Dec 9 2012, Indianapolis, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and coach Bruce Arians congratulate each other late in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeated Tennessee 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

There has been a lot of talk lately about Bruce Arians and the interest the Chargers, and many other clubs, are pursuing him for their Head Coaching Vacancies.  While I am supportive of what he has done on an interim basis in Indianapolis, I am also looking at his career of coaching as a whole.

Recently while watching Sportscenter on ESPN, I overheard one of the football analysts (sorry, I don’t remember which one), call Arians “…one of the great offensive minds in the game.” When I heard that, alarms started going off in my head.  Didn’t we just finish dealing with “the best playcaller in the game.”? Didn’t we learn our lesson!?

Let’s dig a little deeper into the history of Bruce Arians. First of all, he is 60 years old. Now, nothing against age…but that has to play a factor when you look around the league and see the success of all the younger coaches out there. Only 3 of the Head Coaches of teams in the playoffs this year are over the age of 60.

Lets revisit him being an “offensive genius.” As the interim head coach/offensive coordinator this year for the Colts, as 5 years the OC of the Steelers and 2 years OC of the Browns; his teams have finished in top-10 in scoring only ONCE. That doesn’t exactly get me very excited.

He does have head coaching experience however….during the 1980′s for Temple Owls! His 6 years as their head coach resulted in a sparkling record of 21-45. 21-45!!!

If all this wasn’t enough to sway your opinion just a little…please look closer at the above picture. Do we really want a coach who can’t even complete a high-five!? Refs would throw a penalty on that for roughing the passer.

Daniel Locke

Aug 24, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner smiles as he looks for the Minnesota Vikings head coach after the game at the Metrodome. The Chargers win 12-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

In a statement after the game, coach said, “Obviously, we’re going to meet with the team and I’m sure they’ll start looking for a new coach,” via the Associated Press.

Tomorrow is Black Monday in the NFL and a few head coaches and general managers will be hitting the unemployment line. Norv Turner is expected to be one of the coaches to get the pink slip on Black Monday. He failed to bring the Chargers to the playoffs in the last 3 seasons and the fans have been demanding for a change. That change could come as early as tomorrow.

Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner walks off the field after game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The time has come to act, and act fast….. Norv and A.J. are leaving.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit how extremely upset I was at the initial announcement that Norv Turner was to be hired as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. 

My ire was not solely based on the firing of Marty Schottenheimer.  To fire a 14-2 head coach takes “guts.”  Or stupidity.  Depends on how you look at it.

I had serious reservations about bringing in a head coach that had a resume full of losing. 

I’m not talking about the times in which he “earned” the moniker Offensive Genius while manning the offensive coordinator position with the Cowboys. 

With all due respect to Norval, my son would have been able to call plays with those Dallas teams.  Describing them as loaded at 90% of their positions is an extreme understatement.

All of that being said, I have over-extended myself in the defense of Mr. Turner.  I have gone above and beyond in an effort to support him.  I have spent many hours attempting to justify his job as head coach of the team that I love so dearly.

Well, it looks as though I will no longer have to lie to myself or the rest of the Charger fanbase. 

Any day now, Norv will indeed be fired.  He has proven that he is completely incapable of taking this team to the promised land. 

In saying that, Norv has had to work with the pieces that A.J. Smith’s ego has afforded him.  Smith has not exactly given Turner the needed draft picks, nor free agents, that are needed to forge towards the trophy that is rumored to have a gleam.

To begin to speak on the players that have been allowed/forced to leave would be redundant.  We’ve all been singing that tune for quite some time. 

This was a joint effort.  Both Turner and Smith are responsible for the saddening decline of our San Diego Chargers.  No longer are the days of being three deep at a decent amount of positions. 

We have traded in the winning horse for the cheaper one that has potential and a good attitude. 

Potential is a word that gets general managers and head coaches fired quicker than you can say Buster Davis.  Quicker than you can say run it on first and second down and then throw it on third.  

That last run-on sentence was intentional.

The run of both Smith and Turner has managed to remain a humongous thorn in the side of the Bolts.  Many have been calling for their heads for at least a couple of years. 

Whether Smith would have been successful with a different coach is a moot point.  He hand picked Norv. 

To speculate whether or not Turner would have been more successful with a different general manager is futile.

Why?  Because the clock is quickly ticking.  Counting down until the moment that many fans have been crying for at length.

Norv Turner and A.J. Smith will be fired.  The only question is when. 

People, like myself, will no longer have to try and justify their presence on this team.  And for that, I am thankful. 

Good luck to both of them as they embark on the adventure of finding employment. 

In an economy such as ours, it’s extremely difficult to hope for anyone to lose their jobs.  In the cases of both Norv Turner and A.J. Smith, they’ll still be collecting large paychecks beyond their firings.

The era of Turner and Smith is about to come to an end.  It has now become clear that these are the first steps in ensuring that the Chargers can fight their way back to the top of the AFC West title and beyond.  That guy at quarterback for Denver might have something to say about that.  But I’ll be more than happy to entertain the thought that changes at both positions are exactly what the doctor ordered. 

Yeah, I might be hoping that our doctor is re-evaluated and looking for work elsewhere also.

But that is a story for the offseason.

Thank you all for supporting this site and making our efforts worthwhile.  I can’t say how much it means to me and the entire staff of BoltBeat.com.

Hang on tight for an insane offseason! Please feel confident that we will do our best to keep you informed for the entire ride.

Thanks a lot for reading.

BoltUp!!!

BoogaP