Overview
- Training camp this week has shown Herbert quickly grasping Mike McDaniel’s timing- and motion-based offense, and McDaniel told reporters the quarterback has exceeded his expectations.
- Los Angeles has retooled its interior line and depth chart with additions such as Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange and rookie Jake Slaughter to fit McDaniel’s quick-release scheme and improve protection.
- Coaches have tweaked Herbert’s mechanics, including a change to his shotgun footwork that moves his left foot forward to speed up releases and encourage earlier throws.
- Early practices have combined bright moments of crisp timing with reminders of fragility, including a Rashawn Slater sideline scare and a consecutive sequence of an overthrow followed by an interception.
- The shift responds to Herbert’s career problem of taking an unusually high number of hits and sacks and mirrors McDaniel’s Miami teams that allowed lower pressure and faster time-to-throw, a change that could affect Herbert’s availability and the Chargers’ postseason outlook.