San Diego Chargers: Time for a Change

Earlier this week, Rex Ryan, the head coach of the New York Jets, said that he would've had a couple of rings had he gotten the Chargers' head coaching job in 2007.

Ryan has been more successful with his defensive-orientated Jets teams than Norv Turner has with his all-around talented Chargers team in the last four years. Ryan also holds the head to head match-up record at 2-0 including today's 27-21 win over San Diego.

Over his career as the Chargers head coach, Norv Turner has taken his team from two playoff wins to one playoff win to no playoff wins to missing the playoffs. Is anyone seeing a decline?

Before the start of this season, Turner was a coach on the hot seat. He had to prove himself this year to save his job. Through six weeks, many people forgot about him, and don't mention him when talking about coaches getting fired.

Up until today, the Chargers were 4-1, which is their best start in the Norv Turner era. People look at the record and say Turner is doing a good job. Well, all those who say things like that aren't Chargers fans or aren't paying close attention to the games.

Predictable.

It's the No. 1 word used to describe Norv Turner. He's known for running up the middle on first down almost every time. He doesn't take many risks and plays very conservative. Or does he? Lately there has been a trend. Today against the Jets, this is what I saw in the second half during the Chargers' series.

On first down, it was a run that goes nowhere. On second, they go deep, which Rivers either overthrows or has no one open. And on third, they try and go short and pick up the first, which they failed on so many occasions. Each series resembled this scheme every time in the second half. Rex Ryan, being the smarter coach, took advantage.

In today's loss against the Jets, many Chargers fans are searching for answers to why they collapsed late in the game. It all comes back to Norv Turner and his poor clock management. He had an 11-point lead starting the second half with the ball.

What happened? He was out-coached once again.

Obviously, Philip Rivers' terrible play as of late isn't helping the situation, but like I just said, it all comes back to Norv Turner. It will always come back to the coach. Maybe AJ Smith needs a wake up call, because the Chargers aren't going anywhere but Los Angeles with Turner at coach.

It has been rumored that former coach Bill Cowher is thinking about returning, and he doesn't care about money, he just wants to coach a team with a good shot at winning. If San Diego is smart and lets go of Norv, they should go after Cowher as well as Jon Gruden.

With the talent on the Chargers' roster combined with one of those coaches, it would be hard for a team to stop them.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/907618-san-diego-chargers-time-for-a-change

Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood Francisco Cervelli Chad Moeller Jorge Posada