Norv Turner seems like a nice person, he really does. Does that mean he deserves to be the head coach of a NFL team? The reason I ask this question is because that would seem to be about the only reason for the San Diego Chargers (my favorite NFL team) to retain him as their head coach. When the news dropped earlier today that Turner and GM A.J. Smith would both return next season I was truly stupefied, specifically about Turner (though I wouldn’t have been at all surprised if Smith was axed). I was sure that Norv was on the wrong side of the chopping block. Now, Charger fans like myself are going to have to gather themselves, gulp, and prepare to endure at least one more (start of a) season with Norv at the helm.

Seriously though. How many more times do the Chargers have to struggle out of the gate before Turner is let go? How many more times will the Chargers have to underperform before Turner is relieved of his head coaching duties? How many more times do the Chargers have to be on the brink of playoff elimination before they start playing well? How many more times do the Chargers have to miss the playoffs before Turner is fired?

A rundown of the Chargers 2011-2012 season by game and whether the team underperformed, played acceptable, or “over-performed” (in my opinion):

• W Minnesota 17 @ San Diego 24 → underperformed
• L San Diego 21 @ New England 35 → acceptable
• W Kansas City 17 @ San Diego 20 → underperformed
• W Dolphins 16 @ San Diego 26 → acceptable
• W San Diego 29 @ Denver 24 → acceptable
• L San Diego 21 @ New York Jets 27 → underperformed
• L San Diego 20 @ Kansas City 23 OT → underperformed
• L Green Bay 45 @ San Diego 38 → acceptable
• L Oakland 24 @ San Diego 17 → underperformed
• L San Diego 20 @ Chicago 31 → acceptable
• L Denver 16 @ San Diego 13 OT → underperformed
• W San Diego 38 @ Jacksonville 14 → over-performed
• W Buffalo 10 @ San Diego 37 → acceptable
• W Baltimore 14 @ San Diego 34 → over-performed
• L San Diego 10 @ Detroit 38 → underperformed
• W San Diego 38 @ Oakland 26 → over-performed

My total: 7 underperformed, 6 acceptable, 3 over-performed

This is my count and obviously is not close to an exact science. It’s my interpretation. But, by my count, the Chargers didn’t exceed expectations on the field until their 12th game of the season. Of the games I labeled as underperformed there is one game (loss @ NYJ) that could have possibly been moved to acceptable. Of the acceptable games there are three (loss @NE, win vs. MIA, loss @CHI) that could have been underperformed while there was only one game (win vs. BUF) where San Diego was close to over-performing rather than being merely acceptable.

San Diego finished 8-8 this season. How many teams did they beat with a winning record? One (Baltimore). How many teams did they lose to that were .500 or worse? Five. This is not an 8-8 team. At least it shouldn’t be. On a talent level this core of players should win the lousy AFC West every year and compete for the AFC title a decent amount of the time. Under Norv Turner, the Chargers have been trending in the wrong direction each year – one way or another. 

Chargers under Norv Turner:

• 2007: 11-5 1st in AFC West, 2-1 in playoffs (loss to NE in AFC title game)
• 2008: 8-8 1st in AFC West, 1-1 in playoffs (loss to PIT in AFC div. round)
• 2009: 13-3 1st in AFC West, 0-1 in playoffs (loss to NYJ in AFC div. round)
• 2011: 9-7 2nd in AFC West, no playoffs
• 2012: 8-8 2nd in AFC West, no playoffs

Regular Season Record: 49-31 (.613)

Post-Season Record: 3-3 (.500)

Granted those records are not horrendous and the regular season winning percentage is not bad at all. I’ll expand. In 2007, Norv’s first season with San Diego, the Chargers were a win away from the Super Bowl. If not for the Broncos blowing a three-game lead with three to play, the Chargers would have missed the playoffs in 2008. Credit where credit is due, they didn’t miss the playoffs, and won a playoff game. 2009, 13-3, lost first playoff game at home. 2010, missed playoffs, 9-7. This season, as previously stated 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Trending in the wrong direction. Not living up to expectations.

Who knows. Clearly, Norv Turner is not the worst head coach out there. He’s clearly not in the upper echelon either. The Chargers did have a lot of injuries this year. On the offensive-side alone running backs Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews, TE Antonio Gates, and WR Malcom Floyd all missed multiple games. Four-time Pro Bowl LG Kris Dielman missed the last 10 games. LT Marcus McNeill, a two-time Pro Bowler, was placed on IR and missed the last seven games. Injuries happen. Every team has them. I’ve been following sports for a long time and will have seen much crazier things if Norv turns (pause for comedic effect) it around. Still, are there better alternatives to Turner? You have to think there are. Jeff Fisher anyone? I’ve watched a lot of this team under Turner and have been disappointed time and again. The players and the team as a whole have not met expectations under Norv Turner’s tutelage plain and simple. I’m not really pissed that Turner is coming back. No, I’m just not hopeful that this will lead to better results on the field or in the win column.