The Los Angeles Chargers' hiring of Mike McDaniel this offseason gave the organization a tone of optimism that it hasn't quite had to this point in the Jim Harbaugh era.
McDaniel was meant to be the schematically innovative playcaller who could maximize not only Justin Herbert but also the rest of the playmakers Los Angeles had in the fold. His quick-timing passing game was supposed to be able to create ample opportunities for, at the very least, the Chargers' primary trio of receivers, and his outside-zone run game was supposed to unlock Los Angeles' bell-cow back in Omarion Hampton.
Joe Hortiz and the rest of the Los Angeles front office spent their offseason trying to make sure this gamble paid off. They operated according to McDaniel's judgement in free agency, giving him the guards he needed on the interior and the complementary weapons—like Keaton Mitchell and Alec Ingold—that had clear fits within his scheme.
So far, it hasn't paid off. The Chargers are the second-worst team in the NFL by EPA/play through two weeks, resting just barely ahead of the Aaron Rodgers-led Pittsburgh Steelers. On a drive-to-drive basis, the attack has been characterized by miscues, botched snaps, dropped passes, and fumbles.
This is an offense that looked wildly underprepared and underschematized entering their first two matchups of the season. With Los Angeles on the verge of going 0-3 and effectively eliminating themselves from true playoff contention, can McDaniel make the necessary adjustments?
4 things to watch for in the Chargers offense in Week 3
1. More activity for Tre' Harris and/or Quentin Johnston
We always knew that Ladd McConkey was going to be the key cog of the Chargers' air attack after the departure of Keenan Allen this offseason. He simply has the most enticing YAC skill set out of any receiver on the roster, and his ability to operate consistently out of the slot makes him a perfect option for the type of passing game McDaniel likes to run.
But if McConkey is the only receiver the Chargers can get going, this offense is essentially dead in the water. Johnston has just three receptions for 24 yards through the first two weeks of this season. Harris had an explosive catch against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he still has just four receptions for 73 yards.
Both players need to be active as downfield threats if the Chargers are going to be able to truly unlock their passing game underneath, and Johnston especially needs to be able to help clear out some of the opposing coverage with his speed. This can be seen as more of a symptom than a cause of a healthy offense, but either way Harris and Johnston need to be more consistently involved if the Chargers are going to turn things around.
2. Less motion, or at least a slightly simplified offensive attack
So far this season, the Chargers are second in the league in motion rate at 73.5%. That's part and parcel of a McDaniel offense.
But we've seen the adjustment to a heavy-motion approach take its toll on the efficiency of the Chargers attack through the first two weeks of the season—most glaringly on a 3rd-and-1 play where the Chargers lined up in shotgun and Harris accidentally got in the way of the snap while he was going into motion.
We're not going to see a sudden reversal from McDaniel, but it's clear this offense needs to be simplified while the team continues to acclimate to the demands of his scheme. One place to start is simply dropping the motion rate down to a more moderate percentage.
3. Establish the ground game early against a rugged Bills D-line
McDaniel hasn't shied away from the run through two games as the Chargers' offensive coordinator—especially considering the circumstances under which he's needed to orchestrate the offense. Hampton had 23 carries for 94 yards in Week 2, which far surpasses any total he put up in his injury-shortened rookie campaign. Mitchell has seen some relatively significant touches as well through two weeks.
But if Los Angeles is going to have any chance of keeping up with Josh Allen and this blazing hot Bills offense, they're going to need to keep the opposing defense on their heels from the opening snap. Buffalo held Jahmyr Gibbs to just 52 yards on 16 carries last week as they dominated the Detroit Lions' offensive line.
But if McDaniel is able to get Hampton going early in the matchup, that opens up a wider breadth of his playbook to help take advantage of some of the deficits Buffalo has in the secondary.
4. Increased snaps for Oronde Gadsden II as the Chargers get desperate at TE
This one is a creature of necessity, although it could pay some dividends for the Chargers' air attack.
Although Charlie Kolar ultimately didn't go on the injured reserve with the arm injury he suffered in Week 2, David Njoku did (with his own leg injury), and the Chargers are now left with Gadsden as their top tight end for at least the next couple of weeks. Gadsden has certainly seen his struggles as a blocker, and that could hurt Los Angeles in the run game. But he's also one of the most dynamic pass catchers the Chargers can put on the field right now, and he can operate almost as a sort of 'big slot' if McDaniel feels comfortable using new signing Hayden Rucci as a blocking tight end in complement with him.
Gadsden has seen modest production so far this season, and he received just 10 snaps in Week 1 before that was ramped up to 30 in Week 2. It's likely we'll see that envelope get pushed even further in Week 3, and McDaniel's ability to work Gadsden into the passing game will be vital to any resurgence for the Chargers' offensive attack.
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