Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh Says OC Mike McDaniel’s Job is Not in Jeopardy

Jim Harbaugh is standing behind offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel after the Los Angeles Chargers fell to 0-4 with a 30-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Chargers remained winless since Week 16 of last season despite recording a season high in points against the defending Super Bowl champions.

“His job is not in jeopardy,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a skilled coach, and we’re going to keep growing.”

The familiar problems surfaced again Sunday as the offense struggled, committed penalties and dealt with poor offensive line play. Justin Herbert threw two interceptions in the first half while the defense held on as long as it could.

Herbert’s first interception came on the opening play, when he threw directly to linebacker Drake Thomas. He was intercepted again in the following quarter after appearing to target wide receiver Ladd McConkey or tight end Oronde Gadsden, only for linebacker Ernest Jones IV to make the play.

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“The way I understood it, he saw the linebacker move inside, and then the linebacker made a very nice play back outside,” Harbaugh said of the second interception.

Herbert completed 5-for-14 passes for 36 yards with two interceptions in the first half. It marked his first half with fewer than 40 passing yards this season, and the Chargers entered the break trailing 20-6.

The quarterback and the offense responded with perhaps their best stretch of the season after halftime. Los Angeles reduced the deficit to seven points and had an opportunity to tie the score with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.

On a fourth down conversion, Herbert scrambled before throwing 44 yards over Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett to wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Three plays later, Herbert connected with wide receiver Tre’ Harris for a 21-yard conversion on third down despite being hit by safety Nick Emmanwori.

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“Just settled down,” Herbert said. “Guys got after it and made some plays when we needed to and were able to convert some third downs.”

Herbert was 13-of-16 for 144 passing yards in the second half when he took the field with 1:42 remaining and a chance to win. That comeback opportunity ended quickly when Seahawks outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu beat rookie lineman Logan Taylor for a strip sack on the drive’s third play.

“I think there were a lot of good things in the second half,” Herbert said. “I appreciated the battle and the fight from everyone and being able to strain out some of those long drives is really important for us, and hopefully, that’s something we can build off of.”

The offensive line finished with a 13% pass block win rate, according to ESPN Analytics and Next Gen Stats. That was the Chargers’ lowest mark in ESPN’s 10 year dataset for blocking win rates, while Herbert was sacked four times and pressured 22 times, representing 55% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats.

Herbert also took a hit from defensive tackle Derick Hall after releasing the ball during the fourth quarter. Hall landed on Herbert and was penalized for unnecessary roughness, but Herbert got up and fended off Harbaugh and the trainers who came to assist him.

“One of the real grittiest performances I’ve been associated with from a quarterback,” Harbaugh said.

Los Angeles will face the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium next Sunday while trying to avoid an eighth consecutive loss dating to last season. “The plan did not work to result in a victory, and we’ll go back and plan some more with the skilled coaches we have and the talented players and fight,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what gives me optimism.”

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