Fire Marty?

Mark Schlereth writes:

Normally I'd say a lack of discipline should doom a coach, but that's only if there is a pattern. There is no pattern of a lack of discipline being a problem in San Diego. This team normally plays very disciplined football and doesn't make the mistakes we saw yesterday. Was this because the Chargers were nervous in a big game? Maybe, but it wasn't because of Schottenheimer's coaching.

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Mark, Isn't it the coach's job to get the players ready for a big game? I realize the Patriots had a lot more playoff experience, but remember, it wasn't too long ago that they had none and Brady was a rookie. If Belichick was a great coach for preparing them for the stress, then doesn't Marty deserve the blame.

There is a huge "white elephant" here: Did Marty's playoff record and the press constantly asking about it, make the coaching staff and therefore the players MORE nervous for the game? Has Marty's baggage become so big that he is unable to overcome it and get a team to play loose in the playoffs?

Former Charger player Reche Caldwell told LT after the game: "You're better than that." What the Chargers really needed during the game was a coach that got in Shane Olivea's face after the personal foul and the other players faces with the same message. Instead you had a team that was cut adrift and playing uncharacteristically bad, while the coaching staff was not making the adjustments to keep up with their opponents.