It’s amazing what four straight wins and three straight Denver losses can do for the mood around Chargers Park on a Monday afternoon. Now tied with the Broncos at 6-3, and having beaten back two of the over-inflated “beasts of the East” the past two weeks, the Chargers are finally walking the path they all imagined taking in training camp.
The good feeling has even trickled up to the head coach, Norv Turner. At his weekly presser on Monday, Norv was even cracking wry on multiple occasions. The Norv Turner comedy playbook has seen the light of day less often than the wildcat formation, so this was a rare and refreshing treat.
On hearing the news before Sunday’s game that LaDainian Tomlinson’s wife LaTorsha was pregnant with their first child, Norv said he went to LT with a little friendly advice:
He even nailed the contented sniff after delivering the punch line, Chainsaw style. Nicely done, Norv! I’m not sure if Mal Hall will leave open the first slot at his Thursday night comedy show, or Greg Jones tonight for that matter, but if Norv wants to stretch out his routine I can probably place a phone call…
Hear more excerpts from Turner’s press conference after the jump:
An improved running game was part of what Turner called the Chargers "most complete performance"/(AP Photo)
Turner called Sunday’s win over Philadelphia the “most complete performance of the season” for the Chargers. He noted the improvement in special teams coverage, run offense and defense, and red zone efficiency on both sides of the ball. Despite allowing 450 yards passing to Donovan McNabb, Norv said he was pleased with the overall performance of the defense.
In addition the Chargers are getting as close to full health as you could reasonably expect for Week 11 in the NFL. Jeromey Clary’s twisted ankle will likely keep him out of some practice this week but Turner is hopeful he will play on Sunday against the Broncos. Tim Dobbins could also return at middle linebacker, and Nick Hardwick will “begin the process again” of trying to get back in the mix at center. Hardwick was described as having a setback in practice last week trying to return from torn ankle ligaments.
One of the favorite pursuits of San Diego Chargers fans is to criticize the play-calling of Norv Turner. Even the most hardened critic had to admit that on Sunday, Turner was coaching circles around Andy Reid. He particularly seemed in the zone in the first half, always a step ahead of what the Eagles were doing defensively.
I asked Norv if he enjoyed calling plays when everything is clicking, and his answer spoke volumes about the nature of the man. Turner is an NFL head coach who is willing to sublimate his ego to those around him and to his players:
Turner enjoys watching great playmakers like Antonio Gates/(AP Photo)
Norv Turner, widely known as a great NFL play-caller, thinks play-calling is so overrated. Those are the words of a league lifer, a guy who’s seen it go wrong enough times to know there’s no point in getting too caught up in how great you are or how much you bring to the table. The NFL will humble you every time you get too high on yourself.
Case in point: Sunday’s opponent, the Denver Broncos. Josh McDaniels has been able to save his multiple fist pumps the last three weeks. He’s still young and riding the roller coaster of emotion. Norv’s seen it all before:
Turner also still sees a formidable defensive challenge in Denver, regardless of their three-game skid:
Of course, even if Norv did see something dramatically different in the Broncos, he wouldn’t be telling us about it. Turner made that clear with a couple of winks and nods on Monday. First, he was asked what he says to L.T. about people who say he’s washed up:
Later, a reporter tried to get Turner to bite on the sports media topic du jour, asking if he had seen Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on 4th & 2 from his own 29 yard line against the Colts:
Will Norv be challenging Wright as the king of sardonic humor? Probably not.
We’re good, Norv. On a stress-free Monday with San Diego’s new Steven Wright, you can’t help but be good.
