Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel isn’t messing around this season, folks. He made it crystal clear Monday: his goal for Justin Herbert isn’t some gradual “Year 1” adjustment period, nope. They’re trying to hit “Year 2 results in Year 1” right out of the gate with Herbert. That’s a bold claim, especially for an early season push!
No Patience for Progress, Just Explosive Play
And get this, the early returns? McDaniel is already blown away, saying Herbert has been “everything that I’d hoped and more.” Think about that for a second. This isn’t mere coach-speak, right? He’s seeing a guy who’s “far past where quarterbacks are usually in Year 1.” That’s not just big, it’s *massive*. We’re talking about a guy skipping the learning curve! McDaniel’s seen this movie before, too. He knows firsthand how much QBs can blow up in their second season in similar systems. Look at Tua Tagovailoa, who landed his only Pro Bowl nod in his second year under McDaniel in Miami. Or even crazier, Matt Ryan snagging an NFL MVP award in his second year under Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta, where McDaniel was on staff. He knows what he’s talking about when it comes to unleashing these guys.
The “500 Things” Overhaul and Dangerous Offense
Instead of just chilling and letting an “adjustment period” happen in Los Angeles, McDaniel spent the entire offseason on a mission. He was hunting for ways to put Herbert’s development into overdrive. He even admitted there were “probably about 500 things” he wanted to tweak about his own coaching approach! That’s a serious commitment to getting it done right now. We’re talking about restructuring meetings, throwing wild new formations and alignments at these Chargers players, really challenging them. Why? Because as McDaniel said, “we’re not having a year off , we’re trying to be our best right now. So we have to put in the prerequisite work to get that done.” That’s the kind of intensity that gets the job done. The players are clearly responding, too, being “up for the challenge.” All this work has led to what McDaniel calls the “most tightly woven” offensive installation of his entire coaching career. Herbert’s physical gifts, his insane arm strength, his mobility, his ability to carve up defenses at every level, those are undeniable. But it’s his uncanny knack for soaking up this new system that’s making this transition “easier than anticipated.” McDaniel can’t stop raving, adding, “I can’t say enough positive things.”
If Herbert keeps up this blistering pace, McDaniel won’t have to wait until Year 2 to see those explosive results he’s chasing. The Chargers are clearly building something dangerous down there, and the rest of the league better pay attention. Speaking of the league, big news for us here in the Emerald City: our very own Seahawks 2nd-round safety Bud Clark just got some tough news about his Week 1 starting job. This early season, every team is figuring things out, and every position battle matters. It’s a grind out there, 12s, but that’s what we love about football!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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