Continuity key as Turner era begins

Monday, Feb 19, 2007
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Roughly an hour before Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson broke off his first of four four-touchdown games last season in an afternoon that saw the Bolts put up 48 points, he had a heart-to-heart conversation with then 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

“We talked about how well the Chargers were playing, how well the offense was playing,” Turner said Monday shortly after being introduced as the new head coach of the Chargers.  “He said, ‘the best thing that happened to us, Norv, was when you left, we kept the system.  It helped everyone grow.’  L.T. says, ‘Hey, it’s made the difference for me.’”

Turner hopes the system he installed as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2001 will keep the Chargers on pace towards a world championship.  As Turner returns to the team where he coordinated the offense in 2001, he does so with the promise of little change.  That system that Tomlinson and his teammates have grown to love, the one they used to lead the NFL in scoring in 2006 stays in place.  Chargers President Dean Spanos cited such continuity as a key reason why he decided to go with Turner.

“I consider Norv one of the best offensive minds in the National Football League,” Spanos said. “I think because of his ability to maintain continuity within this organization going forward, he is without a doubt the right choice for this job.  We’re all looking forward to him taking us to the next level because we all have the same goal in mind.  That’s to win a world championship.”

When Turner left San Diego following the 2001 season, Cam Cameron replaced him as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator.  Cameron had spent three seasons under Turner with the Washington Redskins and kept the same offensive system in place.

As Turner met with several current Chargers Monday, he discussed the playbook and even gave the players a few play calls.  It was a language that was entirely familiar to them.

“That factor is so much bigger than people realize, particularly with a good football team,” Turner said.  “Not having to go through the normal things you have to go through when you make a coaching change is going to help the players more than anything. This isn’t a team where you’re rebuilding and starting over.” 

The first move Turner made upon become the team’s new head coach was one that would promise continuity on the defensive side of the ball as well.  Turner named long-time NFL assistant Ted Cottrell the team’s defensive coordinator. 

Cottrell spent five seasons working under former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.  When Phillips was the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator from 1995-97, Cottrell coached linebackers.  When Phillips was promoted to head coach in 1998, Cottrell became the team’s defensive coordinator, running the same 3-4 defense that helped the Chargers lead the NFL in sacks in 2006 and post a 35-13 record over the last three years.

“It was the most natural fit there could be because again the continuity, his history with Wade, his history with the defense,” Turner said.  “His background as a coach in this league and his ability to lead players, Ted is here and I truly believe he’ll get the best out of the players.”

The playbook Cottrell will employ in San Diego is primarily the one he attainted from Phillips during their days in Buffalo.  When Turner and Cottrell met with several defensive players Monday morning, the scene was a mirror of what happened when Turner gave his offensive players a taste of the language.

“Ted started making a couple defensive calls,” Turner said.  “They said, ‘This is the same playbook.  It’s the same stuff.’ We have a plan defensively.”

In concluding a search to find a new head coach for a team coming off a 14-2 season, Spanos selected a man that he and the Chargers player believe can build on what has been established and help them progress to the next level.

“Norv is a perfect fit for our team,” Tomlinson said. “We have a great relationship. He will know exactly what to do with our team.”