Mike McDaniel is Coaching For His Job in Los Angeles

When the Los Angeles Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator, the expectation was that he would help take Justin Herbert and the offense to another level. Instead, the Chargers are off to an 0-4 start and look like a team that has no idea how to get its offense going.

McDaniel is already facing questions about his job security, and it is hard to argue that he has done enough to silence the criticism. The Chargers have scored 16 or fewer points in three of their first four games and are averaging just 16.8 points per game. For an offense led by a quarterback like Herbert, those numbers are simply unacceptable.

The Chargers have plenty of problems right now, but McDaniel needs to take a large share of the responsibility.

McDaniel was brought in to make this offense more explosive and put Herbert in a better position to succeed. Through four games, neither has happened consistently. Herbert has thrown four touchdown passes compared to six interceptions and has completed just 59.7% of his passes. While the offensive line and other personnel issues deserve plenty of blame, the coaching staff has to find a way to get more out of the players it has.

The offense cannot continue to look this unprepared and expect everything to be fine.

One of the biggest questions surrounding McDaniel is whether his offensive system is the right fit for this roster. During his time in Miami, he helped build one of the league’s most productive offenses, but that system was built around a different collection of players. The Chargers do not have the same personnel, and McDaniel needs to show that he can adjust instead of trying to force his scheme to work.

The running game needs to become a bigger part of the offense, and Herbert needs more help from his play-caller. The Chargers cannot rely on their quarterback to overcome every problem, especially when protection has been inconsistent and the offense continues to struggle with turnovers.

There also needs to be more creativity in the passing game. Getting the ball out quickly, creating easier completions and finding ways to get playmakers into space should be priorities. The Chargers have to make life easier for Herbert rather than constantly putting him in difficult situations.

McDaniel deserves some time to implement his offense, but an 0-4 start makes patience difficult. The NFL is a results-driven business, and coaches do not get unlimited time to prove their approach can work.

Jim Harbaugh has publicly backed McDaniel despite the disappointing start, and there has been no indication that the Chargers are preparing to make an immediate change. However, that does not mean McDaniel’s position is secure if the losses continue to pile up.

The Chargers are already in a difficult position, and another few weeks of offensive struggles could make it hard for the organization to justify staying the course. If the team cannot compete offensively, it will be difficult to turn the season around regardless of how well the defense plays.

The upcoming games are becoming increasingly important. McDaniel needs to show that he can make adjustments, improve Herbert’s performance and get this offense moving in the right direction.

There is still time for the Chargers to turn things around, but the margin for error is shrinking. McDaniel was hired to help this team take the next step, not watch the offense fall apart.

At this point, he needs to start producing results. If the Chargers continue to struggle and the offense does not show meaningful improvement, McDaniel could find himself looking for another job sooner than anyone expected.