Niners hire Norv Turner
 

Norv Turner could have had his pick of jobs running an NFL offense, but he had his family in mind when he accepted the offensive coordinator's post of the San Francisco 49ers on Monday.The former Raiders coach replaces Mike McCarthy, who left the 49ers to replace Mike Sherman as coach of the Green Bay Packers. Contract details were not available. Turner, who grew up in nearby Martinez, Calif., promised his son that he wouldn't leave the Bay area while his son was still in high school. By joining the 49ers, Turner can remain in the house he built and keep the family there. The 49ers hired one of the league's best play-callers in the 53-year-old Turner, who was fired Jan. 3 after consecutive losing seasons in Oakland. He had a year remaining on his contract. "I imagine based on readings I'm getting and the feeling I'm getting, there's people interested in me being an offensive coordinator again, so I'll look into that," Turner told the media upon his firing. "I wouldn't rule anything out, but I do know I want to coach." The Raiders lost their final six games this season and failed to beat an AFC West opponent for the first time since owner Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team. Turner's dismissal was Davis' third coaching change in five years.

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Hmmmm. Not sure what I think about this hire other than to say it doesn't surprise me.

Norv Turner was always a much better coordinator than head coach.

Green Bay Packers: DOWNGRADE
San Francisco 49ers: UPGRADE

I think it's a good thing.

The press is stupid. He was not fired from the Raiders. His last year was an option the Raiders declined to pick up. I guess "fired" sounds so much better. :rolleyes:

That being said, I'm glad for him. He always seemed like a likeable guy, just not a good head coach.

Maybe the writer is a FOF fan?

I think its a good move for Norv and the 49ers. I want to know who the Raiders going to bring in to fix this mess. Going oh - for in the AFC west is not acceptable.

Does this mean the 49ers will truly abandon the so-called West Coast Offense? Turner isn't exactly that kind of guy as an OC... presumably they hire him to run the system he runs, which is much more downfield passing and inside running. Wonder how that fits with young Mr. Smith, too.

Interesting move.

Turner has to be one of the most overrated "offensive minds" of our generation...

I think I like that move because he was well respected as an Offensive Coordinator.
Now I agree with QS that it'll be interesting to see what the Niners do with the West Coast offense schemes as Nolan repeatedly said he wanted to continue to use it...but Turner is more run oriented (setting up the play-action pass).

Anyhow, I think having Turner around (provided he stays more than a year here) could be beneficial to Alex Smith. It certainly helped Troy Aikman quite a bit in the early '90s.

In that phrasing, I agree. Turner to me is not an innovator who comes up with new schemes and approaches that are then adopted throughout the league. He is however brutally effective at construction highly efficient if vanilla offenses. He doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, he just is good at fitting a scheme to the talent available and making the most of it.

FWIW, the Kansas City media have all but shipped Al Saunders off to Oakland. I'm still hearing Pat Hill's name mentioned too. If it is Saunders, I'm surprised that haven't pulled the trigger since Saunders is up for other jobs. Makes you think Davis may be looking at a coordinator who is still in the playoffs.