Movin' on up from rankings suckage

[Wile_E_Coyote]

#5 from the botton :grouphug:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2007&week=4

#28 RB Larry Johnson produced just 42 yards on 24 carries -- only the third time in his career that he has failed to reach 100 yards when given 20 or more attempts. He'll face an equally frustrated LaDainian Tomlinson this Sunday in San Diego

------------------------------
Chargers

#9 Is it panic time in San Diego? Maybe so. LaDainian Tomlinson told the Union Tribune that if his Chargers lose three more games to fall to 1-5, then "it's over." But that shouldn't be a problem with home games against K.C. and Oakland the next three weeks

[Wile_E_Coyote]

The passion of Norv -- or lack of it -- is hurting the Chargers

By Mark Kreidler
ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=kreidler_mark&id=3036099

Here's something that won't be thumbtacked to the bulletin board in A.J. Smith's executive office at the San Diego Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg)' headquarters: Some of his players knew last week that the team wasn't ready to play its best game in Green Bay. The practice mood, they said, was just a little too passive. It was a little too calm. It was a little too … well, a little too Norv, if you want to get to the nubs of it.



Of course, you won't hear Smith agreeing with that, because doing so would contradict the GM's working theory that anyone not named Schottenheimer could take the talent on the San Diego roster and, by not mucking around in it too much, produce a great season along with -- shout-out to Marty here -- some real playoff success.

But whatever else can be said of Norv Turner as a football man, what is increasingly beyond dispute is that he's a submediocre head coach. In replacing the garrulous, emotional and sometimes overtly political Marty Schottenheimer after last season's sucker-punch playoff loss to New England, Smith turned to a man with a 58-82-1 record as the head coach of two franchises (make that 59-84-1 after the 1-2 start in San Diego that has led to the current unpleasantness).

Those previous stops, in Washington and Oakland, were unquestionably weird places to work, and the quality of Turner's rosters ebbed and flowed. But the one constant among those who played for him was their assessment, usually offered with great kindness because of Turner's almost universal likability, that the man was a wonderful … offensive coordinator.

Or, as one exasperated Raiders defensive back told me in 2005, as Turner's second season in Oakland spun inexorably toward the 4-12 finish that got him whacked: "He's just a real nice guy." Too bad it wasn't intended as a compliment.

Turner and his San Diego players, LaDainian Tomlinson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5452) in particular, have spent the past couple of days attempting to explain their 31-24 defeat to the Packers in strategic terms: The team needs to run more effectively, the blocking schemes are flawed, 24 points on the road really ought to be enough, etc. But that misses the bigger (but less tangible) point, which is that Turner's teams historically haven't prepared and played at the emotional clip necessary to win.

That's observational and surely subjective. But it's also supported by plenty of Turner's former (and some current) players, who over the years have clamored for more fire and brimstone from a man who, though he clearly loves the sport, just isn't the demonstrative type.

Raiders fans almost chuckled to themselves when Smith tapped Turner for the San Diego job. It was strange enough to see the Chargers dump a coach -- Schottenheimer, who had just gone 14-2 -- for the sin of losing to the Patriots in the playoffs. But going from Marty to Norv?

That's taking an off-ramp from the emotional superhighway. Suddenly, Oakland looked as though it might not have made the riskiest coaching choice in the division by hiring a then-31-year-old USC assistant, Lane Kiffin.

If the Norv-emotional-preparedness issue wasn't clear prior to the 38-14 pasting by the Pats in Week 2, it became so during the days that followed. As the Chargers tried to get over the sting of that defeat and gear up to face Brett Favre (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=1025) at Lambeau Field, something was missing.

"[The intensity] wasn't quite where it needed to be," center Nick Hardwick (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6825) told the San Diego Union-Tribune after the Packers game.

"You've got to get after it and decide who you're going to be as a team … We've got to pick up the intensity during the week. Wednesday, Thursday is key for us."

Wednesday and Thursday were the kinds of days when Schottenheimer shined. And while it's by no means too late for the Chargers to turn around this season, they must realize by now that they're operating in an entirely different space, with a different set of directions. When Tomlinson declared Monday, "I'm sick and tired of talking about last year. This is not last year," he said a mouthful.

It's funny: While Turner was busy getting his reputation knocked around in San Diego these first few weeks, the franchise for which he spent 2006 as offensive coordinator, San Francisco, saw itself questioned repeatedly about its sudden lack of imagination and flair on offense -- after winning its first two games. The consensus is that the 49ers (now 2-1 after losing to Pittsburgh) were a better unit with Mike Nolan doing the head coaching and Turner up in the box drawing plays -- that is, with Turner doing what he does best.

Bottom line: The Chargers are too talented to crater, and with Kansas City, Denver and Oakland coming up on the schedule, they have a chance to right themselves before their bye week Oct. 21.

On the other hand, they're trying to follow up 14-2 with two new coordinators and Norv Turner driving the bus. Watch out for that exit ramp.

[morphius]

What I like is that the Bronco's didn't move at all. They had to rush on the field and hike the ball with 1 second on the clock to beat the pathetic bills, then at home lose to Jax and if not for a last second time out would have lost to Oakland at home as well.

Oh well, all the NFL must suck.

[chagrin]

Norv Turner must be the most boring person ever, this is his third chance and nothing's happening.

[Wile_E_Coyote]

#25(30)team.2530
http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/chiefs_65.gif (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/chiefs/)

Kansas City Chiefs (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/chiefs/) (1-2)
Unheralded fact, until last week: The return of Jared Allen, the most dynamic DE in football. Here is his report card against the Vikings -- two sacks, eight tackles, three pressures, two passes batted down and a forced fumble. Will he make the Pro Bowl this year? I doubt it, because it's just a popularity contest, as we know. He'll make my Pro Bowl.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/09/26/ranks.part3/index.html

[Wile_E_Coyote]

"..Jared Allen the most dynamic DE in football." Maybe this deserves it's own thread

[jidar]

"..Jared Allen the most dynamic DE in football." Maybe this deserves it's own thread


Oh wow that guy is so clueless, Mecca needs to set him straight about just how bad JA is (very bad).