The Chargers will take the field for the first time in 2026 with an opening weekend matchup against the Cardinals on deck.
Here's what Los Angeles needs to do on offense to come away with a win.
One of the biggest appeals of hiring Mike McDaniel this offseason to coordinate the offense is what it might do for Herbert, who is being lauded as a potential MVP candidate with McDaniel's system attached. Chargers fans caught a glimpse of what that could look like in the preseason game against the Rams when Herbert hit Quentin Johnston for a long-range touchdown. A full game of Herbert operating the McDaniel offense should be a thing of beauty, but both men will need to show that this marriage lives up to the hype in order for Sunday to feel like a success.
McDaniel put up wanted posters for fullback Alec Ingold and running back Keaton Mitchell in the Chargers facility before LA was able to sign both players, in addition to adding tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. Sunday will be LA's first chance to show why those players in particular make this offense hum - what sort of usage does Ingold see as a fullback? Is Kolar going to be a more well-rounded receiving threat? What does the rotation look like between Kolar, Njoku, and second-year player Oronde Gadsden II? How much will Mitchell eat into Omarion Hampton's touches? The Chargers should be looking for proof of concept in Week 1, and that will come by answering at least a few of those questions and introducing fans to some of their new contributors on offense.
An interior offensive line of left guard Kayode Awosika, rookie second-round pick center Jake Slaughter, and right guard Cole Strange isn't anything to write home about, but McDaniel has made do with seemingly substandard trios on the inside before. Nolen looked like a potential game-wrecker in limited action for Arizona last season and now returns as the cornerstone of a defensive line who will look to take advantage of what has to be LA's greatest weakness on offense. If the Chargers can keep Nolen from making a big impact by sending help towards him and getting the ball out quickly to start the game, they should be able to keep things humming on offense.
#mcdaniel #kolar
Here's what Los Angeles needs to do on offense to come away with a win.
One of the biggest appeals of hiring Mike McDaniel this offseason to coordinate the offense is what it might do for Herbert, who is being lauded as a potential MVP candidate with McDaniel's system attached. Chargers fans caught a glimpse of what that could look like in the preseason game against the Rams when Herbert hit Quentin Johnston for a long-range touchdown. A full game of Herbert operating the McDaniel offense should be a thing of beauty, but both men will need to show that this marriage lives up to the hype in order for Sunday to feel like a success.
McDaniel put up wanted posters for fullback Alec Ingold and running back Keaton Mitchell in the Chargers facility before LA was able to sign both players, in addition to adding tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. Sunday will be LA's first chance to show why those players in particular make this offense hum - what sort of usage does Ingold see as a fullback? Is Kolar going to be a more well-rounded receiving threat? What does the rotation look like between Kolar, Njoku, and second-year player Oronde Gadsden II? How much will Mitchell eat into Omarion Hampton's touches? The Chargers should be looking for proof of concept in Week 1, and that will come by answering at least a few of those questions and introducing fans to some of their new contributors on offense.
An interior offensive line of left guard Kayode Awosika, rookie second-round pick center Jake Slaughter, and right guard Cole Strange isn't anything to write home about, but McDaniel has made do with seemingly substandard trios on the inside before. Nolen looked like a potential game-wrecker in limited action for Arizona last season and now returns as the cornerstone of a defensive line who will look to take advantage of what has to be LA's greatest weakness on offense. If the Chargers can keep Nolen from making a big impact by sending help towards him and getting the ball out quickly to start the game, they should be able to keep things humming on offense.
#mcdaniel #kolar
2 months ago
