New Play-Callers Behind Slow Offensive Starts for Chargers, Buccaneers
The short version
- Chargers pre-snap motion jumped from 50.0% to 73.8% under new play-caller Mike McDaniel.
- Justin Herbert's pressure rate rose to 65.0% while his CPOE fell to -6.24%.
- Chargers plays per game dropped from 64.4 to 56.5.
- Bucs running back Bucky Irving's rushing success rate fell from 62.5% to 37.5% between Weeks 1 and 2.
Several teams with new offensive coordinators, including the Chargers and Buccaneers, have stumbled statistically through the season's first two weeks.
Several NFL offenses that changed play-callers this season are off to slow starts, and the numbers through two weeks show the adjustment is still a work in progress.
The Los Angeles Chargers, now running coordinator Mike McDaniel's system, have increased their pre-snap motion rate from 50.0% last season to 73.8% and their early-down play-action rate from 32.0% to 42.5%. The tradeoff has been fewer plays per game, dropping from 64.4 to 56.5.
Quarterback Justin Herbert's average depth of target is up 19.4% to 9.2 air yards, and 10.6 air yards on play-action passes. But his pressure rate has climbed from 48.5% to 65.0%, and his completion percentage over expectation has fallen from +1.57% to -6.24%. Chargers receivers have also combined for three drops, and the team's average yardage needed on third down has risen from 6.7 to 8.5.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shown similar inconsistency. Running back Bucky Irving's early-down rushing success rate fell from 62.5% against Cincinnati to 37.5% against Cleveland, and his forced missed tackle rate dropped from 62.5% to 12.5%. Tampa Bay's average third-down yardage needed rose from 6.0 to 9.2 over that span.
In Los Angeles, Ladd McConkey and Omarion Hampton, who ranks ninth in team rush rate, remain the other viable fantasy contributors alongside Herbert until the offense settles in.
