Not long after the Los Angeles Chargers hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, he made it known that he wanted quarterback Justin Herbert “to master and be elite at everything” he does and also be “able to own the position in a new way.”
It turns out McDaniel’s process in helping Herbert reach such a goal went beyond installing a new offense.
Chargers want Justin Herbert to improve “footwork and anticipatory throwing”
For a piece published on Thursday, Kris Rhim of ESPN detailed adjustments that McDaniel made to Herbert’s game during springtime workouts.
“That process has begun in earnest with McDaniel challenging Herbert in ways he hasn’t been in his pro career, starting with Herbert’s footwork and anticipatory throwing,” Rhim wrote. “McDaniel wants Herbert to get the ball out quicker and rely less on his strong arm. So he had Herbert switch his shotgun stance, placing his non-throwing foot forward. Previously, Herbert aligned with his right foot forward in the shotgun. Under McDaniel, he has shifted to a stance with his left foot slightly ahead. It’s a shift McDaniel has coached at other stops in the NFL, and he hopes it propels Herbert to a new level.”
When at his best, Herbert has performed like a true elite franchise quarterback. However, the 2020 first-round draft pick has yet to play at such a level on a consistent basis as have those who are viewed as the very best in the business today.
Pro Football Reference stats show that Herbert ended the 2025 regular season ranked 14th in the NFL among qualified players with a 60.6 adjusted QBR and tied for 15th with a 94.1 passer rating. He was also ninth with 3,727 passing yards and tied for seventh with 26 touchdowns through the air.
Justin Herbert’s spring was largely about getting him ready for the next postseason tournament
The biggest knock on Herbert is that he fell to 0-3 as a postseason starter following the Chargers’ 16-3 wild-card loss at the New England Patriots this past January. According to Rhim, “the Chargers are hopeful that [Herbert] helps this offense deliver during the postseason” under McDaniel.
“McDaniel has limited Herbert’s throwing,” Rhim added. “Once a week, Herbert uses a green water ball to focus on his footwork and throwing motions. There is also hope that less throwing will keep Herbert’s arm fresh later in the season.”
Perhaps Herbert being fresher than in previous years will help him do more than simply earn the first playoff win of his career while in McDaniel’s offense.
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