The Los Angeles Chargers are making another adjustment in hopes of getting their struggling offense back on track. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will continue calling plays, but he is making a change to where he will operate during games.
McDaniel revealed Thursday that he plans to move from the sideline to the coaches' booth ahead of the Chargers' Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans. The decision comes after Los Angeles fell to 0-7, leaving the team desperate for answers after another disappointing start to the season.
“I want to see adjustments for myself and communicate to the position coaches appropriately. Things we can focus on between series,” McDaniel said Thursday.
Moving to the booth could give McDaniel a better view of how opposing defenses are attacking the Chargers and help him identify adjustments between drives. It is a reasonable change to make when the offense has struggled to find any consistency, but the bigger issue is whether the adjustments will translate into better results on the field.
The Chargers have yet to find a reliable formula, and the lack of production has put even more pressure on McDaniel to figure things out. Injuries and a lack of available weapons have made his job harder, but those issues cannot continue to serve as the only explanation for the team's problems.
Los Angeles faces a difficult test against Houston, and another loss would drop the Chargers to 0-8. At that point, questions about McDaniel's future would become even louder.
The move to the booth might help McDaniel see the game differently, but the Chargers need more than a change in scenery. They need points and an offense capable of helping the team compete. If those improvements do not come soon, it will be difficult to see how McDaniel keeps his current role.