After a 0-6 start, the Los Angeles Chargers are keeping Mike McDaniel as offensive play caller, the Chargers confirmed on 28 October. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has retained him following the bye, with a Rams game next on the schedule.
Harbaugh keeps the call sheet with McDaniel
The club's latest preview says plainly that it made no change at play caller. McDaniel therefore remains responsible for the calls to quarterback Justin Herbert, even as Harbaugh assesses an attack that has yet to deliver a win.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said, “We're very confident in Mike and his talent and his work ethic and his ability, and continue to be,” according to NFL.com. Asked directly whether McDaniel would keep the call sheet, Harbaugh answered yes. The coach described a bye-week review involving the coaching staff and the club's analytical resources.
The Chargers' preview says Harbaugh had considered reducing the volume of the playbook so players could carry it more effectively from meetings through practice into matches. It does not identify a final set of changes. The club says those adjustments will only become clear against the Rams, so retaining McDaniel should not be mistaken for a promise to run every play the same way.
How the bye-week review reached this decision
SportsRivo reviewed the Chargers' 19 October bye-week report and their 28 October preview. Harbaugh said in the earlier report that the review of McDaniel's role was ongoing; the later preview confirmed that McDaniel would remain the offensive play caller. The preview did not confirm which adjustments the Chargers would make to the offence against the Rams. The question matters because the attack has struggled to score. NFL.com reported on 28 October that the Chargers averaged 15 points per game, the lowest figure in the league. The Chargers' preview also placed the offence last in EPA per play. Both measures underline the need Harbaugh identified: scoring more points through an offence that works better in game situations.
What retaining McDaniel means on the field
- Herbert will continue to work with the same play caller. The Chargers' published interview summary says the quarterback emphasised better execution rather than a change to McDaniel's calls.
- The Rams match is the first opportunity to see whether the bye-week review changes the offence in practice. The club has left the specific adjustments unconfirmed.
- Tackle Joe Alt could return, according to the Chargers' preview, but his availability was not confirmed there. An improved line would give McDaniel another way to address the offence's problems without replacing the play caller.
Rams game provides the next test
The NFL schedule lists the Chargers at the Rams on 1 November, in Week 8. The club expects the game to show which adjustments made it from the bye-week review onto the field. McDaniel remains the play caller for that scheduled test; the result and the effect of any changes are still unknown.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers