Chargers Turn Heads with Bold Decision for Week 9

The Los Angeles Chargers (0-7) face another week of scrutiny as the team prepares for its eighth game of the year. The scrutiny in many ways revolves around the offense and its inability to score points.

Chargers' offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is at the forefront of that discussion. His skeptics are suggesting Los Angeles make changes.

Rather than make personnel changes, the Chargers have decided to change how McDaniel calls plays. Now he will call plays from the coaches' booth up high.

Thomas Martinez of Los Angeles Chargers on SI discussed the Chargers' recent decision to have offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel call plays from the booth. Here is some of what he had to say about the effect of that decision.

"After opting not make any changes to the coaching staff during the bye week, the Chargers and McDaniel are still searching for answers. McDaniel announced at a press conference on Thursday that he would be attempting to change his perspective and move to the booth to call plays against the Texans this week.

McDaniel cited his time working with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan who called plays from the booth during their time with the Atlanta Falcons. The view from the booth gives a more complete picture of the offense and defense for McDaniel to make in-game adjustments.

McDaniel moving to the booth is not the only changes on the horizon. Head coach Jim Harbaugh hinted that Omarion Hampton may see his share of carries increase or at the very least, a more consistent rotation as opposed to a consistent change of back based on play call or formation. It did appear that defenses have been able to pick up on significant tendencies based on which back was on the field."

Calling plays from the box may help him see the field better, but it's uncertain that it matters where McDaniel calls play from in regard to results on the field. A change at this point in the season might be too late for several reasons.

First off, the effect of moving to the booth would have been more powerful when the team was still within realistic contention for the playoffs. It's unclear how many players are still completely bought in.

In addition, the offense has more than one issue to the point that simply calling better plays might not be the difference.

Despite the reasonable skepticism, perhaps it will be the change the Chargers need. They will hope for better results this week.