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Justin Herbert retooling mechanics in new-look Chargers offense
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- Justin Herbert retooling mechanics in new-look Chargers offense
It's not often that a veteran NFL quarterback has to learn to make simple mechanical changes before their seventh season as a pro, even after multiple Pro Bowl appearances and winning Rookie of the Year honors.
For Justin Herbert , still in desperate search of his first playoff victory, he's making the small but critical changes to try to take the Los Angeles Chargers over the hump. That includes working with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel on his mechanics and footwork, cleaning up his process rather than relying purely on his elite arm strength.
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For example, Herbert has shifted his stance in the shotgun formation to receive the ball. Instead of setting up with his right foot forward, as he has done since his rookie season, Herbert is now setting his left foot forward, allowing for a quicker catch, turn and pivot. The Eugene native believes it will help him get the ball out faster.
McDaniel has made Herbert laser-focused on the changes, even having the 6-foot-6 passer spend practices only working on his feet and not throwing a ball.
"There's going to be a lot of positive consequences," McDaniel said. "How he throws, how we get it to our eligibles and all the talented players that we have on this team. Their ability to do stuff with the football in their hands with the maximum amount of space will benefit us all greatly."
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When he arrived in Los Angeles after being fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins , McDaniel set out to "find the margins" where Herbert could improve. With the status of the offensive line always in question, McDaniel landed on footwork and snap-to-throw time as areas to improve.
On days when Herbert isn't throwing a football during minicamp, he's holding a large green ball with handles to simulate throwing a football. Why?
"You want to talk about a way to make a quarterback focus on footwork?" McDaniel said. "Don't allow him to throw a football."
It's an odd change, but one that Herbert has fully bought into to take the Chargers to another level this season.
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Quarterbacks coach Shane Day of the Los Angeles Chargers instructs quarterback Justin Herbert #10 on his throwing motion using a weighted ball during Mandatory Minicamp at The Bolt on June 17, 2026 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images)
"Definitely thinking about it now so you don't have to think about it when you're in the game," Herbert said. "Going through your footwork, and it's OK to think about it during practice, of how you want to step and being as efficient as possible. But you want to get to the point where you're in games, and you're not worried about it, and you're just out there reacting."
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The only concern is whether or not the lack of connection between Herbert and his receivers leads to timing issues to start the season. When Herbert did throw the ball in 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday, he struggled to connect down the field while he continues to develop rapport with his wideouts. He still completed 6-of-8 passes and made four checkdowns.
It might seem silly to think that something as minor as shifting Herbert's shotgun stance could lead to better production. But if it helps him get the ball out faster, that could lead to receivers having more room to break and turn up the field for extra yards. McDaniel's goal is to have Herbert consistently get rid of the ball in 2.4 seconds or less
McDaniel has been teaching different nuances of the quarterback position for years, often to some form of success. It all dates back to his time working with San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. The two first worked together in 2007 with the Houston Texans and later in San Francisco .
Throughout his NFL coaching career, McDaniel has found success when teaching the particular stance and footwork. Matt Ryan won an MVP with the Atlanta Falcons under McDaniel and Shanahan. Tua Tagovailoa had some success in Miami. Even Trey Lance , who was drafted to San Francisco when McDaniel was there and is now Herbert's backup in Los Angeles, has played a role in helping the former Oregon Ducks passer develop the new habit.
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It's not a golden rule that all quarterbacks under McDaniel must follow, but rather a suggestion that Herbert took very seriously from the start.
"With Justin, I really just showed him where I thought it would be advantageous," McDaniel said. "He didn't blink for a second and was excited to attack it. When you have players like that, that go after their craft in that way, you can do things. You can change things that had been standardized in their game for years, and you can do it with reasonable expectation of even higher performance."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Justin Herbert working with Mike McDaniel to improve footwork with Chargers
