Entire coaching staff will return

Source: Chargers.com

The entire Chargers coaching staff will return intact in 2010.

Prior to the 2009 season, Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner made six changes to his coaching staff. Following an adjustment period early in the season, the moves paid dividends as San Diego won 11-straight games to finish the season.

Adaptation won’t be necessary in 2010. All of the Chargers’ assistants are under contract for next season as San Diego chases a fifth-consecutive AFC West title.

“I think in a couple areas it took us a little longer for everyone on our coaching staff to gel last season, but once we were all on the same page, I think it showed up,” Turner said. “I think that continuity will be even more present and hopefully it will help us get off to one of those fast starts everyone is looking for next season.”

On several occasions last season, Turner praised the efforts of his coaching staff. Despite numerous injuries that forced the Chargers to rely on several young players, San Diego didn’t miss a beat through the final two months of the regular season.

“When you think about playing 62 different guys and the number of guys we started on the offensive and defensive lines, at the linebacker positions as well as the constant change we had in the kicking game, that’s a challenge,” Turner said. “Our coaches and our players responded to that challenge.”

In December, Turner cited numerous players who he believed had their best seasons of their careers, and he gave his assistants a lot of credit for their hand in those performances. The achievements of Chargers players and coaches came after Turner challenged them last offseason.

“In the spring we talked about, ‘Hey, let’s see how many (players) can go out and have their best season of their career,’” Turner said. “We had a lot of guys that did that. I talked to the coaches the same way. ‘Lets see how many guys on this staff can have their best coaching year ever’ and they responded.”

Norv: This team can win a Super Bowl

Source: SD Tribune

So the Chargers have been eliminated from the playoffs again. Their fourth straight trip to the NFL's final eight was as futile as the first three.

So close. So far.

"When you get to that point where you're one of eight, you know youre two games away," Norv Turner said at a noon press conference. "That's the disappointing thing for me."

We're all wondering -- aren't we? -- about the future of this team after Sunday's 17-14 loss. Stephen Cooper told me last night it is a valid question to wonder whether this team can get it done in the playoffs. He believes they can, but it's valid to question.

Norv Turner went on the offensive this morning in answer.

"We have an outstanding football team," Turner said. "We have good players and great character players and people you want to be around on a daily basis and guys that will get this thing done. They will get this thing done. There is no question in my mind."

Turner recalled how the Chargers stopped hot Indianapolis teams the previous two postseasons. As many in the organization have over the years, Turner refered to the process Indianapolis has gone through. The Colts are in the playoffs for the eighth straight season. Their one Super Bowl berth (and victory) came on their fifth trip to the postseason.

"Theyre getting ready to play in the championship game," Turner said of the Colts, who will host the New York Jets on Sunday. "There are things you have to covercome in this league. We have the type of guys that will do that. The future for this football team is outstanding."

Turner signs three-year extension

Source: Chargers.com

San Diego President Dean Spanos signed Head Coach Norv Turner to a three-year contract extension today, extending his contract through the 2013 season. "I'm extremely proud of the job Norv has done with this team," said Spanos. "In three seasons he's led the team to three division titles. I'm confident that if we strengthen our roster and continue to provide Norv the assets he needs, this team will have continued success."

Turner has the top overall winning percentage in team history at .648 (35-19) as well as the top regular-season percentage (32-16, .667). The Chargers are 13-0 in December under Turner and 4-3 in January. His three playoff wins are tied for most in team history. The team's 13 regular-season wins in 2009 are the second most in team history, and includes a team-high seven wins on the road and a 4-0 sweep of the NFC East. The team committed the second-fewest turnovers (17) and the third-fewest penalty yards (570) during the regular season. Its 78 penalties are the fewest by the Chargers since 1976 when there were 14-game seasons.

Turner's leadership did not go unnoticed nationally as USA Today named him its NFL Coach of the Year.

Bolts' Stomp Cowboys, Looking To Playoffs

ARLINGTON, Texas — A goal-line stand near the end of the first half, a long drive near the game’s end and big plays in between put the Chargers on the verge of their fourth straight playoff berth and perhaps more.

“We took care of business here, and now we’re going to get ready,” receiver Vincent Jackson said. “Cincinnati’s our biggest game.”

A 20-17 victory Sunday over the Dallas Cowboys on a day the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals lost put the Chargers two games up with three to play in the AFC West and also gave them an edge in the race for the No. 2 seed going into next Sunday’s home game against the Bengals.

“We’ve got a big game next week,” defensive end Luis Castillo said. “It’s a really big game with a lot of meaning for the next couple months.”

It was the Chargers’ eighth straight victory this season and 16th consecutive December win dating to 2006.

“Everything just seems to be clicking for us right now,” linebacker Shawne Merriman said. “We hit a stride that we’re continuing.”

Jackson has seven catches for 120 yards, including two of the Chargers’ three crucial long third-down receptions.

Dallas, which tied the game at 10 with an 11-play, 99-yard drive that ended the third quarter, will look back on a missed 42-yard field goal and failure to get in the end zone on three tries from the 1 in the second quarter.

After taking a 17-10 lead and stopping the Cowboys, the Chargers took over at their 11-yard line with 9:13 to play and kept the ball more than seven minutes en route to a field goal that made it 20-10.

The Cowboys scored a touchdown with two seconds to play, but Antonio Gates recovered an onside kick attempt to effectively end the game and keep the Chargers perfect over the past four Decembers.

“Everyone talks about finishing strong,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “You want to peak in December, and we have a history of doing that. We hope to carry that onto January, into 2010.”

Bolts' improving coaching staff

Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

The Chargers are down to two vacancies on their coaching staff after the team reached agreements with two more assistant coaches Wednesday.

Former All-Pro cornerback Cris Dishman, who spent the 2008 offseason with the Chargers through the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship, will assist newly-hired secondary coach Steve Wilks.

Greg Williams, who was most recently a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, agreed to terms to become the Chargers’ assistant linebackers coach.

Dishman played 13 seasons in the NFL and was named to two Pro Bowls. He began his career with the Houston Oilers, played for Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner with the Washington Redskins and played one season each with the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.

Since 2006, Dishman has been on the staff at Menlo College in the Bay Area where he’s served as defensive backs coach and most recently as defensive coordinator.

Williams comes to the Bolts after one season at the University of Pittsburgh, where he’s worked under former Turner colleague Dave Wanndstedt. Williams was a four-year letterman at the University of North Carolina and attended training camp with the Chicago Bears in 1998. Chargers Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera was a Bears assistant at the time.

Williams has also spent time at Arkansas Tech University, DuPage College and Arizona State. He played professionally in NFL Europe, the XFL and the Arena Football League.

With four hires in the last two days, Turner still has two open positions on his coaching staff. He’s in the process of hiring a tight ends coach and an assistant offensive line coach.