The Chargers fired both Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi, and Quarterbacks Coach Shane Day on Tuesday morning. Losing both the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach most certainly means an entire scheme change for the Charger's offense. Here is a potential candidate to lead the Charger's offensive playcalling next season.
Dan Pitcher History
Dan Pitcher attended Division III SUNY Cortland college out of New York where he was a finalist as a quarterback for the Gagliardi Trophy awarded to the Outstanding Division III College Football Player of the Year. Pitcher never made it into the NFL. In fact, his college stats are not even available to be found online, but being named a finalist as a Division III player is notable, and it led to him remaining on the SUNY Cortland coaching staff, helping to develop wide receivers.
In 2016, Pitcher landed a coaching role with the Cincinnati Bengals as an offensive assistant. In 2019, he was elevated to Assistant Quarterbacks coach during Andy Dalton’s final season. He was then elevated to Quarterbacks Coach where he was tasked with developing Joe Burrow, the First-Overall Pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has remained in that role ever since.
Case For Dan Pitcher
There is not much to be said about Pitcher’s experience as an offensive assistant, but he has done a commendable job with Joe Burrow. Burrow’s rookie season may not have started on a high note, since the Bengals were 2-7-1 at the time of Burrows ACL injury, but Burrow was completing 65% of his passes, with 13 touchdowns to five interceptions. This was in the face of an extreme amount of pressure on the quarterback. Burrow was pressure 32% of his drop backs, and still managed to be successful as a passer overall.
The following season, the Bengals invested heavily in the offense line, and Joe Burrow rewarded the Bengals with a trip to the Super Bowl. He threw for 4,611 and 34 touchdowns to 14 interception. He became the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, while making a Pro Bowl, and being ranked #21 on the 2022 NFL Top 100. This is also while turning Ja’Marr Chase into the 2021 Rookie of the Year.
Pitcher has also had the opportunity to learn under Marvin Lewis as an offensive assistant and was retained under Zac Taylor. While his coaching experience isn’t great, the coaches he has had around him has led to a strong foundation overall.
Case Against Dan Pitcher
Dan Pitcher’s experience in the NFL is not long. Marvin Lewis was primarily a defensive coach, though one that held his position from 2003-2018. Ken Zampese was not the best offensive coordinator during his tenure with the Bengals. The entirety of Pitchers knowledge base is based upon his experience under Zac Taylor and the Bengals success is only recent. It includes a star studded cast of offensive playmakers, and that has helped ease Pitcher into his position.
We know nothing about Pitchers experience as a play caller, so we do not know his situational awareness when that comes into play. He doesn’t hold the role of pass game coordinator, so there is speculation about his ability to call an offense. Has his experience with Joe Burrow told us enough about his abilities as an offensive coordinator or are there still too many unknowns?
Bottom Line
The Bengals offense overall has grown exponentially, and they are a formidable attack through the air and on the ground. Pitcher is directly responsible for teaching the scheme to Joe Burrow, and helping offensive coordinator Brian Callahan design passing concepts that fits the strength of the Bengals offensive cast. It should be no surprise that the combination of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd is one of the most dynamic groups of receivers in the NFL. Pitchers hands are all over the Bengals offense which is why he is considered a rising positional coach who has earned a big promotion.
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