San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers Head Coach Profile

New Chargers coach Norv Turner has had success as an offensive coordinator, but with a career record of 58-82-1 it hasn’t transferred into success as a head coach. To be fair, Turner has never had anything close to the talent he now has at his disposal. Long known as an excellent groomer of quarterbacks, Turner will seek to replicate the success he had with Troy Aikman when Turner was an offfensive coordinator withthe Dallas Cowboys while he coaches up young QB Philip Rivers. The complete revamping of the coaching staff should provide only minor problems for the team and with a measure of continuity for the offense continuing to use Turner’s system, scoring should not be a problem. This is the season that Turner will possibly helm the ship deep into the playoffs.    

San Diego Chargers Off-Season Moves

The long simmering acrimony between Chargers GM AJ Smith and Marty Schottenheimer boiled over after the Chargers disappointing loss to the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoff.  With Schottenheimer’s firing, the departures of Cameron and Phillips for head coaching jobs ended up being the most significant offseason moves for this team.  At the very least, the lines of communication between the front office and coaching staff are now open.  With much of the nucleus of NFL’s best record holding team returning only minor adjustments were needed.  The biggest loss defensively was ILB Donnie Edwards’ departure to the Kansas City Chiefs. The loss of Keenan McCardell may seem to leave a hole, but after his disappointing 2006 season the Chargers are hoping that first round pick Craig Davis will start and be more than able to fill the void and solve the lingering weakness issues in their receiving corps.    

San Diego Chargers 2007-08 Season Outlook

Following last season’s outstanding, NFL-best 14-2 regular season finish and bitter one-and-done playoffs, the Chargers revamped nearly their entire coaching staff. Out went head coach Marty Schottenheimer and his playoff record albatross, in came Norv Turner (with a career 58-82-1 record).  Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron departed for the Dolphins and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips left for the head coaching job in Dallas. Nevertheless, teams win games on the field and the weapons the Chargers have are still among the best in the league.  Running back, fantasy stud and reigning NFL MVP LaDanian Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing, had over 2,300 all-purpose yards and an NFL-record 31 touchdowns. Second year starter Phillip Rivers threw for 3,388 yards and had 22 touchdowns to 9 interceptions in his first year at the helm of the Chargers’ offense. Tight end Antonio Gates continues to shine coming off of a year where he amassed 924 yards and 9 TDs and tailback Michael Turner has proven to be more than a capable backup to Tomlinson. The pieces are in place offensively and the team defense was outstanding giving up less than 19 points per game and forcing 28 turnovers. Linebacker Shawne Merriman led the NFL with 17 sacks in only 12 games after missing four games due to a steroid suspension. The challenge this year is in how quickly the team can pick up the new coaching staff’s system. The offense shouldn’t miss a beat though, as Turner is the architect of the current attack, implementing it as an assistant in 2001. With 21 of 22 starters returning, this could be the year San Diego breaks through to Super Bowl XLII.

San Diego Chargers Trivia

-The San Diego Chargers were originally owned by Barron Hilton, son of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton and, yes, a relative of Paris Hilton.

-Hall of Fame defensive linemen Ernie Ladd also made a name for himself in professional wrestling.

-In 2003, Doug Flutie, at 41, became the oldest player to score two rushing touchdowns in the same game.

-Quarterback Stan Humpries and receiver Tony Martin remain in the history books, tied for the longest TD pass play of 99 yards.

San Diego Chargers 2007-08 Roster

San Diego Chargers 2007-08  Depth Chart

San Diego Chargers – Qualcomm Stadium

Construction Began: December 1965
Opened: August 20, 1967
Capacity: 71,500
Location: San Diego, CA
Surface: Natural Grass

Formerly bearing the name San Diego Stadium, and then being renamed Jack Murphy Stadium after the sportswriter who dreamed of a multi-sport stadium facility for the city of San Diego. That general foundation has been the home of the San Diego Chargers for 40 years now, and has undergone more changes and renovations than the decades it has been in existence. In 1997 the stadium was renamed Qualcomm Stadium after the corporation paid millions for the naming rights. The stadium currently houses all the modern amenities a fan could want, including over 100 luxury suites and 7,000+ club seats.