December 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner speaks during the post game press conference after a win against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Surprise, surprise. The Tennessee Titans have let another great talent slip by as they remain in their cave of solitude, promoting from within. Norv Turner is one of the best offensive minds out there and Titans fans were praying for the Titans to bring him in, if only just to interview him.

But there will be nothing of the likes as the news has broken that Norv Turner has been signed by the Cleveland Browns to be their offensive coordinator.

I guess you can take that as a sign that Dowell Loggains will be the Titans offensive coordinator headed into the 2013 season, as many have suspected. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing by any means, it’s just a little more suspenseful, considering the fact that he couldn’t do much to turn around the Titans offense in the last few weeks of the 2012 season and that Turner would have been a much more secure hiring, considering his successful stints as an offensive coordinator in the NFL.

Here’s to hoping Loggains is the Titans secret weapon. He’s a younger guy, and the players seem to respond well to him. If he can build a system around the players he has and get Jake Locker to perform well, I’ll be happy. If nothing else, you have to feel better about his hiring than you did when the Titans announced they had hired Chris Palmer a few seasons ago. We all shook our collective heads at that one.

Mind you, this doesn’t necessarily mean Loggains has the job, but the Titans want to win in 2013 and Turner would have been the guy to hire.

Goodbye Norv. Though we never had a shot with you, I’ll miss you none the less.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart

Could Crennel come to Music City? Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NFL COACHING CHANGES

So Black Monday has come and gone leaving 7 NFL head coaches to ring the New Year without a job.  Many teams are in a state of flux right now as their owners and remaining GMs try and right the ship to be competitive in a league designed to make you average.  Some of these teams might have even settled for that.  Here’s a rundown of those let go and more importantly the first reports on who the team might be interested in as a replacement.

Arizona Cardinals : Ken Wisenhunt 

Wisenhunt was let go along with the teams GM, Rod Graves, after going 45-51 in the last 6 years. He  did take the franchise to a Super Bowl with Kurt Warner, but has since imploded under poor quarterback play.

In the hunt: Team president Michael Bidwill has announced the Cardinals will interview Andy Reid for their head coaching vacancy.  Their own defensive coordinator Ray Horton, and offensive coordinator of the Broncos, Mike McCoy, are also in the mix.

San Diego Chargers: Norv Turner

As expected, the Norv Turner/A.J. Smith era is over in sunny California.  Norv took over a 14-2 team that couldn’t make the final push in the playoffs.  He was able to get the team to 3 AFC championship games but zero Superbowl appearances. With a 59-43 record over 6 years, the Chargers failed to even make the playoffs this year as the team is trending in the wrong direction.

In the hunt:  As per NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi the Chargers are interested in Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Apparently Chuck Pagano is supportive of Arians fielding calls for HC positions.

Buffalo Bills: Chan Gailey 

The Bills let go of Chan Gailey after 3 years and 16-32 record.  After bringing in an upgrade in talent, Gailey was unable to turn around the Bills defense.

In the hunt: Lovie Smith is reportd to have targeted the Bills as a team he would like to coach.

Chicago Bears: Lovie Smith

The Bears started 7-1 this season, but finished with a 3-5 record over the second half.  Their 10-6 record this year caused them to miss the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 years, coupled with two division rivals making the playoffs, led to Lovie’s demise.

In the hunt: The Bears are set to interview Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan.  Mike McCoy of the Broncos and Keith Armstrong of the Atlanta Falcons are also reported to have interviews for the HC position.

Cleveland Browns: Pat Shurmer

Shurmer and GM Tom Heckert were both relieved of their duties on Monday.  Shurmer had the Browns playing respectable but with only 9 wins in two seasons.  It was a quick hook but new owner Jimmy Haslam is cleaning house and starting over.

In the hunt: Dirk Koetter, Falcons OC, is set to interview for the job this week.  There are rumblings of a Chip Kelly fit here as well.

Philadelphia Eagles: Andy Reid

Andy Reid was let go after a marathon tenure of 14 years and 19 playoff games.  The team took on an influx of talent through free agency in 2010.  The “dream team” went 8-8, but then slid to 4-12 in 2012 with arguably one of the most stacked rosters in the NFL.

In the hunt: Falcons DC Mike Nolan is already set to interview for the Eagles vacancy.  Many have pointed to the Eagles as a landing spot for Chip Kelly as well.

Kansas City Cheifs: Romeo Crennel

Crennel was let go after two season and a 4-15 record.  The Chiefs defense thrived under his 3-4 scheme and kept them in many games.  The offenses ineptitude led by poor quarterback play and injuries, proved to be too much to overcome.  The replacement for Todd Haley is now being replaced.

In the hunt: Falcons offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter is set to interview with the Chiefs along with the Eagles and Browns.

What this means for the Titans

The Titans retained head coach Mike Munchak, with Bud Adams saying that he just needs the right people around him.  The Titans fired offensive coordinator Chris Palmer mid season and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray managed to hang on, at least for now.  The Titans would be wise to upgrade these positions if possible, but that remains to be seen.  It all depends on who’s left standing when the carousel stops.

Let’s not forget that Jon Gruden, Bill Cower, and Jay Gruden (Bengals OC) are still out there as well, and Chip Kelly is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.  It’s likely that Reid and Smith both find new jobs as head coaches, but  Wisenhunt is a maybe.  The rest will either hit the college trail or return to coordinating.  The Titans would be remiss to not look at Wisenhunt, Crennel, and Turner as possible coordinators going forward.  I believe any fan would be ecstatic over one of these hires.

Let there be caution, however, on making change for changes sake.  Tom Moore may be convinced to stay on as offensive coordinator, which would be a huge upgrade over Palmer/Loggains.   Crennel would be a fabulous get as well, but if Romeo goes elsewhere, Gray may be the best alternative.

you can find me on twitter  @gunnelsj

1. Tennessee Titans

Vince Young (Probable – Sprained Ankle and Knee)

Look for the triumphant return of VY to be the make-or-break match-up for Sunday’s game.  Kenny Britt will be blanketed after last week’s break-out performance and it is hard to believe that the stumbling Chargers could forget about what Chris Johnson is capable of in the open field. That leaves all the weight back on the shoulders of VY.  He will have to distribute his passes, protect the ball, and prolong plays with his legs.  The Titans may lead the NFL in sacks, but so do the San Diego Chargers.

2. San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers (sacked 18 times, 6 turnovers in 5 losses)

The special team gaffs, silly turnovers, sudden rash of injuries, and disgruntled star talent (Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill) have destroyed the potential and playoff hopes of this once dominant team.  But, that only means the Chargers, like the Titans, rely heavily on their quarterback to win games.  Whether it is poor protection or lack of targets, Rivers has struggled in the 5 losses.  On Sunday, he will face another daunting test in the form of one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL.

The Chargers have been a real thorn in the side of Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans, especially within the confines of Qualcomm Stadium.  Charger fans should not expect a clumsy or incompetent effort from their talented team at home, but a win is too much to expect from a Norv Turner coached squad.  The Titans will finally get over the hump and the Chargers will finally be able to begin preparations for the 2011 season.

Titans 27 – Chargers 20