At least Eric Stangel is keeping the home fires burning. I can’t believe I need to write this, but I am fucking livid. Kevin Acee has been “floating” the notion that Dean Spanos might reconsider Norv’s status if the Chargers get to 8-7 by beating Detroit. That’s all it takes? We went from Super Bowl or Bust (at least getting there) to Norv must make the playoffs to stay to he just needs to get to close to the playoffs. This is pathetic. Dean Spanos clearly does not have the ability to make a tough decision that will give this team a chance to be better than “good.” It’s not a tough decision because Norv might actually be a good head coach. It’s just tough because he apparently is a nice guy and Spanos likes him. If you want to own a team and have people support it by purchasing your “product,” you need to make tough BUSINESS decisions.
I guess I should be happy that Dean is at least focusing on how the Chargers play, rather than the other AFC teams. But the fact that they are playing well now should just illuminate how badly they played during the first 11 games. Let’s remember how they looked when they were 4-1. You know I am not taking Rivers off the hook. Shit, I actually thought he should have been benched this year. That’s how bad he was and how much it was single handedly hurting the team. I don’t think Norv had the balls to do that, by the way. Suddenly, it’s as if Charger fans can only side with Norv or Marty. Guess what, they both suck. You don’t need to have only two options. This is America. It’s only because Spanos hired 2 guys no one else wanted as head coaches that we have had to deal with these two. I am sure Rivers likes Norv. But then he should have found a way to limit his turnovers during those first 11 games. He might like Norv, but he needs a coach that will drive him better. His dad and best man is a coach. I am sure he’d never say a bad word about Norv. But we need a change. Dean Spanos clearly is too afraid to do that or Kevin Acee is not the prophet he claims to be. Tim Sullivan wrote a while back that Spanos must dare to be great. I think he doesn’t have the sack to be great.
I know all about the injuries. We had them last year, too. AJ needs to go too. I don’t want to hear Spanos talk about how bad we were before AJ. I know, Deano. I was there. But he’s used up his collateral. He is also the reason we hired Norv and why he is still here. After we went 8-8 and won the West, we were all so euphoric that we forgot why we got to 4-8. You don’t want to put that on Norv either? Yes, I know that Merriman was out for the entire year. But when do you hold your coach responsible for your team’s success or lack thereof. Jim Irsay is going to can Jim Caldwell and that guy got to a Super Bowl. Dean Spanos is apparently more wishy washy than Dan Henning and Mike Riley put together. Other teams are firing their coaches because they expect more. How many guys have we missed out on while we are stuck with this guy? It’s Spanos is afraid we might not do better with someone else? How about risking that we might get over the hump?
I signed this petition today and urge others to do the same. On the U-T boards, I found two interesting posts today. SDSports22 writes
And if you fans accept missing the playoffs two years in a row in this bad division and some meaningless wins (assuming they don’t get in) are all it takes to satisfy you, than you are no better than Spanos. My official viewpoint, is if this team doesn’t have success in the playoffs (yes, I won’t accept just squeaking in), than changes need to be made.
Here fucking here. San Diego Scrubs also wrote that it has become an atmosphere amongst Boltheads that you aren’t a real fan if you won’t accept underacheiving and slow starts. You don’t think we have underacheived? The talent level has deteriorated? How many times did we see this team fuck itself when it mattered. You don’t think that might have to do with coaching?
I know I have not come out this strongly against Norv before. Some of that was knowing that it wouldn’t matter what I thought or said. But 2011 has shown me that the fans, especially the ones who fund the team, have a real say. I won’t root for a loss, ever. I have really enjoyed these last 3 games. But even my wife was afraid when I told her about Sunday’s game that we’d get “stuck with Norv.” One of my Tweeps pointed out that we should have fired when when we were 4-7, so there was no chance for him to “weasel his way back in.” Don’t let yourself be fooled. No matter what happens from here on in, don’t let this guy back so we can continue to fail when it matters. As I said yesterday, if they won the Super Bowl I wouldn’t care who coached the team next year. But this team trying to dig itself out of a hole it created for itself, both during games and the season as a hole, has to end. I don’t need to remind you of my dedication to the Chargers. It’s the bane of my existence. However, it’s time to make a decisive move that should have been made a while back. The goal today should be the same as it was in September. This team needs to make the playoff and a serious Super Bowl run that doesn’t end by its own stupidity. Just to remind you, all those late season runs haven’t mean shit come January. If you look here, you’ll see that we at least top one list. Lastly, I thought I’d pass on CBS Rapid Reports’ Dan McLellan’s take from yesterday. You can listen to it here. I agree that something is wrong in the big picture, obviously. I also agree that even with the fumbles, Norv needs to stick to the running game on Sunday. The “chuck and suck” offense can’t carry this team alone.
I will write an actual game preview on Friday. However, I needed to vent now. Thanks for reading and Happy Hannukah.
RLW
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