OUTLOOK: Can Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert RESHAPE Chargers’ Attack for a DEEP Playoff Run?

Locked On NFL Scouting with the Draft Dudes - Daily podcast covering NFL and College Football scouting

Locked On Podcast Network

Podcast, Daily Podcast, Football, Free Agency, Nfl Football, Football Podcast, Salary Cap, Pro Football, Nfl Draft, Sports, Nfl

4.6 • 968 Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2026

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Los Angeles Chargers face a season-defining crossroads as Jim Harbaugh enters year three with high expectations and roster questions. Can Justin Herbert and a revamped offense thrive under new coordinator Mike McDaniel’s fast-paced scheme, or will concerns over the inexperienced interior offensive line and unproven playmakers hold them back? Joe Marino and Kyle Crabbs break down key position battles, the outlook for Ladd McConkey and Tre Harris, and the importance of Derwin James staying healthy in a retooled secondary. With Chris O’Leary stepping in as defensive coordinator and veterans like Khalil Mack and Dalvin Tomlinson anchoring the defense, the Chargers’ depth and durability are under the microscope. The hosts debate Los Angeles’ win total, scrutinize offseason moves, and ask whether this roster—backed by $40 million in cap space—has enough firepower to push past another first-round playoff exit.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Jim Harbaugh's first two seasons in LA produced an 11 and 6 record and being bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
0:08.9	Can they go further in year three?
0:10.9	We're exploring that right now.
0:17.5	You are locked on NFL scouting with the draft dudes, your daily podcast for NFL and college football scouting.
0:26.3	Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day.
0:32.5	What's better than this?
0:34.1	It's guys being dudes.
0:36.3	I'm Joe Marino.
0:37.3	He's Kyle Crabs. Today's episode is brought to you by
0:40.4	FanDuel. The biggest stage in world soccer is here. Let there be goals on Fandual. Visit
0:46.7	fanduel.com to get started now. Joe, happy Tuesday to you as we are hitting the Chargers today on the program doing our deep dive offense, defense, season outlook, looking for cornerstone players, concerns about the depth, the quality starters.
1:05.8	And this Chargers team, man, some pretty significant shifts.
1:13.1	And especially on the offensive side of the ball, you know,
1:16.6	they have a shift on the defense side of the ball with the coaching staff change.
1:20.8	It's Jesse Mentor, it's a head coaching job.
1:24.1	So I like a number of things that this team did this off season we're going to start on the
1:29.1	offensive side of the ball where there's a whole lot of new obviously the storyline around
1:34.4	the offensive line is going to be one thing when you don't have rashan slater and joe halt
1:38.3	for extended periods slash all this the season.
1:47.0	But they get those guys back.
1:50.4	They draft a tackle that I really like.
1:54.4	They add a whole bunch of players with some experience to play on the inside.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Locked On Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Locked On Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.