Chargers may have unlocked a new version of Justin Herbert under Mike McDaniel originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mike McDaniel isn’t interested in waiting a year for Justin Herbert to master his offense.
The Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator said Monday the organization is attempting to produce “Year 2 results in Year 1” with Herbert, and the early returns have exceeded McDaniel’s expectations.
“He’s been everything that I’d hoped and more,” McDaniel said, adding that Herbert is already “far past where quarterbacks are usually in Year 1.”
McDaniel knows firsthand how dramatically quarterbacks can improve during their second season in similar offensive systems.
Tua Tagovailoa earned the only Pro Bowl selection of his career during his second season under McDaniel with the Miami Dolphins. Matt Ryan experienced an even greater jump in 2016, winning NFL MVP in his second year playing under then-Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. McDaniel was an offensive assistant on that staff.
Rather than accepting an adjustment period in Los Angeles, McDaniel spent the offseason looking for ways to accelerate Herbert’s development.
McDaniel estimated there were “probably about 500 things” he wanted to change about his coaching approach. That included restructuring meetings and challenging Chargers players with formations and alignments McDaniel hadn’t previously used.
Chargers have huge plans for Herbert
“They’ve been up for the challenge,” McDaniel said. “And that’s because 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.”
The result, according to McDaniel, is the “most tightly woven” offensive installation of his coaching career.
Herbert’s ability to absorb the system could determine how quickly the Chargers become one of the NFL’s more dangerous offenses.
The former first-round pick already possesses the physical tools that made him one of football’s most highly regarded quarterbacks. McDaniel’s challenge is designing an offense capable of maximizing Herbert’s arm strength, mobility and ability to attack defenses at every level.
So far, Herbert appears to be making that transition easier than anticipated.
“I can’t say enough positive things,” McDaniel said.
If Herbert continues progressing at his current pace, McDaniel might not have to wait until Year 2 to see the results he’s looking for.
ore NFL news:
- Vikings lose Jamal Adams to brutal season-ending injury
- Eagles might've already found their Lane Johnson heir after 6-foot-9 rookie Markell Bell
- Seahawks 2nd-round S Bud Clark gets bad news on starting job for Week 1
- Ja'Kobi Lane's breakout might be real after impressive Ravens preseason debut
- Browns' Shedeur Sanders explains bad turnover against Bears