Los Angeles ChargersQB Justin Herbert is, in a nutshell, a football robot. If you want to teach elite handling and timing at that position, look at No. 10 in LA. He's long been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he always felt like he was playing a little more…well. Herbert often goes through his entire progression, choosing to play it safe and holding back rather than extending for a more explosive play.
But that has changed under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Herbert has unleashed his style of play, which has helped him have an MVP-caliber season. Herbert's scramble numbers are down from last year, but feel This year is even more important because of the lack of talent around him. As a runner this season, Herbert has been the Chargers' most effective and successful high-volume runner, posting a 38.7 positive play rate and a 30.6% first down rate this year. The Chargers need his high level of play, and it showed in a key win against. denver broncos on Thursday night. Herbert was a very good player in the pocket, as always, but it was his work outside of the structure that kept the Chargers' offense afloat.
If there's one thing all top QBs have learned in their careers, it's the art of timely scrambling. Patrick Mahomes might be the best in the world at this point. He scrambled for 15 yards on 3rd and 10 or 8 yards on 3rd and 7. It's a difficult scramble when the defense has everyone in coverage, but the QB makes a play and the drive continues. own. This is something Herbert hasn't used much in his career prior to this year, but in 2024 he's unlocking this different level of play that puts him among the elite.
This scramble drill is done on second down, and you can see that Herbert's willingness to use his feet to get first downs helps him spread out the offense much more than in previous years. Enjoy this play even more by looking at the Juke he wore to separate two Bronco defenders. I always say Herbert runs like the Iron Giant, but this robot is learning how to kick like Baymax.
Where he has grown even more is in working off the structure, where the Chargers desperately need his magic. The Chargers' offense is built to be explosive on the ground and effective through the air. Guys like Ladd McConkie and Josh Palmer are used a lot in the middle game as well as multiple tight ends on offense, and you want to be able to get a jab in the passing game and in the haymaker running the ball. That's what I think. But the problem is that the Charger doesn't explode on the ground. Without RB JK Dobbins, the Chargers have eight carries of 10 yards or more, but that's not enough.
Why is this important to Herbert? Well, if the Chargers aren't explosive on the ground, he has to keep the offense going without a lot of guys who can separate or catch the ball. The Chargers' drop rate of 8.6% this year is the ninth-highest in the NFL since 2020, according to Sports Information Solutions. Herbert isn't given much in these key moments, but his ability to stretch players and buy time is why the offense is working. The touchdown he threw to WR Derrius Davis on Thursday was something every elite quarterback would do. He disappears to his left and DL Zach Allen is closing in on him. So for most players, this means a sack.
But this version of Justin Herbert is different. A little gentle flick of the wrist to Davis in the end zone and the Chargers are on the board with a touchdown. This is outrageous, outrageous stuff from Herbert, who has taken his creative suite to the next level this season.
For the final touchdown of the game, Herbert replaced RB Hassan Haskins with a shot that allowed Haskins to bring it home. He steps up under pressure from near the edge, but there's nothing open downfield and McConkey runs an over route and Quentin Johnston runs the go. Herbert opens his creative suite and casually throws this ball to Haskins, who does the rest. This type of creation, albeit small, is what keeps this offense afloat, and it's through Herbert changing the way he plays.
Jim Harbaugh has changed a lot with the Chargers, but his biggest move was releasing Herbert as QB. Herbert has accomplished more than he has in his career from a creation standpoint, and it appears to be enough to get the Chargers into the playoffs in Year 1 of the Harbaugh era. Herbert's numbers may not be flashy (18 passing touchdowns this season), but in terms of actual numbers; precious He's on a Chargers team that doesn't have a lot of skill positions and deserves to get MVP votes.
The robot QB has been unleashed.
