Justin Herbert Sharpens Footwork with Weighted Ball as Mike McDaniel Installs Quicker Pace for Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel are already reshaping the passing game this spring. The work started with Herbert gripping a weighted bright green ball instead of a football during Tuesday’s OTA session in El Segundo.

Herbert spent the entire period drilling his throwing motion and footwork. No passes flew. Just repetition after repetition of planting, resetting, and syncing his lower half with an imagined route stem. He made it plain this is now part of the weekly routine.

“I expect to spend one day per week over the rest of the pre-training camp sessions focusing on footwork rather than throwing,” Herbert said.

The two-time Pro Bowler described the mechanical shift in simple terms. In past years his feet sat parallel or staggered with one forward. McDaniel wants the drops timed precisely to the routes so the ball comes out early — often before the receiver has even looked back.

“Basically, just understanding how he wants the drops timed up with the routes and he wants the ball out early,” Herbert explained. “We feel like that is going to help get the ball out quicker.”

The Anticipation Throw Becomes the New Standard

McDaniel’s scheme, the same one that created explosive yards-after-catch opportunities in Miami, demands trust. Herbert has watched the tape from those Dolphins seasons. He saw how many big plays came from receivers catching the ball in stride and turning upfield immediately.

“That’s kind of his big emphasis — getting the ball out and getting the ball in the receivers’ hands at a time where they can go up field and make something happen,” Herbert said. “We turned on the tape of Miami the last few years and how many plays they had with YAC, guys catching the ball and breaking for a touchdown.”

The mental adjustment runs deeper than footwork. Herbert admitted that for years he leaned on his arm strength to place the ball exactly where it needed to be. The new approach asks him to throw to a spot earlier and let the receiver go get it.

“I think getting the ball out quick and the emphasis of getting the ball out before the receivers are even looking for it, that’s the new part,” he said. “In years past, you rely on your arm strength to put the ball exactly where you needed to instead of trusting and throwing it to a spot and letting them go and get it.”

Why the Change Matters After Last Season’s Hits

The timing upgrade carries a practical payoff. Herbert absorbed a career-high 54 sacks during the 2025 regular season while operating behind a banged-up offensive line. He took six more in the wild-card playoff loss to the Patriots.

McDaniel’s quick-game emphasis aims to shrink those windows. When the ball leaves faster, the pass rush has less time to collapse. Herbert pointed out that McDaniel’s feel for how defenses evolve gives the Chargers a chance to neutralize pressure before it arrives.

With Pro Bowl tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt returning healthy, the pocket should be cleaner anyway. But the real protection upgrade starts with Herbert’s decision-making and release.

McDaniel has set a clear benchmark: maximize Herbert’s success on throws released in 2.4 seconds or less. Herbert posted strong efficiency numbers in that window last season. The efficiency dipped noticeably once plays stretched longer.

Herbert’s Buy-In Runs Deep

This is not a surface-level tweak. Shortly after McDaniel arrived, he built a detailed presentation that stacked several hundred of Herbert’s own throws against concepts from McDaniel’s time in Miami and San Francisco. Herbert studied it closely.

“It was a well-put-together presentation that I really saw the vision, and it meant a lot to me,” Herbert said.

On the practice field McDaniel’s eyes stay locked on the quarterbacks’ feet during every drop. Clean resets earn visible approval. Herbert has absorbed the coaching and called McDaniel a great teacher who understands how to take away the pass rush by simply getting the ball out faster.

At this stage of his career, a veteran Pro Bowler committing to overhaul his mechanics speaks volumes about the culture McDaniel is building and Herbert’s own drive to elevate the entire offense.

The Chargers enter the summer with a clearer plan than they had a year ago. Herbert is not just learning new plays. He is retooling the way he moves and decides so the offense can play faster, create more after the catch, and keep its quarterback upright. The green weighted ball on Tuesday was the first visible step in that direction.