Turner’s happy for his players

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

Following a big playoff victory, the national media wanted Norv Turner to reveal his emotional side.  Was it relief?  Joy?  Vindication?  Following all the criticism he endured during the Chargers’ slow start to the 2007 season, surely all could be expected. 

But Turner as well as his players said he doesn’t think that way. By Monday, Turner’s thoughts were already on the next round of the AFC playoffs Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts.

Turner wanted to see playoff success for his players, especially for two of the team’s older stars, seven-year veteran LaDainian Tomlinson and 10-year nose tackle Jamal Williams. Turner first met the perennial Pro Bowlers when he spent a year as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2001.

“I can’t imagine LaDainian - with everything he has accomplished as a player and individual, with me being here since 2001 and later coaching against him and all that he’s been through - not having success in the playoffs,” Turner said. “The first one is the hardest. It’s just like the start of a game, the first score is hardest to get and then you get going. Hopefully this will jump start all of us.”

Tomlinson, the NFL MVP in 2006, was a rookie in 2001 under Turner. He has since then made five Pro Bowls and four straight. Williams, recognized as the best in the game at his position by many around the league, just made his third straight Pro Bowl after his switch from defensive tackle to nose tackle redefined his career.

If any Chargers showed emotion for the first playoff win, it was a rare touchdown celebration by Tomlinson. After his one-yard dive for a 17-6 lead with 8:45 left in the game, Tomlinson ran up the middle of the field waving his arms with joy.

“At that point, I felt we were going to win the game,” Tomlinson said. “So a lot of frustration and joy was being let out at the same time. Knowing we were going to get our first playoff win in a while, the emotions kind of overwhelmed me. And the crowd had a lot to do with it.”

The Chargers are a young team with its nucleus having been together for the upset losses at home in the first round of the 2004 and 2006 playoffs. Beating the Titans gave the Chargers a sense of what it takes to win in the playoffs.

“I do think we handled the preparation better going in,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “I think from an emotional standpoint we handled that a lot better on Sunday. I think now once you get one under your belt and you see, hey, it is a game just like the other 16 were. I think it’ll help our approach this week. We know the task is tough, but I think we’ll have the right mindset going in.”

Fourth-year outside linebacker Shaun Phillips is another one of the young veterans that has been with the team through three AFC West titles but no playoff success until beating the Titans.

“I think the experience of being together and going to the playoffs together helps carry over to this year,” Phillips said. “It helps build our confidence and that’s about the experience.”

Tomlinson said it doesn’t surprise him that Turner deflected opportunities to say he felt vindicated by the team rebounding from a slow start, winning the AFC West title and winning the franchise’s first playoff game since the 1994 season.

“His focus is next week,” Tomlinson said. “That’s what he said in the locker room after the game. Our focus is not to win one playoff game. We want to win a championship. That has been our goal. He was happy for the players and what we’ve been through in the past.”