Is Schottenheimer's firing good for Broncos?

[dragondawg]

was marty holding them back?

[SoCalBronco]

Marty didn't seem to be "holding them back" when our 17 point lead turned into an 8 point defeat.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Of course he was holding them back, but losing an entire coaching staff in one feel swoop will SET them back considerably. Even if they find a good coach to replace hiim...a VERY big if this late in the game, he'll need time to orient...more likely they'll take somebody as an interim coach and still be looking. I wonder how many players leave via FA now...

[SureShot]

I wouldn't consider 14-2 holding anyone back. That being said, If they don't have the head coach signing of the year waiting in the wings, the turmoil can only help the Broncos

[Xenos]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

Of course he was holding them back, but losing an entire coaching staff in one feel swoop will SET them back considerably. Even if they find a good coach to replace hiim...a VERY big if this late in the game, he'll need time to orient...more likely they'll take somebody as an interim coach and still be looking. I wonder how many players leave via FA now...

Not that many. In the end they're getting paid and they'll move on.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Marty was a notorious playoff loser...but there's no gaurantee whoever comes in does any better, especially since these players now know the head coach is essentially powerless in San Diego. See Dallas since Jimmy left for an example on how that works out.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by Xenos

Not that many. In the end they're getting paid and they'll move on.

The worst thing you can do IMO is pull a Jerry Jones and neuter your head coach in the eyes of the players. When players know the coach is basically a puppet to the GM or owner, forget discipline on and off the field. Making this so public was an enornmous mistake. At least Jerry's smart enough to lie about things...this will hurt the Chargers in both the short and long run IMO. They should have let Chokenheimer have it for one more year to see if he could win it all then gracefully move him out for a younger guy.

[dragondawg]

he was conversative in the playoffs

[Kaylore]

Yes it's a loss. Marty put together the right team for what he likes to do. He's a good teacher and a good evaluator of talent that can get his players to do the little things right. That comes together to make a solid team that will win you plenty of games. He just seems to struggle to get his teams prepared enough for the post season and his approach to building a team (get talent together and teach them to do little things right) isn't enough to win big games when you need to be more imaginative.

I think the question should be: Is the Chargers losing their entire coaching staff in one offseason good for the Broncos.

The answer is yes. Any team that loses that many coaches is going to have some troubles. That's just huge.

[boltaneer]

Food for thought: the Chiefs lost a lot of their coaching staff this past season and still made the playoffs. As much as I don't think much of Herm, he definitely surprised me with how his team played.

It's definitely a setback but doesn't mean they can't have success next season. It all depends on who they bring in to replace Marty and equally as important, it depends on if they are able to keep the same/similar schemes in or if there is a drastic change.

[SureShot]

Originally Posted by boltaneer

Food for thought: the Chiefs lost a lot of their coaching staff this past season and still made the playoffs.

Well you got that going for you, which is nice.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by boltaneer

Food for thought: the Chiefs lost a lot of their coaching staff this past season and still made the playoffs.

Nice flawed comparison.

They retained the same playbook and kept one coordinator. They were still pretty average.

[BigPlayShay]

I think the loss of the coordinators helps the Broncos more than the loss of Marty.

[Taco John]

Anyone who thinks Marty was holding the Chargers back doesn't understand football very well. Marty isn't the reason that the Chargers lost to the Patriots. It had nothing to do with mythical curses either. The bottom line is that Philip Rivers inexperience showed up, and even after a 3 interception day, Tom Brady's experience made the difference. Brady's 10 play, 9 pass drive broke the Chargers back.

[Taco John]

Also, I wanted to add that the only thing that will salvage this situation is if they're announcing Pete Carroll as their new head coach.

[Pendejo]

Bozo's firing certainly doesn't hurt the Donks.

But like I posted in another thread...according to the great John Lynch (during an interview on his old man's radio station) the San Diego Chargers have a terrible rep amongst the players. He said that he had his agent call AJ Smith when he was a free agent...and he was given a succinct no answer.

Just look over the years how many players the Chargers have had in camp on time...and you'll start to understand what a bottom feeding organization it is. It's a shame too. They play in a great city with a small but fiercely loyal fan base.

AJ smith is an arrogant punce. We'll see who gets the blame next year when the chargers miss the playoffs after having to play a first place shed-yool. The last time they whined about how many trips back east they had to take...and turned in a gutless performance...in the process chasing Drew Brees out of town.

A great city. A mediocre fan base. Terrible leadership from the top...down.

[watermock]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Anyone who thinks Marty was holding the Chargers back doesn't understand football very well. Marty isn't the reason that the Chargers lost to the Patriots. It had nothing to do with mythical curses either. The bottom line is that Philip Rivers inexperience showed up, and even after a 3 interception day, Tom Brady's experience made the difference. Brady's 10 play, 9 pass drive broke the Chargers back.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebo...20070114_NE@SD

If you look at the gamebook, it's absolutely astounding how marty and his staff and team managed to clutch defeat from victory.

NE rushed for 51 yards, Brady threw three picks...Chokers had better YPC, more total yards, more first downs, and more time of possession.

It's honestly hard to understand how Marty does this on a consistent basis. The guy obviously has someone sticking a voodoo doll with needles. How else can you explain Elway's 23 yard pass to Sewell on 4th and 22 on the drive. Some no name CB causing Earnest Byner to fumble at the goal line.

It's absolutely unprecidented for a 14-3 coach to be tossed.

I'm neither a Charger fan nor a Charger hater...but Marty deserved better than a trembling gullotiene over his head.

I ask you this...did Marty leave the team in better condition than he found it?

I guess Chugger fan can take solace in the fact that any candidate will inhherit a 14-3 team, and get to live in one of the nicest climates on the planet...as long as they have fresh water.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Anyone who thinks Marty was holding the Chargers back doesn't understand football very well. Marty isn't the reason that the Chargers lost to the Patriots. It had nothing to do with mythical curses either. The bottom line is that Philip Rivers inexperience showed up, and even after a 3 interception day, Tom Brady's experience made the difference. Brady's 10 play, 9 pass drive broke the Chargers back.

Gimme a break.

What I understand is that he's the Jake Plummer of NFL head coaches...just good enough to get you part of the way there and that's it...5-13 all time in the playoffs, and he didn't compile that record with inexperienced QB's runnning his offense. Marty's had the #1 seeded team in the conference multiple tiimes and has choked it away every single time.

Take a look at his most recent underachieving seasons with 1st place finishes and 1 and done playoff exits.

2006 San Diego Chargers 14-2 1st -- AFC West 0-1 Lost Divisional Playoffs
2004 San Diego Chargers 12-4 1st -- AFC West 0-1 Lost Wild Card Playoffs
1997 Kansas City Chiefs 13-3 1st -- AFC West 0-1 Lost Divisional Playoffs
1995 Kansas City Chiefs 13-3 1st -- AFC West 0-1 Lost Divisional Playoffs

Totals: Regular season- 52 wins, 12 losses Playoffs- 0-4

Bottom line...Shottenheimer's been coaching 16 seasons with mostly talented teams and has yet to show he can win in the playoffs, let alone guide a team to the Superbowl. And yes...he's got to take the blame for losing AT HOME to a New England team that wasn't as good as the Chargers were.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Also, I wanted to add that the only thing that will salvage this situation is if they're announcing Pete Carroll as their new head coach.

Since you brought it upand have heard his name mentioned in other threads, why would Carroll choose to be a puppet to the GM in SD when he had the keys to run EVERYTHING with the Miami Dolphins and an owner who will do whatever it takes to win. He's not going to coach the Chargers when he had an opportunity to run the Miami Dolphins.
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[Taco John]

Originally Posted by maven

Since you brought it upand have heard his name mentioned in other threads, why would Carroll choose to be a puppet to the GM in SD when he had the keys to run EVERYTHING with the Miami Dolphins and an owner who will do whatever it takes to win. He's not going to coach the Chargers when he had an opportunity to run the Miami Dolphins.
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He probably wouldn't... and I never said that he would. I just said that's about the only thing that could salvage the situation.

[watermock]

He's had several fluke losses however. I would of dumped the GM instead.

[cutthemdown]

Who knows!!! It's still players that make the plays IE Barry Switzer winning a superbowl without doing what anyone thought was a great coaching job. I think just the turmoil of it all hurts short term, but I doubt it hurts chargers chances of beating denver much. They are still more talented then Broncos.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

Gimme a break.

What I understand is that he's the Jake Plummer of NFL head coaches...

Now you're tugging at my heart strings...

...but nevertheless, Marty isn't the reason the Chargers lost vs. the Patriots. He did everything he could to put his players in a position to win the game. Yeah, that last challenge was probably a bad decision, but it wasn't what cost the Chargers the game. Player inexperience is what cost them that game.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Taco John

He probably wouldn't... and I never said that he would.

Wasn't referring directly to you, but his name has been mention by multiple posters and you brought him up in this thread.

It will be VERY interesting to see who takes this job.

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

What I understand is that he's the Jake Plummer of NFL head coaches...just good enough to get you part of the way there and that's it...5-13 all time in the playoffs, and he didn't compile that record with inexperienced QB's runnning his offense. Marty's had the #1 seeded team in the conference multiple tiimes and has choked it away every single time.

Your analogy would be on the money if you substituted Plummer for Peyton Manning. He just now broke through, but his team ALWAYS had high expectations. We likely won't know if Marty will ever break through, but the Chargers (understandably) got tired of waiting...