Cole Strange leans on Mike McDaniel continuity as Chargers O-line takes shape

The Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive line has a new early-season point of reference in Cole Strange, and it is not just about where he is lining up. In early June Organized Team Activity practices, Strange has taken all the reps at right guard as the Bolts install the offense under now-coordinator Mike McDaniel, a system Strange already lived through in Miami.

Strange’s fit starts with familiarity. He arrived in Los Angeles after a season with the Dolphins in which he started 14 games, with all of his snaps at right guard. From his perspective, the attraction of rejoining the same scheme in back-to-back years is simple: “consistency in scheme is a big deal,” Strange said Monday. “Being able to do that in back-to-back years was attractive for sure.”

That continuity is part of why the Chargers brass viewed Strange as more than a body to plug in. Offensive line coach Butch Barry said Strange’s comfort with what the offense asks for stood out, noting, “He was hitting the market, so there was a connection that way,” and adding that Strange “understands what we want to do” and “wanted to be here.” The comment was less about past reputation and more about how quickly Strange could translate the scheme into day-to-day execution, especially for a unit learning timing and communication in a new coaching structure.

On the field, Strange ties his personal skill set to the way McDaniel runs the offense. Strange described running off the ball as a foundation of the system’s movement-based concepts, saying, “anyone who watches it can kind of see, running off the ball is sort of the starting point for a lot of the things that we do.” He also framed the fit in athletic terms, calling it “a natural fit” because, in his words, he is “more athletic than I am big.”

There is also evidence in the numbers, at least as a report of pass-protection readiness. The Chargers reported that Strange allowed 23 pressures in 2025, ranking 14th among guards who played at least 400 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Just as importantly, the team emphasized that Strange’s best work in McDaniel’s offense showed up when he could operate with confidence in what he was being asked to do, not merely how he was being asked to do it.

Strange’s role may extend beyond his own assignments. Barry said Strange helps the room communicate and sets an example during teach periods, pointing to how the veteran can provide “input” when teammates run into questions about technique or the details of a play call. In practice, that kind of peer-to-peer support matters when the rest of the group is still translating formation changes into the right protections and movement reads.

The Chargers have not locked in every combination yet. Another team-organized report during OTAs suggested that, as of mid-June, four players appeared in line to start, including Strange at right guard alongside Rashawn Slater at left tackle, Tyler Biadasz at center, and Joe Alt at right tackle. Slater was also reported as working back through the reps, which underscores that the line remains a work in progress as Los Angeles approaches minicamp and training camp.

For the Chargers, the early takeaway is that Strange is arriving with a shorter learning curve than most free-agent linemen would have. If he continues to translate McDaniel’s scheme habits into crisp protections and clean front-side movement, Los Angeles can spend more time refining the details elsewhere, rather than rebuilding fundamentals from scratch. The next major test will be how quickly the full unit’s communication and call-and-technique timing come together once minicamp and the rest of the offseason calendar tighten the schedule.