Justin Herbert stopped being a football robot, and it made him better than ever
Justin Herbert is evolving, and it’s helped him play a near MVP level.
Los Angeles Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert is, in a few words, a football robot. If you want to teach elite processing and timing at the position, you watch No. 10 for LA. He’s long been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, but he always felt like he played a bit more ... buttoned up. Herbert is often going to get through his entire progression, choosing to safely check it down rather than try and extend for more explosive plays.
That’s changed under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, though. Herbert has been unlocked in his style of play, and it’s helped him turn in an MVP-caliber season. Herbert’s scramble numbers are lower than they were last year, but they feel much more important this year, due to the dearth of talent around him. This season, Herbert as a runner has been the most effective and successful high-volume runner on the Chargers, posting a 38.7 Positive Play Rate this year and a 30.6% First Down Rate as a runner. The Chargers need his elevated level of play, and it was on display in a pivotal win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Herbert was his usual very good self in the pocket, but it was the out of structure work that he did that’s keeping the Chargers’ offense afloat.
If there’s anything all of the top QBs have learned in their respective careers, it’s the art of the timely scramble. Patrick Mahomes might be the best in the world at it, scrambling for 15 yards on 3rd and 10 or 8 on 3rd and 7. It’s the backbreaking scrambles when the defense has everyone covered, but the drive continues because the QB makes a play on his own. It’s something Herbert didn’t really use a lot in his career leading up to this year, but in 2024 he’s unlocked this different level of play that’s keeping him amongst the ranks of the elite.
This scramble drill comes on second down, but you can see how Herbert’s willingness to go out and get the first down and more with his legs helps open up that offense much more than previous years. Look at the juke he puts on to split two Bronco defenders and get even more out of this play. I say all the time that Herbert runs like the Iron Giant, but this robot is learning how to kick ass more like Baymax.
Where he’s also developed is working more out of structure, where the Chargers desperately need his magic. The Chargers’ offense is built to be explosive on the ground and efficient in the air; with guys like Ladd McConkey and Josh Palmer, who are more used for the in between game as well as the multiple tight ends in the offense, they want to be able to hit you with jabs in the passing game and haymakers running the ball. The problem, however, is that the Chargers aren’t explosive on the ground. Without RB JK Dobbins, the Chargers have eight carries of 10 or more yards, which just isn’t going to cut it.
Why does this matter for Herbert? Well, if the Chargers aren’t explosive on the ground, he has to keep the offense alive without many guys who can separate...or catch the ball. The Chargers’ 8.6% Drop Rate this year would be the ninth highest in the NFL since 2020, according to Sports Information Solutions. Herbert isn’t given much in these big moments, but his ability to extend and buy time for his guys is why the offense is working. The touchdown he threw to WR Derius Davis on Thursday was stuff that all the elite QBs do. He’s fading away to his left and DL Zach Allen is closing in on him, which means for most guys this ends in a sack.
But not this version of Justin Herbert. Just a little calm flick of the wrist to Davis in the endzone and the Chargers are on the board with a touchdown. This is bonkers, bonkers stuff from Herbert, who has taken his creative suite to the next level this season.
On the final touchdown of the game, Herbert creates for RB Hassan Haskins, who is able to take this to the house. He steps up with the pressure coming around the edge, but nothing is open downfield, with McConkey running an over route and Quentin Johnston running a go. Herbert opens his creative suite, and casually flips this ball to Haskins, who does the rest. This type of creation, while small, is what’s keeping this offense alive, and it’s done via Herbert changing how he plays.
Jim Harbaugh has changed a lot about the Chargers, but where he’s had the biggest hand is with unleashing Herbert as a QB. Herbert is doing more from a creation standpoint than he has in his career, and it looks like it’ll be enough to get the Chargers to the playoffs in year one of the Harbaugh era. Herbert’s numbers might not be gaudy (18 passing touchdowns this season), but in terms of how truly valuable he is to a Chargers team that doesn’t have much at the skill position, he deserves to get MVP votes.
The robot QB has been unleashed.