New Chargers offensive line coach Butch Barry has been a celebrated hire among those in the know in the Chargers fandom, and Miami fans know why.
Under McDaniel's regime in Miami, Barry was able to elevate undersized, unheralded center Aaron Brewer to an All-Pro level, and he maintained a functional and effective unit despite the issues plaguing Miami towards the end of his time there.
Fixing the Chargers' offensive line could be Barry's next feather in his cap
With four of the eight picks in this year's draft going towards offensive linemen, the front office has clearly demonstrated faith in Barry's plans for fixing the offensive line this season. The first of these, coming in the second round, was that of Jake Slaughter, standing at 6'4" and weighing 304 pounds. What Butch Barry was able to do with an undersized and undervalued center in Miami, he now has the opportunity to replicate with a much more physically imposing center in LA.
However, that's not where the beefy selections ended. Tackle prospects Travis Burke and guards Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey give Barry a number of rotational pieces that can be experimented with on the inside of the line and as swing options. While Burke's 6' 8" stature is exciting, the prospect I'm most excited to see develop under Barry is Alex Harkey.
Harkey's biggest knock on his play in college was his inability to maintain body control and patience in the blocking game, which is something that Barry excelled at instilling in his players while working under McDaniel. If Barry can ensure Harkey's mechanics are disciplined, and utilize the prospect's physical traits to their maximum, the Chargers' offensive line could be set for a one-year turnaround from one of the worst to one of the most physically dominant lines in the league.
Obviously, being the highest drafted of the bunch, Jake Slaughter has the most expectations levied on him from the coaching staff. For Barry, Slaughter's development will be an endorsement or an indictment of his career. However, Slaughter is the most physically talented center that Barry has ever had the opportunity to work with. With this being Slaughter's starting point at the NFL level, Barry has the ability to shape Slaughter with fewer bad habits picked up from other teams and get the most out of him.
Slaughter has also been teased as slotting in at guard during press conversations and now at rookie minicamp, despite starting at center for his college career. This sort of positional flexibility only makes Slaughter more valuable as a flex pick along the offensive line, and if Barry is able to successfully develop this class of rookie linemen, Slaughter might wind up moving back to center in the future.
In Miami, it took multiple seasons for Barry to get the most out of his players as McDaniel established his system and chemistry built along the line. However, once they were established, they remained one of the only consistent units after Miami saw team morale plummet. With the draft having passed and camp opening, it's now clear to see that there's not a plan for a slow rebuild of the offensive line. The offensive line is built, and Butch Barry is here to make sure that they remain flexible, consistent, and keep Herbert upright.
Between dedicating four picks to the offensive line and seeing Alt return, the Chargers offensive line is slated for a rapid turnaround, and could quickly see itself becoming a premier unit in the league. With McDaniel's scheme prioritizing motion and quick release on the pass, I expect sack numbers to drop substantially this season, and the unit should look more cohesive and function better despite being younger and cheaper.
However, this does all greatly hinge on implicit success, and, if the line struggles to get started or, somehow, performs worse than last year, then Barry may be the first coach looked at if things start to get ugly. The front office and coaching staff have placed a great deal of faith in the hire, and with that investment comes a short leash in a league where instant results are being prioritized more than ever.
Every move this offseason has keyed at this team looking to make a serious push, and if the line fails to gel early, the scrutiny and pressure will only mount. While the offensive staff is new, expectations are high, and Butch Barry will need to show that he can replicate his work in Miami this year, and hopefully establish his unit for years to come.
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