Chargers QB Justin Herbert makes major mechanical change because of Mike McDaniel

New Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has wasted no time making mechanical changes with star quarterback Justin Herbert.

A July 2 article from ESPN’s Kris Rhim reported that McDaniel has changed Herbert’s stance out of shotgun.

In the past, Herbert had his dominant right foot forward in the shotgun stance. Now, McDaniel has made him switch this so that his non-dominant left foot is slightly ahead of his right.

This change, according to McDaniel, provides a “millisecond competitive advantage” because it makes for marginally faster footwork on short passes and run-pass option plays that depend on quick timing.

It’s a shift that McDaniel has coached among several NFL quarterbacks, presumably including Tua Tagovailoa, whom he coached with the Miami Dolphins for the past four seasons.

McDaniel also seems to believe this will take pressure off Herbert having to rely on his big throwing arm to complete passes, and instead rely on proper mechanics to get the ball where it needs to go in timely fashion.

This isn’t the first time that Herbert has changed his shotgun stance, as he had a balanced stance during his time playing at the University of Oregon.

And Herbert doesn’t seem to think this shift will make a huge difference, as he was quoted in the article as saying, “I don’t think it’s too much of a difference.”

One would imagine this is the first of several changes McDaniel will institute in Los Angeles, not only with Herbert but with the Chargers’ entire offense. The 43-year-old coordinator earned a reputation for his unique and creative schemes in Miami, especially when the team was an offensive juggernaut during his first several seasons.

While Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh will have to sign off on any cheeky changes McDaniel wants to make, the team’s offense under Herbert will be thrilling to watch next season, if only to see whether McDaniel’s changes yield results.

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