Jim Harbaugh - Head Coach Of Our Chargers

[sonorajim]

I love the hiring of McDaniel and am excited about his play calling and work with Herbert, just like everybody else.

But I have already gotten tired of the premise i keep seeing here ... that we don't need quality guards because we hired Mike McDaniel or Mike's system will elevate whatever guards we plug in, no need to spend for one in free agency.

Here is some reality about that from last year with the Dolphins...The Dolphins invested a high 2nd round pick, 37th overall, on a highly rated guard in last years draft - Jonah Savaiinaea. Well McDaniel's system didn't help Jonah very much nor did Mike's system mask poor guard performance. Jonah was terrible in this system, absolutely the worst guard in the NFL last year.

Good guard play does matter...and as Popper said today why would you not hedge your bet and combine Mike's system with the best guards or linemen that you possibly can?

Do you mean combine Mike's system with OG's who are quick and agile and best fit McD's system? Sure. Why not?
We got one in Cole Strange.

[DerwinBosa]

Do you mean combine Mike's system with OG's who are quick and agile and best fit McD's system? Sure. Why not?
We got one in Cole Strange.

Lol. I do think it's interesting that coaches from the Shanahan coaching tree have been able to find guards who haven't succeeded elsewhere and have molded them into productive players. Laken Tomlinson comes to mind. Failed in Detroit, after the Lions took him with a first-round pick. They gave up on him after two seasons. Shanahan picked him up in 2017, and he started for five seasons, including when they went to the Super Bowl in 2019.

I guess some have decided there's no chance of Cole Strange doing something similar.