Mike McDaniel may be one of the quirkiest coaches in the NFL, but there is no denying his offensive genius. With Justin Herbert and a talented group of weapons, McDaniel could be exactly what the Chargers offense needs to reach its full potential.
Mike McDaniel has never exactly been your typical NFL coach.
From his unique personality to the way he talks about football, there is something different about him. He can come across as quirky, unconventional and maybe even a little strange at times. But once you look past all of that, it becomes pretty clear that McDaniel knows what he is doing when it comes to offense.
That could end up being the best thing to happen to the Los Angeles Chargers offense in a long time.
The Chargers brought McDaniel in this offseason to replace Greg Roman and give the offense a completely different identity. Early on in training camp, it is becoming easier to see why the team was so excited about the hire. The offense is being built around speed, versatility and creating opportunities for playmakers to make plays.
And perhaps most importantly, McDaniel has a quarterback in Justin Herbert who could be the perfect fit for his system.
Herbert has already proven that he can make just about every throw on the football field. Now McDaniel is working on putting him in situations where he doesn’t have to do everything himself. The offense is designed to create easier opportunities while still allowing Herbert’s arm talent and ability to make plays outside the structure of the offense to shine.
Herbert has already talked about the adjustments he has made under McDaniel, including changes to his footwork and throwing workload. He has also expressed excitement about the versatility of the new offense.
That is one of the biggest reasons why this could work so well.
McDaniel has experience building offenses that create problems for defenses. His time in Miami showed how dangerous his system can be when the right players are in place. Now he has a quarterback with a much bigger arm and more versatility than the quarterbacks he previously worked with.
The Chargers also have plenty of weapons for him to work with.
Omarion Hampton gives McDaniel a talented young running back who can be used in multiple ways. Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston give him different skill sets at receiver while Tre Harris and Brenden Thompson add even more speed and potential. Then there is a tight end room featuring David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden that could become a major part of the offense.
McDaniel’s creativity could allow all of these players to contribute without forcing the offense to rely on one player every week.
That is what makes his arrival so exciting.
The Chargers don’t necessarily need McDaniel to completely reinvent football. They need someone who can maximize the talent already on the roster and consistently put players in positions to succeed.
His personality might be quirky, but his football mind is anything but.
If McDaniel can translate what he has shown during his coaching career into this Chargers offense, this could end up being one of the most important coaching hires the team has made in years. The early signs from training camp have certainly been encouraging, especially with the developing chemistry between McDaniel and Herbert.
The Chargers have been searching for an offense capable of taking the next step.
Mike McDaniel might finally be the person who can make that happen.
