Recon on AFC West Management, Part One

The San Diego Chargers:

Alex Spanos is the Owner of the Chargers but Dean Spanos has run team since 1994.
Apparently, Dean chooses wisely to pick a good GM and stand back. Let's use Dean as Chargers 1st card.
Dean hired someone well known here in KC Marty Schottenheimer in 2002.
Then brought in current GM AJ Smith prior to 2004 season. The Chargers finished the 2004-2006 3 year period
with a regular season record of 35-13 but with 2-1st round Playoff losses.
It would seem to be a Chicken/Egg thing as whether Smith or Marty was more responsible for that record.
AJ Smith was the GM and chose to replace Marty after a 14-2 season. Let's use AJ as Chargers 2nd card.
Enter Norv Turner Head Coach from 2007 to present. He has posted a record of 19-13 and 3-2 in playoffs.
Norv was handed a Ferrari in 2007 and started 5-5 only to Gas it to finish in AFC Championship game.
In 2008 Norv got off to an even worst start at 4-8 only to edge out a sputtering Broncos at the line.
In 2009 another sputtering start should doom the Chargers. Let's use Norv as Chargers 3rd and final card.

Chargers 2009 Schedule from www.chargers.com

REGULAR SEASON      
Week 1 Mon. Sep. 14 @ Raiders 7:15 PM
Week 2  Sun. Sep. 20 Ravens 1:15 PM
Week 3 Sun. Sep. 27 Dolphins 1:15 PM
Week 4 Sun. Oct. 4 @ Steelers 5:20 PM
Week 5 Sun. Oct. 11 BYE 
Week 6 Mon. Oct. 19 Broncos 5:30 PM
Week 7 Sun. Oct. 25 @ Chiefs 10:00 AM
Week 8 Sun. Nov. 1 Raiders 1:05 PM
Week 9 Sun. Nov. 08 @ Giants 1:15 PM
Week 10 Sun. Nov. 15 Eagles 1:15 PM
Week 11 Sun. Nov. 22 @ Broncos 1:15 PM
Week 12 Sun. Nov. 29 Chiefs 1:05 PM
Week 13 Sun. Dec. 6 @ Browns 1:05 PM
Week 14 Sun. Dec. 13 @ Cowboys 1:15 PM
Week 15 Sun. Dec. 20 Bengals 1:05 PM
Week 16 Fri. Dec. 25 @ Titans 4:30 PM
Week 17 Sun. Jan. 3 Redskins 1:15 PM

After the Jump some more info and an analysis and What another damn Poll!

 Dean would seem have to have a handfull of issue unrelated to the Field. He has been attempting to get an updated stadium in San Diego but has been met with resistance by the city and a laid-back SoCal fan base. Hence a flirtation with LA that might end up moving the team North. Might we have a California Chargers team in future?

AJ Smith has worked the Draft for good/bad like we thought Pioli would in 2009. He pulled of the Ely/Rivers mess and probably would have been fine either way. He has been very active in draft.

2007

via img14.imageshack.us

2008

"Having dispatched the club's #2, #3 and #4 picks in earlier deals to acquire Chris Chambers,
Eric Weddle and Paul Oliver, respectively, the Chargers were not scheduled to pick again until
the 5th Round. A.J. Smith, however, had targeted a particular player to replace the departed Michael Turner,
and so made a trade to acquire a 3rd Round pick with which to get him: LSU's Jacob Hester."
from signonsandiego.com
Hester cost the Chargers their 2008 5th and their 2009 #2 pick.

 Norv Turner has to have the pressure on in 2009 as San Diego would be assumed to be the "Cream of the West" Another so-so start would have AJ Smith looking at a crop of HC candidates in 2010 to choose from. Probably not the best outcome for the Chiefs to have Shanahan, Crennel, Marty Again, Billick, Cowher, or Gruden staring back at us from the SD sideline. But would be the probability with the Chiefs winning the 2009 West Championship.

Now onto the Poll.