Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is adopting a familiar strategy for his team's rushing attack, drawing on the flexible backfield blueprint he helped establish during his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. McDaniel emphasized that his focus is on creating advantageous situations for players rather than inventing new schemes.
"I think the most important thing—the thing that I don’t think about—is inventing stuff," McDaniel said during an appearance on "NFL Daily." "If you stay true to your core of what your job is, and for me, I see it as creating advantageous situations for all these players, then you’re kind of solution-oriented, reverse-engineering issues."
This approach is evident in how McDaniel plans to utilize the Chargers' trio of running backs: Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal. Instead of pre-determining workloads, McDaniel intends to select the running back best suited for each opponent and game situation, adapting based on in-game performance. "You kind of play the hot hand once you’re into games," he explained. "Specifically, I’ll use all three of those guys probably every game. The relative ratio? That will be based on opponent and what we’re asking the guys to do."
McDaniel's time with the 49ers from 2017 to 2021, where he progressed from run-game specialist to offensive coordinator, provided a model for this adaptable system. During those seasons, the 49ers rarely relied on a single workhorse back, with injuries and performance dictating a fluid rotation. A notable example occurred in 2019 when Raheem Mostert emerged, seizing a larger role and leading the team in rushing yards after starting the season behind Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida. Coach Kyle Shanahan noted at the time, "The way he was going, we just stuck with the hot hand."
The 49ers' backfield continued to see shifting roles throughout McDaniel's tenure. Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Elijah Mitchell also led the team in rushing in subsequent years, demonstrating a consistent philosophy of featuring the back whose skill set best matched the week's defensive matchup.
In Los Angeles, McDaniel sees a similar flexibility with Hampton, Mitchell, and Vidal. Hampton, who showed promise as a rookie with 545 rushing yards and four touchdowns in nine games, is expected to see significant touches due to his combination of power and receiving ability. Mitchell, signed to a two-year contract, averaged 5.78 yards per carry last season and offers explosive playmaking. Vidal led the Chargers with 643 rushing yards in the previous season and contributed as a receiver and pass protector.
"Each back offers McDaniel a different answer. Hampton can provide the broadest solution, Mitchell can inject speed and explosive plays, and Vidal can handle the less glamorous responsibilities that keep an offense functioning," the report noted. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has already described the group as a potential "Thunder and Lightning" backfield, and McDaniel anticipates all three will play in most games, with their usage determined by performance and situational needs. "If a player is playing really well, I’m not going to take him out," McDaniel said. "That’s bad business."