Chargers will fire Norv Turner and A.J. Smith at the end of the season.

[ChiefsandO'sfan]

Pro Football Weekly ‏@ProFootballWkly

Per @UTKevinAcee, the #Chargers will fire Norv Turner and A.J. Smith at the end of the season.



It will be finished.

Not only will head coach Norv Turner be gone at the end of the season, but general manager A.J. Smith will be fired as well, as the Chargers make a monumental break from an era that was arguably the most successful and most disappointing in team history.

Sources said this week that Chargers President Dean Spanos essentially decided at least a month ago that Turner’s time was drawing to a rapid close. Spanos, sources said, has more recently resigned himself to the fact that Smith can’t be kept in the current environment of plummeting performance and fan unrest.

And unlike last year, when Spanos found enough reason for clemency in a strong finish and past accomplishments, those with knowledge of plans that are already in motion said it seems certain there will be no last-minute change of heart this time.

Spanos is waiting until after the season, more because that is his preferred time to make such moves than due to any faith in the Chargers’ microscopic playoff chances.

It is not known who will take over for Turner, but current Director of Player Personnel Jimmy Raye is the apparent replacement for Smith. Raye, who has been with the Chargers for 17 seasons, will ascend to a job much like Smith’s but with his new right-hand man being the owner’s son, John Spanos.

The younger Spanos, currently the team’s Director of College Scouting, has long been in line to take over the Chargers’ football operations, but the plan was for that to not happen until the expiration of Smith’s contract after the 2014 season.

People familiar with the discussions say Raye has occasionally dissented in personnel matters over the years. Perhaps most notably, Raye fought to draft inside linebacker David Harris over Buster Davis in 2007. Davis, drafted 30th by the Chargers, was limited by injury to two starts and is now out of the league. Harris was taken by the New York Jets with the 47th overall selection, and has started 80 games. He was an All-Pro in 2009.

That is merely one instance, but there are myriad examples of Smith’s golden touch in the draft having all but vanished, as his top picks in 2009 and ’10 have been largely disappointing.

The Chargers will owe Smith $4 million for his remaining two years and Turner $3 million for the final year of his contract.

Smith joined the Chargers as Assistant General Manager in 2002, joining longtime friend and mentor John Butler. Spanos tabbed Smith as Butler’s successor following Butler’s death in April 2003.

The Chargers went 4-12 in 2003, but Smith dramatically remade the roster prior to the 2004 season, and the Chargers won the AFC West with a 12-4 record that year.

They would go to the postseason four straight years, from 2006 to 2009, winning 14 games in 2006 and 13 in 2009. Their 67 regular season victories from 2004 to 2009 were fifth-most in the NFL.

However, the Chargers made it to the AFC Championship just once, in 2007, and this will mark the third straight season they have not been to the playoffs.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Sorter

That means at the worst Kelly or Shaw will be available for us...

I have heard those names mentioned at other places. Don't be so sure at worst one of the two will be available.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Coogs

I have heard those names mentioned at other places. Don't be so sure at worst one of the two will be available.

Well, now I'm sad.

[GoChargers]

Jon Gruden, Chip Kelly, Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid and David Shaw are expected to be considered to coach the Chargers.

It better not be Andy Reid, but there's rumors that he's headed to Dallas next year anyway, and Jerruh is crazy enough to hire him.

David Shaw would be a good hire.

[Buck]

booooooooo

[GoChargers]

According to Acee on NFL Network, he's saying Norv's replacement won't be Andy Reid but it will likely be a "proven head coach". Maybe Cowher?

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

According to Acee on NFL Network, he's saying Norv's replacement won't be Andy Reid but it will likely be a "proven head coach". Maybe Cowher?

Could be Chucky but I doubt it.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Sorter

Wow, 4 WCO guys. That's kinda rare to see so many all applying for a former non WCO place. Pretty cool IMO

I don't think gruden will be wco when he comes back to coaching.

[RippedmyFlesh]

Hate to say it but of all the openings SD may be the best one.
QB in place, use the 1st pick on a Left Tackle and get some WR help and they
would be good to go with a D minded coach.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

According to Acee on NFL Network, he's saying Norv's replacement won't be Andy Reid but it will likely be a "proven head coach". Maybe Cowher?

Maybe Mariucci.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I don't think gruden will be wco when he comes back to coaching.

You really think he's going to change his philosophies, change terminology, and possibly switch blocking schemes?

[Spokane Chief Fan]

Was Jimmy Raye our offensive coordinator under Marty?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Sorter

You really think he's going to change his philosophies, change terminology, and possibly switch blocking schemes?

He has been studying chip Kelly's offense like crazy. It either means he's intent on going NCAA or he's going to nfl with a more spread oriented offense.

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by Spokane Chief Fan

Was Jimmy Raye our offensive coordinator under Marty?

That was Jimmy Raye II. His son Jimmy Raye III is the one who works for the Chargers.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

He has been studying chip Kelly's offense like crazy. It either means he's intent on going NCAA or he's going to nfl with a more spread oriented offense.

You do realize that means he's going to incorporate aspects of it into his offense?

All the terminology is going to be West Coast. Thus, he'll be running a WCO with possibly zone-read and 1-word hurry up calls, with possibly more zone blocking plays.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Sorter

You do realize that means he's going to incorporate aspects of it into his offense?

All the terminology is going to be West Coast. Thus, he'll be running a WCO with possibly zone-read and 1-word hurry up calls, with possibly more zone blocking plays.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindduc...the_almos.html

When I got fired from football, I wanted to learn about football, and it started with Oregon,'' Gruden said. "I wanted to learn the spread option, and Chip Kelly was nice enough to come down (to Florida) and spend a week with me.''

This is an article about a man who clearly knows offenses are gravitating to the spread and really studied up on it. Again, I think people are wrong if people think he will traditional west coast or that he will run a hurry up wco. He sounds like he is very intrigued by the spread and I'm really intrigued by what kind of offense that will lead to.