One of the key debates of the Chargers’ offseason has been whether or not they’ve done enough to fortify the offensive line. They’re coming off a disastrous 2025 season from the standpoint of protecting Justin Herbert. Herbert was the 2nd most sacked QB behind Drake Maye this year and was pressured the most out of any QB in the league.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke yesterday for the first time since the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. He was asked how he thinks Mike McDaniel’s scheme will protect Herbert better this season.
“Probably two ways,” Harbaugh started. “It’s less, less drop back protection”
Mike McDaniel’s new scheme should protect Justin Herbert in two key ways
Evaluating Harbaugh’s first point, it is largely correct. Tua Tagovailoa played roughly 13 percent fewer dropback snaps than Herbert last season. The last four years, Tagovailoa has been one of the least pressured QBs in the league despite Miami not having top-end trench talent.
It doesn’t necessarily justify the Chargers’ lack of guard urgency in free agency, but there is something to be said for McDaniel’s ability to turn down pressure himself. Former Chargers OC Greg Roman was criticized heavily for relying on broken drop-back protection when he should’ve had more quick game options.
Comparing Tua Tagovailoa’s 2023 and Herbert’s 2025 seasons, Tagovailoa dropped back 82 fewer times than Herbert even with one more game played.
Harbaugh’s next point:
"The way the run game, pass game, and play action are tied together, it takes like a second-it's a second more that you can just see defensive linemen go, "oh now it's a pass",” Harbaugh said. “And now transition into their move or their bull or their pass rush. Going from run defense to pass defense. It's visible. How valuable is a second? Very valuable."
McDaniel’s ability to keep the defense guessing was part of what made his Miami offenses work. Combining that with the lack of true dropbacks, it is feasible that Herbert will at least be more protected from that standpoint.
That being said, it still feels like the Chargers should’ve been more aggressive in pursuing offensive guards in this free agency process. At the same time, Harbaugh also inferred that the team is likely not done adding offensive line talent. April’s draft and post-draft free agency will serve as an opportunity for Hortiz to get more starting-caliber linemen for McDaniel’s offense.