Mike McDaniel’s run game for the Los Angeles Chargers has hit a historically low point through just two games this season, and for real, it’s shockingly bad. Everyone knew McDaniel’s offense would be dynamic and explosive through the air, but his ability to scheme a rushing attack was something Chargers fans were hyped for. Well, that hype has crashed harder than a late-season playoff dream.
The Crushing Numbers Don’t Lie
The analytics don’t mince words, folks. The first two games of this season have combined to be the second-worst two-game stretch in terms of EPA gained per rushing play across *all* two-game stretches during McDaniel’s tenure as Miami’s head coach and Greg Roman’s time as Chargers OC. Let that sink in for a second. We’re talking about a run game that’s struggling on a level almost unprecedented for McDaniel.
He had 69 two-game stretches with Miami. Wanna guess how many of those were worse than what we’ve seen in these first two games? Only *one*. Yeah, just one. And the kicker? Greg Roman, who had his own share of critics, *never* had a two-game stretch worse than what McDaniel has delivered to start this season. It’s truly a shocking piece of information, especially when you consider what was expected.
An Offensive Meltdown
Look, the Chargers’ passing game apparently “stinks” too, but the real gut punch here is the ground game. The most shocking part of their offensive struggles, according to the numbers, has been what’s happening on the ground. You bring in a guy like McDaniel, you expect that run game to be a threat, a compliment to the passing attack. Instead, it’s almost an anchor weighing them down. This isn’t what anyone imagined for an offense that was supposed to light up scoreboards.
After an 0-2 start to the season, the Chargers are saying they’re going to be better. They have to be, right? Can they actually fix this mess on the ground and get the offense clicking? Or are we witnessing a full-blown offensive collapse in the making? It’s early, but man, this is a rough look.
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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