football.

On the game’s opening drive, San Diego grabbed a nice interception off Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck, returning it deep into Seahawk territory and igniting the crowd…..only to have it nullified by an iffy holding call. The Seahawks then proceeded methodically down the field and scored.

On their first drive, the Chargers moved smartly from their own 24 to an apparent first down at the Seattle 31…..but got flagged for holding on the play that got them there, pushing them back to the 41. On the next play they were called for a false start. Then, they gave up a sack that put them in 3rd and 17. They got 16 of them back (on a sweet catch-and-run by my new favorite non-Redskin, 5’ 6” running back D. Sproles, in the SD mini-back tradition of Lionel “Little Train” James)…..but, predictably, got stuffed on 4th and 1.

Fast forward to the end of the game.

Leading by two with seven minutes to go, the Charger defense stopped Seattle at the Charger 23, and got huge a break when J. Brown’s 41-yard FT attempt went wide left. Except that San Diego was flagged for 12 men on the field…..and Brown calmly drove the mulligan down the center. Seattle takes the lead.

Getting the ball back with less than 2 minutes to go and now down by 8, San Diego puts together a decent two-minute drill, and moves smartly from their own 28 to the Seahawks 26. With 13 seconds left and time for at a couple shot into the end zone, on 3rd and two the QB lobs a duck down the deep middle, which is easily picked off at the Seattle 6. Game over.

San Diego runs 15 more offensive plays than Seattle, tops them in total yards and rushing yards, breaks even on passing yards, dominates time of possession, but gets penalized eight times to Seattle’s two, gets sacked five times to Seattle’s one…..and, in the end, loses.

Welcome to the Turner Zone, children of the sun.

[Raub]

I warned Raiders Nation a few years ago, and feel sorry for Chargers fans now. Prepare to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.....over and over and over.

[Pete]

It wasn't more then two minutes ago, I posted a message to a Raiders fan about ol Norvitis.

[zoony]

... so true, so true


I heard someone (announcer on NFL network? can't remember) say that Turner has been given keys to a Ferrari. It just struck me as the perfect analogy to describe the situation... I see it ending very similarly to how Ferris Bueller's Day Off did.

And on another note... I think time will prove that San Diego, despite popular opinion 2-3 years ago, has the worst GM in professional football.

Cutting Drew Brees, firing Schotty, and hiring Turner... all within a short time. I'm beginning to think he's a Raiders fan or something.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Wow, that brought back a horrible nightmare known as 1994-2000

[MEANDWARF]

Almost feel sorry for Chargers fans now that they have to put with this. Will L.T. numbers go down now that Nurv in charge? Remains to be seen.

[arkowi]

God, that is all so sinisterly familiar.

[CM916]

I'm a little worried that with a 14-2 team behind him, Norv just might win ten games and make the playoffs. I recently did a little analysis of recent Redskin coaches and one thing I noticed about Norv is that with enough talent on the roster, he can almost get it done. If Rivers gets hurt, cut, and replaced by Jeff George shortly before winning the super bowl elsewhere, then we will know the truth about their GM.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/s...=206709&page=3
Edit: Heh, I just noticed that I got a new avatar... Ride them Dirtbags.

[Isifhan]

I see it ending very similarly to how Ferris Bueller's Day Off did.

Perhaps he can drive the team backwards to take the losses off.

[Touchdown Redskins]

It wasn't more then two minutes ago, I posted a message to a Raiders fan about ol Norvitis.

Oh no, your Norv is inflamed!

Sorry, couldn't help it.

Seriously, though, the statistics are classic Norv. You would think that teams would get it by now, and that it's probably better to take a chance on a young assistant than get stuck with Norv-induced mediocrity for the next couple of years.

[Thirtyfive2seven]

I wonder when the Chargers will start having kicker problems.

[OriginalWhizzinator]

Prepare to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.....over and over and over.

The Bolts have already done that countless times in the past few years thanks to another ex-skin coach and his comically unfortunate strategy of "martyball".

Iv'e caught most of the games being out here in SD, and really dont know if Norv will be able to live up (or down, as it were) to the choking clinic that marty put on out here. It was really something to behold, and spawned a new phrase: Martyocracy.

Anyway, it should be entertaining, and im interested in following this series OM. I'll try to get a few of my charger buddies on here to get their take.

[CM916]

I wish Dallas had taken him back, we were so close. It's more fun to see them go 9-7 and miss the boat than 5-11 under coach jerrah.

[bschurm]

I wrote about this in a thread when the decision was made that Turner would be the head coach. He has no discipline and it will tell in their play.


Now I don't want to sound like a number of our members with their cries of doom after just one pre-season game and say that San Diego's sky is falling, but it just seems like the same old thing we in the Nation's Capitol remember so vividly.

I thought they had a great GM in San Diego.

[mi6]

Wow, that brought back a horrible nightmare known as 1994-2000

Norv Turner was a good offensive coordinator ... But, I don't think he is head coach material.