http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/31/tomlinson-thinks-norv-turner-a-j-smith-have-failed-philip-rivers/
Tomlinson thinks Norv Turner, A.J. Smith have failed Philip Rivers
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 31, 2012, 6:49 PM EDT
Former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson sees San Diego
struggling this season, but he doesn�t think quarterback Philip Rivers
deserves the blame.
Instead, Tomlinson said on NFL Network�s Around the League Live, it�s
General Manager A.J. Smith and head coach Norv Turner who have failed to
build a complete team that Rivers can lead to a title. Asked if Rivers
has enough talent around him, Tomlinson answered, �I don�t believe he
does,� and Tomlinson noted that the Chargers let offensive playmakers
like Vincent Jackson and Darren Sproles get away.
�When you look at the people they have lost over the years and Philip
Rivers� numbers have gone down because of the guys he has lost,�
Tomlinson said. �You talk about a guy like Vincent Jackson, who has
picked up where he left off in San Diego now in Tampa Bay leading that
team in receptions. You talk about Darren Sproles who is doing a
phenomenal job in New Orleans right now. Some of the offensive line that
you don�t have any more � he has lost a lot of talent around him. I said
it last year, there is too much pressure on Philip Rivers. He needs guys
around him to help him win games.�
Tomlinson said he believes that if the Chargers miss the playoffs,
Turner and Smith will be out of work.
�We heard the rumblings out of San Diego last year when they had the
poor season [and] didn�t make the playoffs for the second straight
year,� Tomlinson said. �At that point, Dean Spanos really thought about
making a change, but he didn�t. He said he would give them one more
chance to try to right the ship. So here we are at the point where the
San Diego Chargers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the third
straight year. At that point, the way this organization has worked, you
fired Marty [Schottenheimer] after a 14-2 year. [After] many successful
years in San Diego, you fire a coach like Marty Schottenheimer. How can
you justify keeping A.J. Smith and Norv Turner when you don�t go to the
playoffs three straight years?�
That�s a good question. And the likely answer, if the Chargers don�t
turn it around, is that Spanos can�t justify keeping Smith and Turner.