SAN DIEGO - Chargers coach Norv Turner used levity to ensure he downplayed the fact that he'll spend Sunday coaching against the Oakland Raiders, the team that fired him as head coach 21 months ago.

"When you bounce around like I have, I can do that quite often," Turner joked on Wednesday.

Turner certainly wasn't laughing when the Raiders handed him a pink slip after just two seasons. Oakland went 9-23 in two seasons under Turner, including a porous 1-11 record against the other three AFC West teams.

Raiders middle linebacker Kirk Morrison was a rookie on that team that limped its way to the finish line by losing the final six games of the 2005 campaign.

"He had a bad year, definitely, and it cost him his job," Morrison, a San Diego State product, said on a conference call with the San Diego media. "But I've always had a lot of respect for him. He's got the (Chargers) going in the right direction now. It will be exciting to be across the field from him."

Turner faced the Raiders last season when he was San Francisco's offensive coordinator, but this will be the first time since his firing that he's been pitted against Oakland as a head coach.

But that won't prompt any increased intensity on the part of the low-key Turner. He said he's focused on finding a way to beat the Raiders because they are the next team on the schedule, not because of any bitterness or grudge associated with being fired.

"This is a big game," Turner said. "It doesn't matter if I coached there or not. It's a big football game for everyone in the organization and everyone in their organization. We're preparing for it in that manner."

Chargers players say Turner isn't making a big deal of the fact that he was once the Raiders' coach. But there is one major difference in the eyes of star running back LaDainian Tomlinson in terms of Turner coaching this game, as opposed to former coach Marty Schottenheimer.

To say Schottenheimer despised the Raiders is putting it mildly.

"It was personal with Marty for the fact that he just really didn't like the Raiders, so there was always a little something extra," Tomlinson said. "Norv is a little more laid-back and he's obviously coached for the Raiders, so it's a little bit different of that aspect. We really don't get fired up like Marty gets fired up for them."

During Turner's two seasons in Oakland, he oversaw a young team that was often overmatched defensively.

While reflecting on his Raiders' tenure several months ago, Turner pointed out Oakland's defense intercepted just five passes in his final season.

"It's the lowest in the history of the National Football League," he said.

Now Turner looks at some of those same young players and reminisces proudly. The Raiders, who reside in first place in the AFC West with a 2-2 record, have a young defensive nucleus that ranked third in the NFL last season in total defense.

"You look at it and it just tells you that young players are going to grow and get better," Turner said. "You look at (cornerbacks Nnamdi) Asomugha and Stanford Routt and Fabian Washington and (linebacker) Kirk Morrison. Those guys - you see where they are now compared as to where they were as young players, and they've just grown."

Though there were reports that some veterans didn't have confidence in Turner while he was in Oakland - future Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice was the most vocal dissident - players such as Morrison and offensive guard Robert Gallery enjoyed playing for Turner.

"He's a good coach," Gallery told Oakland reporters on Wednesday. "Obviously, the circumstances when he was here, if you don't win, coaches move on just like players. He drafted me but he's still a coach on the opposite sideline. He's a good guy."

Morrison's initial glimpse of Turner came when the Raiders staff coached him in the Senior Bowl following his final season at San Diego State. He impressed the Raiders that week and Oakland selected him in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft.

"One of my fondest memories of Norv is that he was the guy I got the phone call from, letting me know that the Oakland Raiders were going to select me in the draft," Morrison said. "That was exciting right there.

"I was with Norv at the Senior Bowl, too, so I know the kind of coach he is."

Chargers notes

It will be announced today that OLB Shawne Merriman is the cover athlete of NFL Tour, a new NFL-licensed arcade style video game produced by EA Sports. Merriman was selected via an online voting process over Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney and Miami's Jason Taylor. … QB Philip Rivers was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Sunday's 41-3 victory over Denver. Rivers completed 13-of-18 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns and also scored his first career rushing touchdown. … FS Marlon McCree, who intercepted a pass and forced a fumble against Denver, was considered for the AFC defensive honors, won by Pittsburgh CB Ike Taylor. … WR Vincent Jackson (shoulder) and ILB Brandon Siler (back) missed Wednesday's practice. DT Jamal Williams also didn't practice. The team termed Williams' absence as a "coach's decision," though coach Norv Turner mentioned that Williams is still dealing with a sore knee. DE Jacques Cesaire, who injured an ankle against Denver, was a full participant. … Oakland RB Lamont Jordan was limited with a back injury.

- Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.