After just seven games on a team that was a potential Super Bowl favorite just a few weeks ago, offensive coordinator Norv Turner decided he’d had enough. Turner announced his resignation today from the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday in a move that shocked everybody, including Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.
Statement from Norv Turner on his resignation: pic.twitter.com/ZTmu1xbozD
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 2, 2016
“I was very, very surprised,” Zimmer said. “I believe he’s OK. He didn’t tell me he was ill. There was no thought about that (making a staff change).”
And yet that’s what happened. Turner will be replaced by Pat Shurmer, who you probably have heard of since there’s a good chance you’ve wanted him fired from your team before. In fact, when Shurmer was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams from 2009-2010 the man could have changed his first name from “Pat” to “Fire” and it wouldn’t have altered his Google searches at all.
#Vikings players were shocked by this morning's news out of Winter Park.
📰: https://t.co/IiOAIrGknX pic.twitter.com/fDRUuOvi6q
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 2, 2016
Shurmer spent two seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns before getting shitcanned, then spent another three seasons as Chip Kelly’s offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. The end result there was another pink slip. Shurmer was the tight ends coach for the Vikings this season and will now step in as the interim offensive coordinator. Really, though, it’s Shurmer’s job for good if the offense plays well. For some reason he’s still highly thought of in NFL circles.
As for Turner’s reasons, no one knows, but that won’t stop me from throwing out some conjecture later. As of Wednesday, Minnesota had the No. 31-ranked offense in the NFL behind the hapless Los Angles Rams and right above Chip Kelly’s San Francisco 49ers.
“Norv is a very good friend of mine and he’s helped me tremendously in the three years I’ve been here,” Zimmer said. “He’s been my right hand man. He decided it was in the best interests of him and I accept those reasons. His reasons are personal.”
Pat Shurmur takes over as the interim offensive coordinator following Norv Turner's resignation.
📰: https://t.co/tueBSF7Yh4 pic.twitter.com/45PL2kjSC4
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 2, 2016
It’s important to note here that Turner resigned, he didn’t retire. He’s a free agent right now and could conceivably end up as the offensive coordinator anywhere next season. Turner did grant a few quotes to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
“It’s the hardest decision, based on a number of circumstances I’m not going to go into,” Turner told the paper. “A tough day. But I got the utmost respect for Mike (Zimmer). I think he’s as good a coach as I’ve been around, but it just got to the point were I didn’t think it was going to work with me. So I removed myself. I truly think this move may end up being a positive for the Vikings.”
"I obviously didn't see this coming." – Sam Bradford
📺: https://t.co/NRNn9PchqO pic.twitter.com/1uo08nf6VO
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 2, 2016
I decipher that two ways. Either Zimmer meddled in the playcalling and gameday strategies, which Zimmer denies, or there was a personality clash. Maybe Zimmer jumped Norv’s shit after a few weak offensive performances and Turner decided he wouldn’t take it. It’s all going to come out eventually.
According to ESPN, Zimmer went behind Turner’s back in 2014 to review his offense with then Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. Considering Turner has a couple of Super Bowl rings, that probably didn’t go over well.
The primary problem with Minnesota’s offense is its lackluster offensive line. It’s also one, at least in the plays that got put into the game, no one seemed to address in formations and playcalling. When I live blogged the game Monday night I blamed Turner for continually sending a running back into pass patterns when quarterback Sam Bradford was getting pummeled. Maybe it wasn’t Norv after all.
How will the offense be different under Shurmer? It’s hard to tell after three consecutive flame outs from Shurmer at different locations. Maybe he’s learned something in his Lane Kiffin-esque fall upward. We’ll know something when the Vikings host the Detroit Lions Sunday.
It’s been a rough year for offensive coordinator turnover in the NFL. Minnesota is the fourth team to make a change. The Buffalo Bills fired Greg Roman, the Jacksonville Jaguars fired Greg Olson and the Baltimore Ravens fired Marc Trestman.
