Justin Herbert and Mike McDaniel Spend Bye Week Reviewing Film

Justin Herbert and Mike McDaniel spent two days and four hours watching video of the first six games of the season.

The session took place at the team's practice facility in El Segundo during the bye week. The two reviewed horror films of epic proportions, a description McDaniel used to characterize the footage. No popcorn or soft drinks were involved in the process.

The conversation was described as a fifty-fifty exchange rather than a lecture. McDaniel stated that his job remains secure despite the squad sitting at 0-6. Head coach Jim Harbaugh expressed confidence in McDaniel's talent and work ethic on Wednesday. Harbaugh noted that the staff is looking to improve every possible area of the game.

Herbert placed the primary blame for the record on the players rather than the coaching staff. He said the offense is responsible for running, walking, catching, and throwing. Herbert noted that plays are being called and players are getting open. The responsibility to execute falls on the unit as a whole. He called the film session a useful use of the bye week.

The quarterback has taken responsibility for his own statistics. His completion percentage sits at a career-low 59.4 percent. He has thrown five touchdowns, a number on pace for another career low. The team is the only winless club in the National Football League.

The Chargers rank last in the league in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. They rank twenty-eighth in net passing yards at 168.2 per game. Their net yardage per game stands at 287.2, which is twenty-eighth in the league. They average 119 net rushing yards, ranking thirteenth.

Injuries have complicated the offensive line. Pro Bowl linemen Joe Alt, Tyler Biadasz, and Rashawn Slater have all missed time due to neck, knee, and ankle issues. Biadasz underwent season-ending knee surgery. The team started four rookies on the line in the last two games against Denver and Kansas City. Alt returned to the practice field this week.

McDaniel acknowledged that the motion-oriented offense has not clicked for Herbert. The coach said he always prepares as if his job is on the line. McDaniel said he and Herbert work well together because they both focus on what they can control. He described the film session as a healthy experience that should pay off on Sunday.

The Chargers face the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Rams hold a 3-4 record. Many observers had predicted this matchup would be a potential Super Bowl preview earlier in the year. McDaniel noted that Herbert tends to take too much blame on himself. The coach said they are working to give Herbert a more appropriate vision of his accountability.

McDaniel said Herbert is quick to recognize when things go well but slower to share the blame when things go wrong. The coach said he needs to attack that mindset during their conversations. Herbert does not need to shoulder the blame for the complete result of a game.