Panthers vs. Chargers: Scott and Norv Turner are avoiding contact

[jtnc]

Scott Turner usually talks to his dad once a day. The phone conversations are often about football, but not exclusively.

But this week there’s been no talk at all.

Turner, the Panthers’ offensive quality control coach, is the son of San Diego coach Norv Turner, whose Chargers host Carolina on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.

There are several connections among players and coaches from both teams. Panthers coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski were on Turner’s staff before coming to Charlotte last year.

But none of those ties is as close as the Turners’.

“I’m glad we’re going out there,” Scott said Thursday after the Panthers’ practice. “I can see my family a little bit. It’ll be fun to see my dad before the game.”

Scott talked to his father last weekend to congratulate him on the Chargers’ win against Pittsburgh. Norv had similar praise for the Panthers’ victory against Atlanta.

But in the five days since, they have maintained a code of silence.

“I talked to him Sunday night, just congratulating him. They had a big win against Pittsburgh. And he was fired up for us beating Atlanta,” Scott said. “We talked about it and then said, see you Sunday.”

Scott, 30, has never worked with his dad. After lettering three years as a backup quarterback at UNLV, Scott was a high school coach in Virginia and a college coach at Oregon State and Pittsburgh before joining Rivera in Charlotte in 2011.

Rivera and Chudzinski have enough background with the Chargers that no one on with Panthers’ has pumped Scott too much for information this week.

“We have similar systems as far as terminology goes. You can see on film some routes and stuff like that,” Scott said. “But it’s not like I’m inside of his head. I know his general philosophies and stuff like that, just from having watched him.”

Scott and his wife, Robyn, plan to go to dinner Friday night in San Diego with his brother, Drew, a senior at the University of San Diego, and his sister, Stephanie, an actress who appeared in the Jennifer Lopez movie, “Monster-in-Law.”

He expects to see his dad Saturday afternoon after the teams’ walkthroughs. On Sunday, Scott will take his usual place next to Chudzinski in the coaches’ box.

Norv said he’s glad his son is getting to work with coaches he respects.

“What you want to have an opportunity to do as a young coach is be around guys who understand how to coach, understand the league. They get it,” Norv said. “Scott was lucky that he played at UNLV for (former Southern Cal and L.A. Rams coach) John Robinson and they have an awfully good staff there. ... And now, the chance to work with Ron and work directly with Chud and that offensive staff.”

As was the case the last few years, Norv has come under fire this season. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported last week that he and Chargers general manager A.J. Smith would be fired at the end of the season.

“It’s part of the business. There’s going to be critics, and that’s just part of it,” Scott said.

Rivera also is dealing with questions about his future. Rivera said this week the Panthers’ season has mirrored the Chargers’, with a number of close losses and unrealized expectations.

“We’ve gone through some tough stuff here, and there’s been a lot of resiliency on this team. They’ve got the same situation there,” Scott said. “They’ve done it a lot of years where guys have been on him, and you’ve never seen that team waver as far as how hard they’re playing.”

Scott looks forward to seeing his parents and the rest of his family this weekend. But the lead-up to the game has been a challenge.

“It’s exciting. You get a little anxious, too, going into this week,” Scott said. “I’ll be glad when it’s over and we’ve got a win.”

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Interesting.....I'm pretty sure Scott knows his father's entire playbook and so does Chud.

[megadeth078]

If he did know that, what would be the point of the code of silence?

Also, what does Chud have to do with it? Don't you mean McDermott?

[jtnc]

If he did know that, what would be the point of the code of silence?

Also, what does Chud have to do with it? Don't you mean McDermott?

Chud was the Tight-ends coach & asst head coach in San Diego when Rivera was d-cord, he knows the playbook. Rivera knows it too.