Former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman believes Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel made the most impactful career decision by joining the team alongside quarterback Justin Herbert. Merriman expressed optimism that McDaniel's offensive scheme could elevate Herbert and the Chargers' playoff aspirations.
McDaniel joined Jim Harbaugh's staff with the Chargers, and he has publicly stated his enthusiasm for working with Herbert, whom he believes has not yet reached his full potential. Herbert, who has thrown for 5,000 yards in his career, is considered one of the NFL's top talents.
Merriman highlighted the potential synergy between McDaniel's "explosive scheme" and Herbert's abilities. He pointed to the potential for deep passes and the contributions of receivers like Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, as well as a healthy running back corps, as reasons for optimism.
"Justin Herbert had to be the biggest influence of going there, because now you have an explosive quarterback," Merriman said in a recent interview. "He’s an explosive offensive coordinator, so the deep balls down the field, we’ve already seen Quentin Johnston down the field – he’s explosive. You’ve got Ladd McConkey who can work the middle of the field and get open in shorter routes. You have a hell of a running back that comes back healthy this year. …They have an explosive opportunity to win."
Despite McDaniel's arrival and Merriman's confidence, the Chargers face a challenging schedule. Their upcoming season includes matchups against division rivals Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs twice, as well as road games against the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens. They will also face the Los Angeles Rams on November 1.
Merriman acknowledged that Herbert carries a "dark cloud" over his career due to the lack of playoff wins since entering the league. The Chargers, as the No. 7 seed in the AFC last season, lost to the New England Patriots in Wild Card weekend, marking Herbert's third career playoff loss. Merriman, however, remains hopeful that this will change.
"Justin Herbert’s going to have that dark cloud over him until he gets deep into the playoffs, right? If he wasn’t so talented, I don’t think the expectations would still be so high. But he has all the tools to do it," Merriman said. "He’s tough as nails. He had that hand [injury], and he battled through it. I just have so much respect for Justin Herbert."
Merriman noted that McDaniel's decision to join the Chargers was significant, even beyond his previous role with the San Francisco 49ers. He suggested that McDaniel may view the Chargers position as a strategic step to further his coaching ambitions.
"I think Mike McDaniel has made the best decision of his career," Merriman stated. "That’s even outside of leaving the San Francisco 49ers. I think they had something fun, an explosive offense at one time with [Jaylen] Waddle, Tyreek Hill and things like that out in Miami. But he had an opportunity to get a head coaching job at a couple of places, and he didn’t feel it was right. So, what happens is you take the best position that puts you back in the driver’s seat after this next year or two so you can go take the job you want."