San Diego Chicken
11-12-2007, 08:09 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-morningrush111207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
This article can best be described as a "WOW". Michael Silver absolutely rips Norv Turner as a coach and AJ Smith for being an egomaniac. The most eyebrow-raising parts of the article are some of the (unnamed) player reactions after last night's game -
"We have the best running back in football, and yet we don't sense a commitment to the running game," one veteran said Sunday night. "Last year, teams put eight in the box against us, and we ran anyway – and found a way to be successful. That set up the play action, which fueled our passing game. This year, it seems like we run because we're supposed to; it balances out our passing attack. But it's not like being physical at the point of attack and running the ball is our personality."
Meanwhile, eight days ago in Minneapolis, the Chargers' once-vaunted defense got pushed around and gave up 296 rushing yards – to one player, the Vikings' Adrian Peterson. "A lot of guys were wondering how we could sit back and play zone all game while he was doing that to us," another Chargers veteran said. "It's like Cottrell is going to do it his way, and that's the only way he knows, and he won't come off of it. If you look at it, he's been fired from his last two jobs, and guys are questioning whether he's the right man for this one."
It's fairly easy to see that the climate in the locker room isn't good right now. In AJ's mind, things weren't supposed to change at all. The playbooks are the same, but the difference is in the philosophy. I just hope he does the right thing if the team continues to underachieve.
This article can best be described as a "WOW". Michael Silver absolutely rips Norv Turner as a coach and AJ Smith for being an egomaniac. The most eyebrow-raising parts of the article are some of the (unnamed) player reactions after last night's game -
"We have the best running back in football, and yet we don't sense a commitment to the running game," one veteran said Sunday night. "Last year, teams put eight in the box against us, and we ran anyway – and found a way to be successful. That set up the play action, which fueled our passing game. This year, it seems like we run because we're supposed to; it balances out our passing attack. But it's not like being physical at the point of attack and running the ball is our personality."
Meanwhile, eight days ago in Minneapolis, the Chargers' once-vaunted defense got pushed around and gave up 296 rushing yards – to one player, the Vikings' Adrian Peterson. "A lot of guys were wondering how we could sit back and play zone all game while he was doing that to us," another Chargers veteran said. "It's like Cottrell is going to do it his way, and that's the only way he knows, and he won't come off of it. If you look at it, he's been fired from his last two jobs, and guys are questioning whether he's the right man for this one."
It's fairly easy to see that the climate in the locker room isn't good right now. In AJ's mind, things weren't supposed to change at all. The playbooks are the same, but the difference is in the philosophy. I just hope he does the right thing if the team continues to underachieve.