GRETZ: Thanks Chargers!
 

GRETZ: Thanks Chargers!
Feb 14, 2007, 5:35:52 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ


On this day that celebrates love, Chiefs fans everywhere should send a nice note of thanks, appreciation and devotion to one Dean Spanos, the man who runs the San Diego Chargers.

Spanos made the Chiefs job in the AFC West just a little bit easier in 2007 by firing Marty Schottenheimer as his head coach late Monday night. The move was a surprise, coming just weeks after Spanos announced that Schottenheimer would return for the next season, the final year of Marty’s contract with the Bolts.

One of the few ways that the Chargers could be brought back to rest of the pack in the AFC West after their 14-2 season was injury or implosion from within. Injury is still possible. The implosion happened with the firing of Schottenheimer.

Spanos is not a bumbler and fumbler, but he sure comes out looking like one with this move, especially the timing of the decision. That he picked his general manager A.J. Smith over Marty and came as no surprise to anyone in the league, including Schottenheimer. Smith and Schottenheimer had gotten into a personal situation where they did not communicate directly. The GM didn’t like some of the decisions by the head coach. The head coach felt the same way about the GM’s meddlesome nature into areas that are traditionally the province of the head coach.

OK, two guys don’t get along, then change the equation. After losing to the Patriots in the playoffs, Spanos had that chance to do that. Then, either defensive coordinator Wade Phillips or offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would have been promoted to the head coaching position. Instead, those guys are now head coaches elsewhere in the NFL, Schottenheimer is gone and the Chargers are now on a search to find their next leader and his two coordinators.

Let’s review the leadership that Schottenheimer brought to the Chargers, once one of the NFL’s saddest franchises:

San Diego in five years under Schottenheimer (2002-06) had a 47-35, a winning percentage of .573. That includes two division titles.
The Chargers in the previous five years under three head coaches (1997-2001) were 23-57, a winning percentage of .288. In four of those five seasons they finished last in the AFC West.
Spanos said the decision to fire Schottenheimer was because “we have a dysfunctional situation here. Today I am resolving that situation once and for all.”

Not quite. All he did was fire the head coach, as if Schottenheimer was the whole problem. He may wake up a year from now and find out that his general manager provided the dysfunction in his building. Spanos said he changed his mind after Schottenheimer and Smith clashed over the rebuilding of the Chargers coaching staff which lost four assistants to new jobs, two becoming head coaches and two others becoming coordinators, including former Chiefs linebacker Greg Manusky, now the new defensive coordinator in San Francisco.

Rather than listening only to the words his GM was whispering in his ear, Spanos should have taken a look around the NFL. If anybody knows how to hire top-notch coaches it is Marty Schottenheimer. There’s Tony Dungy, holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy: a former Marty assistant. The guy holding it last year was Bill Cowher, a Schottenheimer protégé. One of the two teams that beat the Chargers this past year was directed by another former Marty assistant, the Chiefs’ Herm Edwards. Mike McCarthy did a fine job in his first year as head coach in Green Bay. Yes, another former Marty assistant. Up in New York, they were raving about the abilities that young Brian Schottenheimer brought to the Jets as offensive coordinator, the connection there being obvious. The new offensive coordinator of the Steelers is Bruce Arians. Marty gave him his first NFL coaching job with the Chiefs back in 1989. He’s been in the league ever since and will now direct the development of the Pittsburgh offense and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. There are others, including a host of former players like Manusky, who are just getting their feet wet in coaching.

Despite the defections from his Chargers staff, Schottenheimer would have put together a very good coaching staff and with its talent, San Diego would have been a contender again.

And maybe they will anyway. But now we must wait and see who Smith pulls out of the coaching box. All those Marty bashers will point to his poor post-season record and say this move is no big deal. They would be wrong. Schottenheimer is one of the best coaches to ever work in the NFL. Any Chiefs fan that watched the team during the 1990s knows what he was able to do. Schottenheimer and Carl Peterson turned around the entire franchise.

He did the same in San Diego.

So Chiefs fans, send some flowers, candy or at least a thank you card to San Diego and the men who run the franchise out there.

They just brought the Chargers back to earth.

He forgot to mention Marty's playoff record: 5-13

Marty's the equivalent of getting a beautiful woman into bed then falling asleep.

Must I relate everything to sex?

Just dont loose sight of the fact that 99.9% of all NFL coaches havent even earned the opportunity to play in 18 playoff games.

Marty would have been so much better off if he hadn't coached guys to headbutt, drop interceptions, and miss field goals.

It's good for us. Marty was/is a helluva regular season coach. We have to face that twice a year. We are probably not going to see the Bolts in the playoffs. Good deal for us unless they get DV out of retirement.

Chargers | Team could let go of A. Smith after April
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:19:54 -0800

Adam Schefter, of the NFL Network, reports the San Diego Chargers might let go of general manager A.J. Smith after the 2007 NFL Draft.

Exactly right.

How about improving the Chiefs, instead of relying on circumstancial crap that you believe will help our team? Same old, same old.

NFW!!

That's just hilarious, if it happens.

Well, it could also argue that normally most coaches wouldn't get that many chances before people gave up on him. But then again, Norv Turner keeps getting interviews, so who the hell knows.

Remember, the seats that are filled during the regular season are much more valuable to an owner.

AJ Smith would be a serious UPGRADE over the shitbag we have running the Chiefs...

Some owners want a championship more then they are worried about filling seats. There were not many blackouts this year.

Bolts are imploding

ROFLROFL

Shall we have a moment of silence for a fallen comrade? How long will it take Marty to clean out his locker...will he go into a hurry up, or try to run the clock out?

Yes like Daniel Snyder of the Skins but I guess I'm thinking of teams like the Cardinals in which the fans would love to at least enjoy a couple of winning seasons.

Like Brother Kurt and Jimmy Raye?

Like I said, there were only couple of times games didn't sell out this year. Even Oakland's blackout number was very low. One must remember, football is now "the sport", so selling it isn't to hard.

You're absolutely correct and in retrospect the Marty years were pretty damn exciting and fun time to be a Chiefs Fan. My hat's off to Marty.

Wouldn't want him coaching the Chiefs again though.

How bout as a Coordinator?

Way too much ego for that.

I wouldn't want to see it happen just because I'm a fan of new blood and new schemes. Plus he's been a head coach too long and probably wouldn't want to be demoted to a coordinator.

If I had to guess he's probably going to retire.

Your mom is like an otter...her fur is always wet from all the clam diving, sought after by trappers her beaver-like form is a sight to behold, and when you catch her make sure to mount her so she'll remain a conversation centerpiece for years to come.

:p

I would take him over Herm in a heartbeat.

Oh yeah...that would be perfect.

We need another implosion in the playoffs

I'll give Herm another year to make in interpretation on where he stands in my meaningless opinion with the Chiefs. One thing is for certain; he needs to stop letting Gunther coach his press conference speeches.

Well, except Herm actually beat Marty in the playoff's last time they met...

Here's the link for the article...

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/02...anks_chargers/

I can't believe the Chiefs published an article calling out the San Diego Chargers like that. Seems rather like a bad idea to start opining about your opponents failures.

I'd take Anna Nicole Smith's cadaver over Herm.

I don't know all the stats, but I think it's a bit classless of Gretz to call SD one of the "saddest franchises" ... they've at least been to a SB in during my lifetime.

One of them had to win.

But you'd rather have the one that LOST? :hmmm:

I want the guy that actually watches the Super Bowl.

I want the guy that knows you do have to outscore the other team, on the road, to win.

I want the guy that is not dumber than a second hand screwdriver.

Cue the music: SAN D EH GO, STUPID Chargers, SAN DI EGO, CHARGERS!!11

ROFL

The whole "watches the Super Bowl" thing is laughable.

The other 2 are vintage Marty.

I watch the Superbowl, can I be coach????

Yup, how many times has Marty hired his family, or tried to when there were better coaches available? Then, let us not forget the ex-LB as a QB coach, something that even Gunther thought was just plain stupid.

So Marty actually said that you do not try to outscore the other team on the road?

You think Marty is dumb?

I know that the Chiefs futility against good teams, on the road, in December, dates back to 1991. Marty was coach here for 7 full seasons after that.

And if you think Herm is "dumb" then Marty most certainly qualifies as well.

You refuse to answer the question. Herm stated that you do not try and outscore opponents on the road. You said that was vintage Marty. Did Marty say something that stupid?

It's obvious you're more worried about appearances than actual RESULTS.

Who cares what the **** Herm said? The fact remains - neither him nor Marty have been successful when they NEED to be.

By the way, Marty not only said something stupid, but the "gleam" is possibly the most laughed-about quote in the entire NFL Films vault.

Well, I think Marty has learned from his post-season failures. Herm is still so arrogant, thinking his play-not-to-lose crap can work in the playoffs. My guess is that Cameron had far fewer restrictions on his game-plan against NE than Solari did against Indy...

Then you hear things like Marty wanted to hire Kurt, and it makes you question whether he really has learned anything. Whatever the case, and whatever his flaws, Marty is a far superior coach to Herm Edwards. They are both motivators, but I think Marty is better at it, and I actually think Marty knows defense. Herm knows nothing.

Marty said and did a lot of stupid things. If you need some reminders, they can certainly be supplied.

Prove it.

The numbers don't lead to your conclusion. AT ALL.

So you can not back up your comments and now I don't care about the results? Nice spin Mr. m0d.

I've backed up my comments every step of the way. You not wanting to accept the facts doesn't reflect on me in any way.

And being a mod hasn't nothing to do with anything.

You opened this discussion by criticizing Herm for not watching the Super Bowl and saying stupid things, as if that has any bearing on what he does on the football field.

If you want to criticize Herm Edwards for REAL shortcomings, by all means, fire away. He has PLENTY. But if you'd rather appear bitter above all else, by all means continue to bitch that he didn't watch the Super Bowl. Oh the horror!

I followed Marty pretty closely and I don't remember anything as stupid as Herm's comments. Shoot, go ahead and supply some, it is the offseason.

Uh how exactly did this make the Chiefs job easier in 07? Marty doesn't play on the field, and the Chargers are still loaded with talent and should still be favorited to win the AFC West.

IMO all Herm meant was that you don't want to get into shootouts on the road. I don't really see what the uproar is about.

Prove what? With two games? My point is that I think Marty *may* have learned something. If one was to watch both KC's and SD's playoff games, it is obvious to me which team played not to lose.

Look, I don't like Marty's "stay close until the 4th quarter and try to steal it" approach. I hate it. But at this point in their careers, it seems to me that Herm is more tied to that philosophy than Marty. And trying to win with that handicap, if both played the same way, I'd still take Marty over Herm in a second.

Additionally, Marty has never gone into a situation where he inherited a top offense, and tried to change.

And yet Herm has been far more successful in his attempts in the postseason...

:hmmm:

It seems to me alot of people here are more concerned about style than they are substance.

Bingo.

Actually, I think Herm not watching the Superbowl throws up red flags. I want a football junkie as head coach, not someone who just views it as a paycheck.

I want a head coach who wins, especially in the playoffs.

Herm comes far closer to that than Marty does, although I'd personally prefer neither.

No, you have not Parker. Herm Edwards made the statement that you do not try and outscore an opponent on the road. You said that was vintage Marty. Please show me where you backed that up.

Being a Mod has nothing to do with it? So you are this way all the time?

I opened the discussion by saying I would choose Marty over Herm.

If I seem bitter about the Chiefs getting the short straw, and ending up with Herm, it is probably true. It isn't because I don't care about the results.

Marty never SAID it. He didn't have to - his COACHING in those situations speaks for itself. I don't have to back that up, it's a simple fact.

And the point is further driven home by the fact that it doesn't matter one good goddamn what a coach SAYS. It only matters what they DO. If it mattered what they said, Dick Vermeil would have been in trouble a LONG TIME ago. I mean, you're SO concerned about a coach who doesn't want to get into shootouts on the road, but you're not overly concerned about a coach who DOESN'T KNOW HIS OWN DAMN PLAYERS' NAMES?

And I'd be this way whether I was a mod or not, so again, it has nothing to do with it. Why would you think it did?

Look, Marty lost in the playoffs with a dominant team this year. So did Mike Martz a few years ago. But these last few years -- at least Marty has implemented schemes that actually *could* work in the playoffs. I'm sorry, this simplifying shit Herm has/is implementing makes the Chiefs DOA as far as any hope of post-season success. It *cannot* work.

Fringe,

I think we're screwed until Herm leaves. Hope I'm wrong.

Yep, unless Carl does what Indy has done with Dungy, and puts up a wall between Herm and the OC.

"It cannot work" is future tense. There's no factual basis for this argument because it hasn't actually occurred yet. I'm not saying I don't necessarily agree with you, I'm just saying that something that has not yet happened cannot be proven.

On the other hand, Marty's results are more than proven. The statement for him is "It DOES NOT work." And that's definitive fact.

It does work. Power offense and a tough D wins in the NFL. It might not be as pretty as the stat champion offense that DV put together but it is successful.

You mean when he lost to Herm in the playoff's?

I'm getting so confused.

Great take by Gretz (IMO)

Wow. Haven't seen that here in a long time.

I especially like the "we need a DT, LB, and CB...Bob Gretz is an idiot for saying we need a DT, LB, and CB" responses.

I don't know.

Talented team playing for a new coach and staff versus Martyocre and his extended family?

I'm more scared of whoever they hire, I think.

30 years ago I heard it referred to as a Superiority Complex, something that happens to people when they get a little power. It is kind of fun to watch a PTA meetings and such.

The truth is I think we are going to make the playoffs next year, but I can't really say anything until I find out who our coaching staff is.

Well, there are multiple people here that can vouch for me when I say I posted the exact same way on the Star BB and I wasn't a mod there.

I may very well have a superiority complex, but it sure as hell has nothing to do with being a mod.

The Chargers are loaded with talent. There's no excuse for NOT making the playoffs, regardless of coaching staff.

For some reason, Hemied can't grasp it. I'm not a Herm fan, but he was just stating what DV had proven in his time here.

I think you are mistaken. Marty's QB coach here from 95-98 was former Baker University TE Mike McCarthy, who everybody (including Whitlock) seemed to rip on. Gunther decided to go in a new direction when he was hired. McCarthy is now the Packers HC.

You get to 18 playoff games and people tend to give you chances. You see, not every team gets playoff games. Outside of the Marty years, the Chiefs have been to three [3!!!] in the past 35 years.

Hmmm, LB, TE, ehh...

Quote from the Packers' website...

"McCarthy's the guy that really helped catapult my career," Gannon said. "He was the guy who really taught me the West Coast system of football. He really taught me how to prepare for a game, taught me how to watch film, how to break down an opponent, how to study. It was really those things I took with me to Oakland.

"There was never a doubt in my mind he'd be a head coach. He's a great play-caller, great working with the quarterbacks. He's a tough guy, a guy willing to do the work, and he's a leader. I think he'll do a phenomenal job."

ROFL

that HAS to be a joke--link?

There's a gleam, men!

depends... if they hire norv turner, I'm laughing my ass off until the sun goes down

if they hire ron rivera or mike singletary, I'm a bit scared (but reserved)--both are talked in NFL 'insider' circles as potential great head coach canidates who just need an opportunity to shine

rex ryan, eh, I'm not sure about that one

(fwiw, all four of those are the guys they're slated to interview according to nfl.com)