The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a miserable start, and the clock is already ticking on first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Heading into Week 5 without a win, the Chargers have been stuck in the kind of early-season hole that gets people talking fast. Second-year coach Jim Harbaugh still hasn’t found a way to turn things around, and the offense has become the biggest concern of all.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report weighed in Friday with NFL coaching predictions, and McDaniel was the name he flagged as one to watch. The reason is simple: the Chargers aren’t moving the ball well enough, and they’re not scoring enough either. Knox pointed out that Los Angeles ranks 21st in yards and 29th in scoring.
But the bigger problem, according to Knox, is what’s happening with Justin Herbert.
"The bigger issue is that quarterback Justin Herbert seems to have regressed in McDaniel's system."
That regression shows up in the numbers. Knox noted that Herbert has thrown just four touchdowns with six interceptions, and his 70.6 passer rating is the lowest of his career by a wide margin - nearly 25 points below his career average.
If Harbaugh decides the offense needs a reset, Knox suggested a possible internal move. Passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shane Day could be the one to take over for McDaniel, since he has experience working with Herbert. While Day hasn’t handled much play-calling, Knox said, "he has a strong grasp of what has traditionally worked for Herbert and the Chargers."
In Other News...
Chargers Fans Still Have One Reason To Believe After An 0-4 Start
An 0-4 start can feel like the season is already slipping away, but history offers at least one reminder that the door is not fully closed. Around the NFL, teams that dig that deep a hole usually stay there, yet one Chargers group found a way to claw back into relevance and turn a miserable opening month into something far more meaningful.
That team came together under a first-year head coach and got a major jolt when the quarterback situation shifted before the regular season even began. The early stumble gave way to a steady run of wins, a playoff berth and even a postseason victory, which is exactly the kind of route this current Chargers team would love to study while trying to stop the early-season damage from becoming permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Injury Pileup Is Raising Bigger Questions About Jim Harbaugh
The injury list around the Chargers has become a weekly burden, with roughly 20 players showing up on reports and nine already on injured reserve heading into Week 5. For a team that opened 0-4, the sheer volume of absences has made it hard to separate bad health luck from a bigger organizational problem, especially as the Broncos come to town and the roster keeps thinning out in key spots.
Jim Harbaugh was brought in to steady things, but the early-season spiral has only intensified the scrutiny around how the staff is navigating it. The latest wave of roster attrition has only added to the pressure, and with Los Angeles still searching for its first win, the conversation is starting to move beyond this weeks matchup and toward what all of it could mean for the coaching staff if the slide continues. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Khalil Mack Decision Before The Deadline
Khalil Macks early-season production has put an unexpected wrinkle into the Chargers build-up to the trade deadline. The veteran edge rusher, now 35, has three sacks in four games and remains one of the more recognizable names on a team trying to sort out its place in the AFC picture, which is why his situation has started to draw attention beyond Los Angeles.
Several league sources and analysts have suggested that a move involving Mack could make sense for both sides, especially given his past mixed feelings about leaving Chicago. The Chargers, though, have not shown any indication they want to move him, and with the deadline set for Nov. 10, the question is whether this becomes a real decision point or just another piece of outside chatter around a player who still matters to what Los Angeles is trying to do. [Read more 🡒]