Jim Harbaugh has already known as him one of many biggest gamers to ever play his place.
The notion nationally of Justin Herbert isn’t as charitable. The consensus is that Herbert doesn’t belong within the prime tier of NFL quarterbacks alongside the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow.
If something, Herbert could be seen as being nearer to Jared Goff or Brock Purdy than Mahomes or Jackson.
As overwhelming as his athletic items are, as many jaw-dropping passes as he’s accomplished, Herbert nonetheless hasn’t gained a playoff recreation for the Chargers.
His coach has larger ambitions than a solitary postseason victory for him, nonetheless.
“The Super Bowl,” Harbaugh stated. “That’s what we’re going for, the Super Bowl. That’s our goal. We’re going to do it or die trying.”
From the surface, such a leap feels fully doable.
The Chargers had been 11-6 and certified for the playoffs final yr in Harbaugh’s first season as their coach. The final time he coached within the NFL, with the San Francisco 49ers, he reached the Tremendous Bowl in Yr 2.
Harbaugh has gained at every of his earlier teaching stops, inspiring confidence across the Chargers that it’s a matter of time till he replicates these outcomes with them.
But when Harbaugh profitable seems like an inevitability, so does the reemergence of the Chargers’ Curse. The group’s historical past is one in every of screwing issues up, and to date within the battle between the 2 unstoppable and reverse forces, the Curse has the higher hand.
The Chargers have already taken probably the most Chargers-like of blows, as they signed Rashawn Slater to an extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL historical past, solely to have him maintain a season-ending knee harm days later.
Slater was part of the muse Harbaugh established final yr, and the workforce was anticipated to be constructed round its two tackles, with Slater on the left facet and former No. 5 total draft choose Joe Alt on the correct. Slater’s place at left deal with might be taken by Alt. Trey Pipkins III will begin at proper deal with.
Even with Slater, there have been questions concerning the offensive line, notably about whether or not sufficient was finished to handle the shortcomings on the inside. The Chargers spent a sixth-round draft selection on guard Branson Taylor however minimize him from their 53-man roster. Taylor was signed to the follow squad.
Harbaugh maintained his trademark upbeat demeanor when requested how the road has come collectively within the wake of Slater’s harm.
“I think good,” he stated. “The starting five right now is set. They’ve jelled very well in practice and I feel good about that.”
The Chargers are taking a by-the-committee method at each cornerback and tight finish, which factors to an absence of high-end expertise at both place. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will seemingly rotate gamers on the line of defense as properly, however that’s an space by which the Chargers have actual horses, together with Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Teair Tart and Jamaree Caldwell.
The holes on the roster, coupled with a loaded division within the AFC West and tougher schedule than final yr, may very properly end result within the Chargers taking a step again this season. Progress isn’t at all times linear.
Truthful or not, the blame for that may in the end fall on Herbert, who’s now in his sixth NFL season.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert speaks to reporters after the primary day of coaching camp in July.
(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Instances)
Harbaugh and common supervisor Joe Hortiz did what they may to improve the weapons round him. They used their first-round choose on a operating again in Omarion Hampton of North Carolina and signed Najee Harris, who just lately got here again from a watch harm that sidelined him for almost all of camp.
The Chargers unearthed a gem final yr in receiver Ladd McConkey, however they continued so as to add to their receiver room by drafting Tre’ Harris within the second spherical and KeAndre Lambert-Smith within the fifth. Each Harris and Lambert-Smith had promising moments within the preseason. The workforce additionally introduced again one in every of Herbert’s favourite targets in 33-year-old Keenan Allen, who spent final season with the Chicago Bears.
The workforce has misplaced the 2 postseason video games it has performed with Herbert as its quarterback, however Herbert wasn’t solely liable for the outcomes. Former coach Brandon Staley’s failure to develop a constant operating recreation was the first motive the Chargers blew a 27-point result in the Jacksonville Jaguars in Herbert’s third season. The Chargers’ incapability to guard Herbert was a significant factor in his 4 intercepted passes in a loss to the Houston Texans final season.
Nevertheless authentic the justifications, the ledger exhibits that Herbert has zero playoff wins. His postseason file is what defines him and that gained’t change. How the Chargers end this season will proceed to find out how Herbert is seen.
