Why is Turner so underused? (1 Viewer)

[teamroc]

The last 4 teams in the playoffs last year were RBBC. So using two RBs at the same time isn't something out of the ordinary.

So since it's TWO coaches, TWO OCs, it probably means Turner isn't that good.

It's not hard to imagine a Turner/LT backfield, LT splitting out, causing lots of match up problems. Just like Deuce/Bush. If Turner is a top 5-10 RB which a number of people around here will tell you, then he's an offensive weapon. And you find ways to use weapons. You don't keep an above average RB sitting on the bench while you run plays for Lorenzo Neal. Your WRs are horrible. So put Turner in, split out LT, great some spark, get some offense. Eh no, Turner you sit on the bench k thx.

And the "LT is the best RB ever, he should get every carry regardless". Uh, wrong. We're not running the wishbone. LT is probably the best receiving RB in the league. You don't think matching him up w/ a LB and Turner in the backfield would present some problems for teams? You really think they'd let an elite RB waste away on the bench?

He's a backup running back. Norv seems to have no interest in working him into the offense. And Cam didn't either. So they're either morons, or Turner is more average then everyone wants to believe.

How's Lamont Jordan working out? Chester Taylor? He was so good, they drafted a RB in the top 10 to replace him. List all the RBs who did nothing for 4 years, then became top 10 RBs. Holmes. And... Then list all the backup RBs who did jack when they got their shot. People see flashes. He looks great on 3 carries a game. So does Michael Bennett. So does Mewelde Moore. It's not hard to look great on 3 carries a game.

The guy has 6 tds in 4 years. Moss has 6 tds in 2 games. I find it hard to believe an elite RB has done JACK ALL in the NFL for 4 years. And everyone but the Chargers knows it. Someone should let Norv know that he has 2 elite RBs. You just don't have elite speed, vision, balance, strength, and do jack all for 4 years. It's hard to win in the NFL. If you can create an mismatch, you do it. There are ZERO formations in the offense to get Turner on the field. None. Zero. Thanks for playing.

Turner is an unproven backup RB, sell high.

 

[MOAT]

The last 4 teams in the playoffs last year were RBBC. So using two RBs at the same time isn't something out of the ordinary.So since it's TWO coaches, TWO OCs, it probably means Turner isn't that good.It's not hard to imagine a Turner/LT backfield, LT splitting out, causing lots of match up problems. Just like Deuce/Bush. If Turner is a top 5-10 RB which a number of people around here will tell you, then he's an offensive weapon. And you find ways to use weapons. You don't keep an above average RB sitting on the bench while you run plays for Lorenzo Neal. Your WRs are horrible. So put Turner in, split out LT, great some spark, get some offense. Eh no, Turner you sit on the bench k thx.And the "LT is the best RB ever, he should get every carry regardless". Uh, wrong. We're not running the wishbone. LT is probably the best receiving RB in the league. You don't think matching him up w/ a LB and Turner in the backfield would present some problems for teams? You really think they'd let an elite RB waste away on the bench? He's a backup running back. Norv seems to have no interest in working him into the offense. And Cam didn't either. So they're either morons, or Turner is more average then everyone wants to believe.How's Lamont Jordan working out? Chester Taylor? He was so good, they drafted a RB in the top 10 to replace him. List all the RBs who did nothing for 4 years, then became top 10 RBs. Holmes. And... Then list all the backup RBs who did jack when they got their shot. People see flashes. He looks great on 3 carries a game. So does Michael Bennett. So does Mewelde Moore. It's not hard to look great on 3 carries a game. The guy has 6 tds in 4 years. Moss has 6 tds in 2 games. I find it hard to believe an elite RB has done JACK ALL in the NFL for 4 years. And everyone but the Chargers knows it. Someone should let Norv know that he has 2 elite RBs. You just don't have elite speed, vision, balance, strength, and do jack all for 4 years. It's hard to win in the NFL. If you can create an mismatch, you do it. There are ZERO formations in the offense to get Turner on the field. None. Zero. Thanks for playing.Turner is an unproven backup RB, sell high.

I don't agree with it all but you support your stance well enough. AND you do it without taking personal shots at other posters.Of course, Norv IS a moron so that could hurt your argument a little. If you are right, then SD coaches are morons for not trading Turner this year when so many teams needed RBs bad right at the trade deadline. If you are wrong, then they are morons for not putting him on the field. I guess maybe we will wait and see with Turner but one thing is certain, the coaches in SD are morons and not giving their team the best chance to win.

 

[yellowdog]

Lamont Jordan was #8 RB in my league in 2005.

 

[zamboni]

He's a backup running back. Norv seems to have no interest in working him into the offense. And Cam didn't either. So they're either morons, or Turner is more average then everyone wants to believe.

It's hard to justify putting the best RB in the game, and one of the best of all time, on the bench unless it's a blowout or for an occasional breather. Yes, LT's touches haven't been all that much different from last year, but the carries sure seem to be. I don't think anyone would argue that LT's involvement seems to be lessened this year, but also reflects the fact that the team isn't blowing people out like last year.As for Turner, for all we know, he may turn out to be average. But clearly SD brass and the rest of the league don't think so.

 

[Liquid Tension]

The thread title should be changed to... Why is LT so underused? Thx.

I agree. this is the issue. How is it possible LT doesn't get AT LEAST 25 touches a game? I said this a few weeks ago that it seems they keep using LT as a decoy and they would be better off just getting the ball in his hands and then the decoy works better because the defense "feels" his presence.Turner is getting used because Turner is not using LT enough

 

[Liquid Tension]

The last 4 teams in the playoffs last year were RBBC. So using two RBs at the same time isn't something out of the ordinary.So since it's TWO coaches, TWO OCs, it probably means Turner isn't that good.It's not hard to imagine a Turner/LT backfield, LT splitting out, causing lots of match up problems. Just like Deuce/Bush. If Turner is a top 5-10 RB which a number of people around here will tell you, then he's an offensive weapon. And you find ways to use weapons. You don't keep an above average RB sitting on the bench while you run plays for Lorenzo Neal. Your WRs are horrible. So put Turner in, split out LT, great some spark, get some offense. Eh no, Turner you sit on the bench k thx.And the "LT is the best RB ever, he should get every carry regardless". Uh, wrong. We're not running the wishbone. LT is probably the best receiving RB in the league. You don't think matching him up w/ a LB and Turner in the backfield would present some problems for teams? You really think they'd let an elite RB waste away on the bench? He's a backup running back. Norv seems to have no interest in working him into the offense. And Cam didn't either. So they're either morons, or Turner is more average then everyone wants to believe.How's Lamont Jordan working out? Chester Taylor? He was so good, they drafted a RB in the top 10 to replace him. List all the RBs who did nothing for 4 years, then became top 10 RBs. Holmes. And... Then list all the backup RBs who did jack when they got their shot. People see flashes. He looks great on 3 carries a game. So does Michael Bennett. So does Mewelde Moore. It's not hard to look great on 3 carries a game. The guy has 6 tds in 4 years. Moss has 6 tds in 2 games. I find it hard to believe an elite RB has done JACK ALL in the NFL for 4 years. And everyone but the Chargers knows it. Someone should let Norv know that he has 2 elite RBs. You just don't have elite speed, vision, balance, strength, and do jack all for 4 years. It's hard to win in the NFL. If you can create an mismatch, you do it. There are ZERO formations in the offense to get Turner on the field. None. Zero. Thanks for playing.Turner is an unproven backup RB, sell high.

Everything you say here has some shred of truth to it...the problem is that you are wrong though Lamont is a good RB but he has been injured this year and last. Chester Taylor was never thought of as a great back and he has performed about what you would expect, respectable. In a good situation he looked great last week. Ahman Green was the backup in Seattle and went to GB and did very well. jacobs was behind Tiki and unproven and has shown that when he plays is top 10. Priest Holmes was a backup before being uber stud so let's not act like this never happens. Turner clearly has ability and I see him as a better version of Lamont Jordan. Remember that Jordan went to a bad situation and the situation impacts how well or poorly a RB does. It is no coincidence that Kenton Keith looked very good in his start when Addai went down and while I own Kenton Keith I do not think he is a good NFL RB.I also think your conclusions of why the coaches haven't gotten Turner more involved are not correct. Turner is struggling getting LT involved and that is his focus.The part I agree with is that you never know how well a guy will do until he is carrying the load and they are not fresh all the time. However, in what I have seen from Turner he has shown endurance when given the opportunity, has shown good speed and a bowling ball type of runner with some decent vision.

 

[Tau837]

The thread title should be changed to... Why is LT so underused? Thx.

I agree. this is the issue. How is it possible LT doesn't get AT LEAST 25 touches a game? I said this a few weeks ago that it seems they keep using LT as a decoy and they would be better off just getting the ball in his hands and then the decoy works better because the defense "feels" his presence.Turner is getting used because Turner is not using LT enough

As I have said a couple of times now, LT is averaging 23.3 touches per game. Last year, no one complained about how many touches he got, and he got 25.3 per game, so your "AT LEAST" qualifier above doesn't seem to make much sense, since it implies that he should definitely average more than 25 per game, which means more than 400 touches in a 16 game season.Meanwhile, the Chargers are on pace to have significantly fewer offensive plays this year - when I checked a week or two ago, they were on pace to have 62 fewer plays this year. That probably makes up the difference of 2 touches per game right there.IMO the issue is not how many touches LT is getting. The issue is how effective they are. I suspect part of the blame goes to the playcalling, probably putting LT in situations in which he is less likely to be successful; part of the blame goes to the offensive line, which is clearly playing much less effectively this year; and part of it goes to LT himself - I mean, he is averaging 4.1 ypc this year, compared to 5.2 last year. Granted, last year LT had a career year and one of the best seasons of all time, so some regression was to be expected.I don't understand why people don't understand these things and keep harping on the number of touches.