“CHARGERS–WHO’S TEAM IS IT NOW?”

by | May 12, 2026 |

The Chargers press conferences the last two years have been interesting to say the least.  Jim Harbaugh’s tent revival speeches and all.

The Bolts press briefings may get spicier with the arrival of new Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel.  He has taken all things Harbaugh and added  a flair to every answer he gives.

The history book will write, Harbaught has changed the culture, the roster, the style of Chargers football.  Back to back 11-wins seasons are better than what was there before.

But Harbaugh and his gifted QB-Justin Herbert have not won a playoff game yet.  In fact, the Bolts have been so bad in wildcard games, that Harbaugh fired a ton of people, assistant coaches, but never took any of the blame himself.

Enter the guy with a degree from Yale, McDaniels, the deposed Miami Dolphins coach, known for his oddball off-the-cuff statements; known for his wild offensive schemes; known for his demanding style of play he wants from the offensive side of the roster.

McDaniel wrapped up the teams rookie mini camp on Sunday with a bucket list of colorful quotes.  Harbaugh was nowhere to be seen.

The incoming play caller, who has influenced free agent signings and draft picks, praised Herbert but made alot of demands on this young veteran QB.

Unlike Harbaugh, who heaps praise on the quarterback non-stop, as if this is a Hall of Famer, rather than someone who is just a shade over .500-as a starter and has droughts and end of season collapses on his resume.

But it was McDaniel on this, that and the other on Sunday about his quarterback:

..He must own the offense

..He must be elite about everything

..The Chargers playbook will be unique-he learned it in four days

..We will refine his footwork and timing

..We researched and found he completes 77% of throws-gets it out under 2.5.

..This will be fast paced passing

..I want OL who are quick

..Quentin Johnston must be fast-physical every weekend.

It all sounds good in theory, but there are other truths that you have to pay attention to.

They have two starting guards who were washouts as #1 picks in New Orleans and New England.

They have a new center who does not bring big credentials with him.

Their top OL pick is an undersized center they want to move to OG at 305lbs.  I just wonder if this version of the OL is worse than last year’s. I fear that.

Quentin Johnston has never captured consistency Sunday to Sunday to match his size and speed.

They just added veteran TE-David Njoku to go with a number of run blockers also.  It will be a unique mix, maybe an upgrade over what they had last year.

Are they going to be a throw first-run second team or vice versa?  And how do you do that with an undersized offensive front?

McDaniel did great things in Tua Tagovailoa’s first two years in Miami, but then it fell apart.  Concussions, sacks, hits, turnovers, and two years of struggles.  Then the coach was fired and QB-was moved out.

McDaniel said alot this weekend.  He neglected to bring up other important points.  

Harbaugh has failed Herbert.  The game plan to sit in the pocket, let him get blasted, resulted in 105-sacks, a volume of hits and pressures.  And the offensive front failed over two years time to run ‘Michigan-style’ power football, in addition to shody protection.  No playoff wins, a bunch of injuries to his QB too.  Goodbye to the architect of all this, Greg Roman, the coordinator who nearly got the QB killed.

Harbaugh spent alot of time quoting Churchill, Eisenhower, Chaucer and whomever, but never talked about how to fix what was around or infront of his young but battered quarterback.

So now we have a new spokesman.

I wonder if McDaniel is auditioning to be the next head coach of the Chargers?  I wonder too why Harbaugh would let McDaniel make so many player acquisitions of ‘non-Harbaugh’ type players, with the fact McDaniel could be gone in 11-months for a head coaching job somewhere else?

You tell me.  McDaniel thinks outside the box.  This is a weird way of Harbaugh doing business.  Or am I out of my box fearing hidden motives?

New direction for sure.  Will be fascinating to follow.  Whose team will it be, Harbaugh, McDaniel or Herbert’s?

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