Martyball no more? (1 Viewer)

[Chase Stuart]

Instead we hear the same "incredibly talented roster, great assistant coaches, Marty can't win in the playoffs" drivel. Don't you think the majority of Chargers fans are being incredibly inconsistent here?

No.1. It is an incredibly talented roster. That's not in dispute, right?

2. The coaching staff did a great job last year. Is that in dispute? It's not in dispute that Cam ran the offense and Wade ran the defense. Marty didn't call a single play. So if you think the coaching staff did a great job last year, then you must think the assistant coaches did a great job.

3. Marty's playoff woes in the past may have had something to do with overworking his teams throughout the season -- like what Tiki said about Tom Coughlin. Or it could have just been bad luck. This year, I think it was just bad luck. I think "Marty can't win in the playoffs" makes no more sense than "Peyton Manning can't win in the playoffs."

4. Even if I did think Marty can't win in the playoffs, I'm having trouble seeing what's incredibly inconsistent about that. What's it inconsistent with?

I agree with all of this. An equally strong argument for Marty is that he takes average teams and overachieves with them in the regular season, but he can't do that consistently against more talented teams in the playoffs. This year, I think we all agree it was just bad luck. But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?

Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

 

[Despyzer]

I find this to be an amazing observation. Let's just say you're right and that it was the coordinators that were in fact responsible for the Chargers success. So then are they also the reason that the Chargers lost the playoff game? Because some of your friends here have suggested that it was Marty's fault. I'm not sure how it can be Marty's fault when they lose but the coordinators are why they win.

I think most Chargers' fans think there is plenty of blame to be spread around for that playoff loss. The coordinators (especially Cameron in the second half) called a sub-par game. Marty made some bizarre decisions regarding FGs, challenges, and timeouts. The players made some mental mistakes that they had not made all year.Just like A.J. gets a lot of the credit for bringing in some very talented players, Marty gets a good deal of the blame for how poorly prepared these players were for this playoff game. That's their jobs - GMs bring in talent, coaches prepare them for the games.

 

[Gr00vus]

The more I think about it, the Chargers were absolute idiots to pay Schottenheimer a dime for hanging around the last few years.

I know you're being sarcastic, but I actually agree with this.

 

[Family Matters]

Based on your response then you feel the only way Marty is worth keeping, having and/or saving is if he wins the Super Bowl? So basically then every coach but Dungy should be fired? I know you're going to come back with something along the lines of that's not what I said so please explain what the criterisa is on this. Or does this only apply to Marty?

The question was not what I wanted (which has nothing to do with this conversation). The question was what do I think would happen. Coaches with a proven track record of success get away with a lot more than coaches who don't. I'm sorry if this bothers you in some way, but I'm not writing the rules here, I'm simply explaining them.Also, if you believe that Dungy is the only coach to have ever won a Super Bowl, it only lends to the belief that you just started watching football.

Another attacking response. Another failure to answer a question that was asked of you. If you don't like where this is going feel free to bail out. I'll understand. Otherwise I'd like to know your criteria.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The more I think about it, the Chargers were absolute idiots to pay Schottenheimer a dime for hanging around the last few years.

I know you're being sarcastic, but I actually agree with this.

I know you do. J

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

I'm not comfortable separating it out like that. They worked as a team, so they're all responsible for everything.But if we could magically replace Marty with a baseline HC, or replace Cam with a baseline OC, or replace Phillips with a baseline DC, I suspect you'd see the smallest drop-off by replacing Marty. I'm not saying there wouldn't be a drop-off. I think Marty is way above the baseline at managing his staff and his players and keeping everybody focused and motivated, and that's extremely important. But the Xs and Os matter quite a bit as well, and they seemed to be the province of Cam and Wade.

 

[Despyzer]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend? Anyone think they no longer wahted to be in San Diego? Maybe they didn't want to be a coach for Smith? Just wondering.

It's you. Cam and Wade were both offered HC jobs while a HC was currently employed in SD. Why wait a year for a job you might not get when there is one being offered right now?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend?

It is you. The rest of us think they are gone because they were offered head coaching jobs too good to pass up.

 

[Chase Stuart]

But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

I'm not comfortable separating it out like that. They worked as a team, so they're all responsible for everything.But if we could magically replace Marty with a baseline HC, or replace Cam with a baseline OC, or replace Phillips with a baseline DC, I suspect you'd see the smallest drop-off by replacing Marty. I'm not saying there wouldn't be a drop-off. I think Marty is way above the baseline at managing his staff and his players and keeping everybody focused and motivated, and that's extremely important. But the Xs and Os matter quite a bit as well, and they seemed to be the province of Cam and Wade.

Fair enough.As you know, I rooted for the Chargers this year once the Jets missed the playoffs. I wish you guys well again in '07.

 

[PadresLakers]

Why is it when the Chargers go 14-2 it's because they're really talented but when they lose in the playoffs it's because of bad coaching? It's incredible that Schottenheimer gets no credit for having this team go 14-2.

The entire coaching staff deserves credit for going 14-2. I am just of the opinion that the coordinators had just as much to do with that if not more than Shottenheimer.

I find this to be an amazing observation. Let's just say you're right and that it was the coordinators that were in fact responsible for the Chargers success. So then are they also the reason that the Chargers lost the playoff game? Because some of your friends here have suggested that it was Marty's fault. I'm not sure how it can be Marty's fault when they lose but the coordinators are why they win.If the coordinators are the real reason for the Chargers wins and losses then you guys must be thrilled that they are gone. Some are suggesting that failure to win a SB is a good reason to fired.

The following is from an insider article that you should read because as a "Charger fan" out of Columbus, Ohioyou seem pretty misinformed."With the departure of Wade Phillips to Dallas as the Cowboys' new head coach, San Diego has now lost five assistants, including both coordinators, since the end of its 2006 season less than a month ago.In addition to Phillips, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was named the Miami Dolphins' new head coach, tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski was hired as the offensive coordinator in Cleveland, linebackers coach Greg Manusky is the new defensive coordinator in San Francisco and assistant strength and conditioning coach Matt Schiotz left earlier this week to join Cameron's staff as the Dolphins' primary strength coach.That's a remarkable brain drain in a very short period of time and, despite the talent on the Chargers' roster, such a widespread staff shake-up could evoke a disastrous setback. It likely will mean that head coach Marty Schottenheimer, who arguably granted his coordinators more freedom in 2006 than ever before, will have to be increasingly hands-on in 2007. While Schottenheimer still has a sharp football mind, some in the NFL felt one key element to his success last season, when the Chargers posted a league-best 14-2 record, was a sudden inclination to allow his assistants more latitude. Schottenheimer became more an overseer, a CEO-type role he never embraced in the past, but one he apparently grew into nicely."

 

[Family Matters]

Why is it when the Chargers go 14-2 it's because they're really talented but when they lose in the playoffs it's because of bad coaching? It's incredible that Schottenheimer gets no credit for having this team go 14-2.

Who isn't giving Marty credit? I think the coaching staff as a whole did a great job during the regular season this year, sans the Baltimore game.Remember, Marty isn't coaching the offense or the defense, so he's not going to get credit for play calling on either side of the ball.

But the bottom line is that with a roster full of Pro Bowlers, your success is measured in playoff wins. In this respect, '06 was a failure.

The more I think about it, the Chargers were absolute idiots to pay Schottenheimer a dime for hanging around the last few years. Much less millions. This guy didn't do anything ...J

Good thing those asst coaches aren't around after failing to win in the playoffs. 1 and done with this roster is nothing but a failure. Good thing Marty didn't have anything to do with it.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

I'm not comfortable separating it out like that. They worked as a team, so they're all responsible for everything.But if we could magically replace Marty with a baseline HC, or replace Cam with a baseline OC, or replace Phillips with a baseline DC, I suspect you'd see the smallest drop-off by replacing Marty. I'm not saying there wouldn't be a drop-off. I think Marty is way above the baseline at managing his staff and his players and keeping everybody focused and motivated, and that's extremely important. But the Xs and Os matter quite a bit as well, and they seemed to be the province of Cam and Wade.

Fair enough.As you know, I rooted for the Chargers this year once the Jets missed the playoffs. I wish you guys well again in '07.

 

[Gr00vus]

Chargers homers keep saying "with the most talented roster in the league" Schottenheimer didn't win a playoff game. They ignore that "with the most talented roster in the league" Schottenheimer led the league in victories. Everyone knows that the #1 most talented roster doesn't actually win 14 games or end up with the most number of wins the majority of the time. Lots of talented rosters underachieve, and the #1 talented roster is less likely to lead the league in wins than the field is.

No Charger homers are saying that at this point regular season wins mean #### all. With that squad we're expecting playoff wins - why is that hard to understand?

But once I praise Schottenheimer for how he did in the regular season (which is a better measure of how good a coach/player is than the post-season), we hear "the whole coaching staff did a great job" or "the coordinators called the plays."

They did well in the regular season when Marty gave up most of the control to his coordinators - there's no question about it.

Well then I want to hear that Cameron stunk in the playoffs by not running Tomlinson more than a handful of times in the second half,

I completely agree. Of all the bad things that happened that day, this was the worst and most easily correctable. I also wonder how much input Cam had into the 4th and 11 decision.

and that he shouldn't have been offered the Miami HC job.

Perhaps - we'll see.

And I want to hear that allowing Brady on an off day, along with a horrible cast of receivers and no running game, to score 24 points at home is a reflection on Phillips. I want to hear that Phillips did a bad job allowing New England to come back down 8 late in the game,

Though Marty did give up most of the control to the coordinators he remained on record that he would dictate overall strategy - particularly he mentioned that he still would tell Wade to "kill the clock" - ie. play prevent - when he thought they should do that. So I'm not comfortable pinning the blame fully on Wade for that.

and how he couldn't get his best player to do anything for the last 50 minutes of the game.

Merriman played most of the last three quarters with a sprained MCL he suffered in the 1st half. It turns out there would have been a good chance he would have missed the AFCC game if they had made it as a result.

Instead we hear the same "incredibly talented roster, great assistant coaches, Marty can't win in the playoffs" drivel. Don't you think the majority of Chargers fans are being incredibly inconsistent here?

No, we're consistent - we want playoff wins. Marty doesn't get those. Time to move on.

 

[Despyzer]

I agree with all of this. An equally strong argument for Marty is that he takes average teams and overachieves with them in the regular season, but he can't do that consistently against more talented teams in the playoffs.

This year, I think we all agree it was just bad luck. But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?

Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

I have pretty much always said what you have stated in the bolded part. That's why I was so excited about the Chargers hiring him as a HC. But I think almost anyone would say that this was his most talented team, and he had no more playoff success than he ever has.I would say Marty was most responsible of the three for the regular season success and playoff meltdown.

I would say Wade was least responsible for both.

 

[Family Matters]

But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?

Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

I'm not comfortable separating it out like that. They worked as a team, so they're all responsible for everything.But if we could magically replace Marty with a baseline HC, or replace Cam with a baseline OC, or replace Phillips with a baseline DC, I suspect you'd see the smallest drop-off by replacing Marty. I'm not saying there wouldn't be a drop-off. I think Marty is way above the baseline at managing his staff and his players and keeping everybody focused and motivated, and that's extremely important. But the Xs and Os matter quite a bit as well, and they seemed to be the province of Cam and Wade.

And didn't Marty put them in position to succeed? Isn't that what a good coach does? So why fire a good coach? Why put your coach in a lame duck position knowing the asst coaches would be looking to protect their futures? Smith had to know the impact it was having on them. He should have.

 

[Despyzer]

Otherwise I'd like to know your criteria.

What is my criteria for what? Maybe if you'd start making more sense it would be easier to follow along. You respond to questions that were never asked, react to responses as if they were addressing questions that were never asked, and ignore responses that you disagree with. If anyone should bail out, it should be you because you are way out-manned here.

 

[Family Matters]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend?

It is you. The rest of us think they are gone because they were offered head coaching jobs too good to pass up.

Good point.

 

[Gr00vus]

And didn't Marty put them in position to succeed?

I wouldn't give him much credit for that this season. Things took off when his role was diminished. He certainly didn't do anything to put them into position to succeed in the playoff loss - he did do a number of things to keep them from succeeding though.And now that I think of it, he held them back last year as well.And then of course there's how the playoff game in 2004 went down. I pin that loss squarely on Marty as well.

 

[Family Matters]

But who would you say is least to blame for the playoff loss: Marty, Cameron, Phillips? And who is most to blame?Who is most/least to blame for the regular season success from the same trio?

I'm not comfortable separating it out like that. They worked as a team, so they're all responsible for everything.But if we could magically replace Marty with a baseline HC, or replace Cam with a baseline OC, or replace Phillips with a baseline DC, I suspect you'd see the smallest drop-off by replacing Marty. I'm not saying there wouldn't be a drop-off. I think Marty is way above the baseline at managing his staff and his players and keeping everybody focused and motivated, and that's extremely important. But the Xs and Os matter quite a bit as well, and they seemed to be the province of Cam and Wade.

Fair enough.As you know, I rooted for the Chargers this year once the Jets missed the playoffs. I wish you guys well again in '07.

I think on that note I'm going to call an end to my part of this.Best of luck to the Chargers going forward.

 

[56]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend? Anyone think they no longer wahted to be in San Diego? Maybe they didn't want to be a coach for Smith? Just wondering.

It's not just you.I know the Charger fans here want to carry on like all of this is normal, but has this ever happened before? Has a franchise ever been so thoroughly abandoned by a coaching staff in the span of just a few weeks like this? I'd imagine more than a few Super Bowl winners have had their share, but I can't think of anything that comes close to this mess.I'm sorry, but I just can't buy that the dysfunction that existed did not help contribute to the motivation of these guys to actively seek alternative employment the moment the season ended. I don't think there was job opening of any kind that did not see a Charger coach seemingly throw his hat in the ring.

 

[Despyzer]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend? Anyone think they no longer wahted to be in San Diego? Maybe they didn't want to be a coach for Smith? Just wondering.

It's not just you.I know the Charger fans here want to carry on like all of this is normal, but has this ever happened before? Has a franchise ever been so thoroughly abandoned by a coaching staff in the span of just a few weeks like this? I'd imagine more than a few Super Bowl winners have had their share, but I can't think of anything that comes close to this mess.I'm sorry, but I just can't buy that the dysfunction that existed did not help contribute to the motivation of these guys to actively seek alternative employment the moment the season ended. I don't think there was job opening of any kind that did not see a Charger coach seemingly throw his hat in the ring.

So A.J. is to blame that the coaches under his tenure are highly sought after? Wow! That guy really IS an #####! The Chargers need to get rid of him right away before he hires any more coaches that other teams wish they had.

 

[Gr00vus]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend? Anyone think they no longer wahted to be in San Diego? Maybe they didn't want to be a coach for Smith? Just wondering.

It's not just you.I know the Charger fans here want to carry on like all of this is normal, but has this ever happened before? Has a franchise ever been so thoroughly abandoned by a coaching staff in the span of just a few weeks like this? I'd imagine more than a few Super Bowl winners have had their share, but I can't think of anything that comes close to this mess.I'm sorry, but I just can't buy that the dysfunction that existed did not help contribute to the motivation of these guys to actively seek alternative employment the moment the season ended. I don't think there was job opening of any kind that did not see a Charger coach seemingly throw his hat in the ring.

Nobody threw their hat in the ring - they were offered jobs. They were recruited. They were promoted. They got more responsibility and more money. Why couldn't the Chargers keep these guys? Because there was no room for promotion. Why was there no room for promotion? Because they decided to keep Marty one more year. THAT was the mistake. Had they come out and ditched Marty the Monday after the choke they'd probably have kept every one of the guys who left except either Wade or Cam - whichever one didn't get promoted to HC. Who's fault is it that it went down the way it did instead - Dean, it was all Dean. No conspiracy theory needed. Put away the tinfoil hat.Nobody said this was normal. And at the end of the day, you take it as a compliment to what the team did that their staff is so in demand.

 

[PadresLakers]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend? Anyone think they no longer wahted to be in San Diego? Maybe they didn't want to be a coach for Smith? Just wondering.

It's not just you.I know the Charger fans here want to carry on like all of this is normal, but has this ever happened before? Has a franchise ever been so thoroughly abandoned by a coaching staff in the span of just a few weeks like this? I'd imagine more than a few Super Bowl winners have had their share, but I can't think of anything that comes close to this mess.I'm sorry, but I just can't buy that the dysfunction that existed did not help contribute to the motivation of these guys to actively seek alternative employment the moment the season ended. I don't think there was job opening of any kind that did not see a Charger coach seemingly throw his hat in the ring.

So A.J. is to blame that the coaches under his tenure are highly sought after? Wow! That guy really IS an #####! The Chargers need to get rid of him right away before he hires any more coaches that other teams wish they had.

I bet AJ Smith is going to throw Micheal Turner under the bus too. Charger homers are going to say hes leaving the Chargers for a starting job, but I find it hard to believe AJ Smith's ego didnt have something to do with it.

 

[Gr00vus]

I bet AJ Smith is going to throw Micheal Turner under the bus too. Charger homers are going to say hes leaving the Chargers for a starting job, but I find it hard to believe AJ Smith's ego didnt have something to do with it.

Don't forget Dielman. When he leaves for a 5 million dollar contract somewhere else it'll be because of A.J.'s ego too.

 

[Despyzer]

I bet AJ Smith is going to throw Micheal Turner under the bus too. Charger homers are going to say hes leaving the Chargers for a starting job, but I find it hard to believe AJ Smith's ego didnt have something to do with it.

Probably why Donnie Edwards is leaving too... oh, wait...

 

[PadresLakers]

I bet AJ Smith is going to throw Micheal Turner under the bus too. Charger homers are going to say hes leaving the Chargers for a starting job, but I find it hard to believe AJ Smith's ego didnt have something to do with it.

Probably why Donnie Edwards is leaving too... oh, wait...

I wonder how much money he ends up gettingLast I heard he was looking for Ray Lewis type money, is that true?

 

[DPRugby]

I bet AJ Smith is going to throw Micheal Turner under the bus too. Charger homers are going to say hes leaving the Chargers for a starting job, but I find it hard to believe AJ Smith's ego didnt have something to do with it.

Probably why Donnie Edwards is leaving too... oh, wait...

 

[Tau837]

The more I think about it, the Chargers were absolute idiots to pay Schottenheimer a dime for hanging around the last few years.

I know you're being sarcastic, but I actually agree with this.

Marty was 33-32 in his tenure with the Chargers entering this year, and had taken the Chargers to only one playoff game in 4 years, in which his higher seeded team lost at home. Marty had not won a playoff game since 1993. That's right, 13 years.At the start of this season, what was everyone's opinion of the job Marty had done?Then he proceeded to turn over playcalling completely to his coordinators for the first time in his career, and they went 14-2. Unfortunately, they again lost at home in their only playoff game.Does the fact that Marty presided over a great regular season in a CEO type of head coaching role and again lost as the higher seed really change the results substantially from what they had been entering the season? Not to me.

 

[PadresLakers]

Singletary interviews for Chargers coaching job

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers began their coaching search so quickly that the first candidate to be interviewed ran into the guy he hopes to replace.

Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary met with team executives Wednesday, less than 48 hours after Marty Schottenheimer was fired.

The former Chicago Bears great said he crossed paths with Schottenheimer, who was still cleaning out his office.

"I saw him and said hello," Singletary said.

Singletary, interviewing for a head coaching job for the third time since early January, thinks he's ready to move up after four seasons as an assistant.

"There's no doubt in my mind," Singletary said after emerging from his interview. "Absolutely."

Schottenheimer was fired Monday by Chargers president Dean Spanos, who said there was a "dysfunctional situation" between the coach and general manager A.J. Smith. San Diego was an NFL-best 14-2 last season before falling apart in its playoff opener, a 24-21 loss to New England.

Shortly after being fired Monday night, Schottenheimer said he had no working relationship with Smith.

"I don't have a whole lot of working knowledge on what happened in the past," Singletary said. "It's unfortunate, but every organization has something going on and I think for me, I'm just really excited to have the opportunity to come here and make the most of the opportunity."

The Chargers are generally regarded as having the best talent in the NFL, led by MVP LaDainian Tomlinson.

"All you have to do is turn on the film," Singletary said. "You can watch the offensive side of the ball and watch them run up and down the field, throw the ball and move the ball. I see a lot of potential on that side.

"Look on the defensive side of the ball and there's a lot of exciting things happening so there's a lot to get excited about here. The nucleus of a great team and having a great run is very exciting, very intriguing about this team."

One thing the Chargers need, Singletary said, is "leadership ... somebody to come in and really bring everybody together and get everybody on one page. If that happens, something very exciting is going to happen here."

After retiring in 1992, Singletary spent 10 years as a motivational speaker. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998, he began his coaching career in 2003 as the inside linebackers coach of the Baltimore Ravens. After two years in that job, he became assistant head coach-linebackers with the 49ers in 2005. Last season his title was assistant head coach-defense.

Singletary said he's heard the talk about his relative lack of coaching experience.

"If I hadn't played the game, if I hadn't been around the game as long as I've been around it and if I hadn't coached it for the time that I've coached it in the role that I've been in, I think I might agree with that," he said. "My question is always, 'Do you want experience or do you want results?' I think that's what I'm all about."

Singletary also interviewed for the head coaching jobs with Atlanta and Dallas. The Cowboys' job went to Wade Phillips, who had been the Chargers' defensive coordinator. Singletary interviewed last year for the Detroit Lions' job.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the son of former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, is scheduled to interview Thursday.

"He's been ready for a long time," Buddy Ryan said by phone Wednesday. "He deserves a good shot."

Baltimore's defense gave up the fewest yards and points in the NFL last season.

Other candidates the Chargers have received permission to interview are Norv Turner, a former head coach with Oakland and Washington, and Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Turner was offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2001. He's currently the 49ers' offensive coordinator. He interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys' head coaching job that went to Phillips.

Singletary and Rivera also interviewed for the Cowboys job.

Spanos said Monday that the exodus from Schottenheimer's staff -- two coordinators became NFL head coaches and two assistants became coordinators -- contributed to a difficult situation that resulted in the coach being fired.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

http://www.thebrushback.com/chargersowner_full.htm

 

[BoltBacker]

And didn't Marty put them in position to succeed? Isn't that what a good coach does? So why fire a good coach? Why put your coach in a lame duck position knowing the asst coaches would be looking to protect their futures? Smith had to know the impact it was having on them. He should have.

I think this is Family Matters best point in the thread.It does seem pretty silly for Spanos/AJ to act surprised the coaching staff fell apart after the season. Cameron should have gotten offered one of the HC jobs last year based on how he's performed with an offense that didn't always have as much talent as it does right now. How anyone can feign surprise he's gone is beyond me. Wade has HC experience and there was a chance he was going to "bolt" last year. These two guys were too good not to get offered jobs at some point and Spanos/AJ are guilty of having the worst communication with their coaching staff in recent memory. You'd think they'd have sat down with at least the big three... Marty/Cameron/Wade and discuss the future. Why even offer Marty and extension if Wade is a leading cantidate for the DAL job and Cameron is being courted around the league for HC positions before the game vs NE?Disagree about keeping Marty in a lame duck position. Every coach/player in the league is in a lame duck position and very few get to exit on their own terms like Cowher. Whether Marty was a lame duck had no consequence on Cameron/Wade accepting promotions elsewhere. The mistake imo was keeping Marty if you felt he was just being a CEO for Cameron/Wade in the first place. If Spanos honestly felt Cameron/Wade were that important to the future of the coaching staff he should have offered one of them the job. I posted shortly after the game(when more than half the board was calling for Marty's head) that I'd like to see them keep 1)Cameron, 2)Wade and 3)Marty. They didn't keep any of them so people are correct in calling a cluster #### a cluster ####. I'm a huge Marty-backer and have been longer than anyone here but that offense and Cameron were the straw that stirred the drink imo. I think he deserves the most credit for the success of the regular season and the least amount of blame for the playoff loss(he put his players in a position to succeed vs NE they just dropped and fumbled the ball away). Wade get's a bit of a pass in the game imo because both Merriman/Phillips got injured during the game and without pressure on the QB his defense just doesn't work nearly as well. Of the three Marty made the most obvious mistakes during the game... way, way behind the huge blunders the players made during the game. The players lost the game though, not the coaches imo.I predict success for all three of them at their next stops, just like I predicted success Brees in NO. It's important to remember though that the success of Brees in NO didn't preclude SD from having success with Rivers after he left. The same is true for the outgoing coaching staff. They played a huge role in getting SD this far and deserve credit for it but the franchise could have as much success going forward. I think most SD fans would tell you that a single playoff victory next year would be a step in the right direction no matter what the regular season record is. That's very possible next season.All Charger fans should thank Marty for molding a team that was as bad as DET/OAK are now into a 14-2 "disappointment". He's taken us a long way just as he has done with his previous teams and will do with his future teams. He's one of the best in the business.... just as Dungy was BEFORE winning his SB and Cowher was BEFORE winning his. The fact he's also one of the most classy acts in the business doesn't hurt either.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Mike Singletary talks to the media - Chargers.com video

 

[Guzalot]

I think the Chargers shot themselves in the foot by firing Marty. Just my 2c...

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

AJ Smith -- Chargers.com video

 

[Bojang0301]

Is Singletary being given a lefit shot by these organizations or are they just using him at this point?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Is Singletary being given a lefit shot by these organizations or are they just using him at this point?

Got the Rooney Rule interview out of the way early

 

[billyjoe]

Is Singletary being given a lefit shot by these organizations or are they just using him at this point?

Because he's black?Nah. If they wanted to do that, they'd bring in Denny Green.There's enough buzz about Singletary to bring him in just on his reputation. At worst, you'd interviewing for the DC position.

 

[PadresLakers]

I know you gentlemen love to speculate, but really, it's a simple matter. We as an organization are moving in a different direction and will give every qualified coaching candidate their due respect. I can promise you that. Don't try to read too deeply into the situation. You'll only look foolish.A.J. Smith

You forgot to say this it was only a business decision and it was nothing personal

 

[trader jake]

Gentlemen, please abstain from discussing this matter further. We are trying to move on as an organization towards a unified goal of winning an NFL championship. We are a better team than what has shown on the field. I promise you that.A.J. Smith

Now we have to wait another year (or two) for Martyball to choke in the playoffs again...

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

There's enough buzz about Singletary to bring him in just on his reputation. At worst, you'd interviewing for the DC position.

Singletary is under contract with the 49ers, so he's not in the running for the Chargers' defensive coordinator position.

 

[stevegamer]

I know you gentlemen love to speculate, but really, it's a simple matter. We as an organization are moving in a different direction and will give every qualified coaching candidate their due respect. I can promise you that. Don't try to read too deeply into the situation. You'll only look foolish.A.J. Smith

I see the next headline: Chargers looking for 2 Assistant Head Coaches - 1 offense & 1 defense, to go with new HC AJ Smith?This trainwreck is fun to watch.

 

[billyjoe]

There's enough buzz about Singletary to bring him in just on his reputation. At worst, you'd interviewing for the DC position.

Singletary is under contract with the 49ers, so he's not in the running for the Chargers' defensive coordinator position.

Wasn't the Chargers TE coach under contract also?

 

[Despyzer]

Wasn't the Chargers TE coach under contract also?

Yes, but Marty gave him position to interview for a position other than HC. The Niners do not need to do this and can block the Chargers from hiring Singletary as a DC.

 

[Despyzer]

At the start of this season, what was everyone's opinion of the job Marty had done?

Personally, I was pretty pleased. Before Marty, the Chargers were consistently one of the worst teams in the league. Even if they didn't win any playoff games, at least he coached them to 35 wins in the last three years. I'd rather have some impressive regular seasons with no playoff wins than counting on a top 5 draft pick every year.

 

[massraider]

I was happy to see Marty go, as any Raider fan would be, the guy owned us.

But if the rumors are true that AJ may be on the way out (Shefter also reporting the rumor), and Carroll is taking over the whole shebang, then I'll be ecstatic.

When a guy runs a front office like Smith, who cares if he's a ####?

 

[switz]

BTW-is it me or do people really think the reason the Cam and Wade are gone are due to Marty's failure to want to extend? Anyone think they no longer wahted to be in San Diego? Maybe they didn't want to be a coach for Smith? Just wondering.

It's not just you.I know the Charger fans here want to carry on like all of this is normal, but has this ever happened before? Has a franchise ever been so thoroughly abandoned by a coaching staff in the span of just a few weeks like this? I'd imagine more than a few Super Bowl winners have had their share, but I can't think of anything that comes close to this mess.

I'm sorry, but I just can't buy that the dysfunction that existed did not help contribute to the motivation of these guys to actively seek alternative employment the moment the season ended. I don't think there was job opening of any kind that did not see a Charger coach seemingly throw his hat in the ring.

Right, and when BOTH coordinators left NE it must have been because it was disfunctional. I mean Weis didn't even leave for an NFL HC job. They got head coaching gigs - do you really think they should have turned them down? That's absurd.

And they didn't actively seek alternative emploment. Other teams contacted the Chargers for permission to interview these guys. All of them were offered promotions. How do you turn that into actively seeking alternative employment.

Let me guess... if you were offered a promotion at another company, you would only take it because things were "disfunctional" at your current company.

Funny how no one said ANYTHING about the other coaches leaving UNTIL Marty was fired. Then all of the sudden there's something to say. Ridiculous.

 

[fatness]

But if the rumors are true that AJ may be on the way out (Shefter also reporting the rumor), and Carroll is taking over the whole shebang, then I'll be ecstatic.

LA Times

The San Diego Chargers like Pete Carroll, respect what he has done at USC, and even think he might be a good choice as their new head coach.

But don't expect it to happen.

Carroll is on the team's radar but not in its plans, a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

The Chargers plan to move quickly and have a replacement for the fired Marty Schottenheimer in place by as early as next week, the source said. That timing — along with the fact Carroll wouldn't have total personnel control in San Diego — essentially rules out the Trojans coach, who last month interviewed with the Miami Dolphins.

The Chargers would "have to move too quickly to make the kind of commitment they'd need to get Pete," the source said. "A different timetable would enable them to develop a higher level of mutual comfort."

Meanwhile, according to published reports and information from league sources, a clearer picture of the situation that led to Schottenheimer's firing has emerged. The coach and General Manager A.J. Smith, who were not on speaking terms, waged their final fight over whom to hire as a replacement for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who left to become head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

The Chargers were already reeling from a one-two combination to the heart of their organization: the loss of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to become head coach of the Dolphins after San Diego's spirit-crushing loss to New England in a divisional playoff game.

Smith, who had long envisioned Phillips' replacing Schottenheimer, wanted the team to interview Ted Cottrell for the defensive coordinator vacancy. Schottenheimer had another idea: He wanted to interview his brother, Kurt, secondary coach in Green Bay, or possibly promote John Pagano, San Diego's assistant linebackers coach.

When Schottenheimer declined to interview Cottrell, Chargers owner Dean Spanos got involved. He told Schottenheimer he was uncomfortable with the idea of the coach hiring his brother to run the defense. Schottenheimer argued he should have the right to choose his coaching staff.

Spanos and Smith were already frustrated with Schottenheimer for allowing linebackers coach Greg Manusky and tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski — the next-in-line replacements to Phillips and Cameron — to interview with other teams without setting up some type of right-of-first-refusal arrangement for the Chargers. Manusky was hired as San Francisco's defensive coordinator and Chudzinski became offensive coordinator in Cleveland.

Spanos was asked in a conference call whether the decision to fire Schottenheimer was made Monday, the day the team cut ties with the coach.

"No," he said, "it's something that's been progressing throughout the month. It's something that I've been thinking about for the last several days. It's sort of a negative work in progress, and it's been a very difficult situation."

 

[switz]

And didn't Marty put them in position to succeed? Isn't that what a good coach does? So why fire a good coach? Why put your coach in a lame duck position knowing the asst coaches would be looking to protect their futures? Smith had to know the impact it was having on them. He should have.

I think this is Family Matters best point in the thread.

And I don't think anyone disagrees that Marty was, and is a good coach. But the reason for the success was due to him relegating much of his duties to his two coordinators this season. Now those coordinators are gone. Why not keep him and let him resume the CEO role with two new coordinators? Let's address the next comment....

It does seem pretty silly for Spanos/AJ to act surprised the coaching staff fell apart after the season. Cameron should have gotten offered one of the HC jobs last year based on how he's performed with an offense that didn't always have as much talent as it does right now. How anyone can feign surprise he's gone is beyond me. Wade has HC experience and there was a chance he was going to "bolt" last year. These two guys were too good not to get offered jobs at some point and Spanos/AJ are guilty of having the worst communication with their coaching staff in recent memory. You'd think they'd have sat down with at least the big three... Marty/Cameron/Wade and discuss the future. Why even offer Marty and extension if Wade is a leading cantidate for the DAL job and Cameron is being courted around the league for HC positions before the game vs NE?

Perhaps the front office felt they would lose one, not both. Very rarely do both coordinators get offered HC jobs. And maybe they thought they'd be able to replace those coordinators with other coordinators and there would be no problem. That was until Marty was insistent on hiring his brother as DC. The front office wasn't going to go for that situation, because it would put Marty back into the hand on role, instead of the CEO role. And Marty wasn't willing to budge from his stand on that.

Disagree about keeping Marty in a lame duck position. Every coach/player in the league is in a lame duck position and very few get to exit on their own terms like Cowher. Whether Marty was a lame duck had no consequence on Cameron/Wade accepting promotions elsewhere. The mistake imo was keeping Marty if you felt he was just being a CEO for Cameron/Wade in the first place. If Spanos honestly felt Cameron/Wade were that important to the future of the coaching staff he should have offered one of them the job.

The problem there is that Wade had a clause in his contract that if Marty were fired, he'd be promoted to head coach. Maybe they reconsidered that stand, and felt they didn't want Wade as HC. Personally, I've never viewed Wade as HC material. So they couldn't let MArty go while Wade was DC. Once he left, they coudl let Marty go.

Of the three Marty made the most obvious mistakes during the game... way, way behind the huge blunders the players made during the game. The players lost the game though, not the coaches imo.

No disagreement here, though I do think the coaches could have, in the second half, put the players in a better position to win.

All Charger fans should thank Marty for molding a team that was as bad as DET/OAK are now into a 14-2 "disappointment". He's taken us a long way just as he has done with his previous teams and will do with his future teams. He's one of the best in the business.... just as Dungy was BEFORE winning his SB and Cowher was BEFORE winning his. The fact he's also one of the most classy acts in the business doesn't hurt either.

Agreed, I've been a huge Marty fan for a long time. But I do also think his leaving will end up being for the betterment of the Chargers.

 

[switz]

Meanwhile, according to published reports and information from league sources, a clearer picture of the situation that led to Schottenheimer's firing has emerged. The coach and General Manager A.J. Smith, who were not on speaking terms, waged their final fight over whom to hire as a replacement for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who left to become head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.The Chargers were already reeling from a one-two combination to the heart of their organization: the loss of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to become head coach of the Dolphins after San Diego's spirit-crushing loss to New England in a divisional playoff game.Smith, who had long envisioned Phillips' replacing Schottenheimer, wanted the team to interview Ted Cottrell for the defensive coordinator vacancy. Schottenheimer had another idea: He wanted to interview his brother, Kurt, secondary coach in Green Bay, or possibly promote John Pagano, San Diego's assistant linebackers coach.When Schottenheimer declined to interview Cottrell, Chargers owner Dean Spanos got involved. He told Schottenheimer he was uncomfortable with the idea of the coach hiring his brother to run the defense. Schottenheimer argued he should have the right to choose his coaching staff.Spanos and Smith were already frustrated with Schottenheimer for allowing linebackers coach Greg Manusky and tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski — the next-in-line replacements to Phillips and Cameron — to interview with other teams without setting up some type of right-of-first-refusal arrangement for the Chargers. Manusky was hired as San Francisco's defensive coordinator and Chudzinski became offensive coordinator in Cleveland.Spanos was asked in a conference call whether the decision to fire Schottenheimer was made Monday, the day the team cut ties with the coach."No," he said, "it's something that's been progressing throughout the month. It's something that I've been thinking about for the last several days. It's sort of a negative work in progress, and it's been a very difficult situation."

Well let's give props to Family Manners. He was right, when someone refuses to listen to the owner, the owners gets rid of him. Too bad FM thought it was AJ that wasn't listening, when in reality it was Marty.

 

[switz]

AJ Smith -- Chargers.com video

Must be surprising to the naysayers, but AJ said that the new HC would have input on his staff... and he would expect them to come in with a short list of other coaches they want. Wow, how non ego-maniacal.