The Los Angeles Chargers remain the NFL's only winless team following Sunday's 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. A coach questioned whether Mike McDaniel is the right offensive coordinator for Justin Herbert. "The quarterback looks incredibly uncomfortable with everything they're doing," an offensive coach from another team told The Athletic's Mike Sando.
The Chargers hoped McDaniel, who led the Miami Dolphins to the league's top-ranked offense as head coach in 2023, could unlock another level from Herbert. Instead, the 28-year-old has regressed drastically during a disastrous start to his seventh season. Herbert is up to 10 interceptions after throwing two more on Sunday, and he's gone two straight games without a touchdown pass after settling for one in each of their first five weeks.
He has the lowest QBR (32.9) among all qualified passers. McDaniel helped Tua Tagovailoa revive his career in Miami, but he hasn't found the right formula for the Chargers quarterback drafted one pick later in 2020. "Herbert is a big, long, long-release classic pocket passer who can scramble," the coach said.
"He is not one of these quick-feet, quick-release guys. He's the opposite of Tua." Another NFL executive questioned McDaniel's fit with Jim Harbaugh, wondering whether the head coach or ownership pursued the hiring. Meanwhile, Sando suggested that McDaniel continuing to call plays showed Harbaugh's "limitations" as a head coach who is more focused on empowering everyone around him than adjusting schemes.
Regardless of the problem, the Chargers must find a solution. At 0-7, they already have more losses than in each of their last two 11-6 seasons under Harbaugh. No team has scored fewer points per game than their 14.1.
The Chargers will seek their first win when hosting the Houston Texans this Sunday.
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