Los Angeles Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert is regarded by many as one of the top-five signal-callers in the game, but one AFC scout isn’t buying that notion.
Herbert was signed to a five-year extension worth $262.5 million back in July, six months after helping the Chargers to their first postseason appearance in four years. His 9,350 passing yards and 69 passing touchdowns are the most for a quarterback through his first two NFL seasons.
Herbert’s production certainly puts him in the top-five quarterback discussion. But one AFC Scouting Director explained to Matt Lombardo of FanBuzz that they don’t view Herbert as an “elite” quarterback, citing his struggles in reading defenses:
“[Herbert] isn’t elite, first of all. He has elite talent. But, struggles reading defenses. He threw it into double coverage at least five times and didn’t complete one of them. He threw it into zone coverage right in the middle of a defense instead of to the edges. He’s a pre-determined thrower, not a passer.
“Staley and [offensive coordinator] Kellen Moore call very predictable first and second down calls,” the Scouting Director said. “Then, when they win on third down, it’s because their players are better than the defense’s. They can’t sustain drives, everything is a deep shot or predictable running plays.”
Herbert obviously hasn’t endured the same playoff success as other young star quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow or Jalen Hurts, but it’s hard to blame the Oregon product for the Chargers’ annual shortcomings.
Consider that Herbert is on his second NFL head coach (Brandon Staley) and his third offensive coordinator just four years into his NFL career. And regarding that blown 27-0 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars in last year’s Wild Card Round? Herbert didn’t turn the ball over once, so he can only take so much of the blame.
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Herbert’s lack of playoff success with the Chargers thus far simply isn’t on him. At the end of the day, the consistent Pro Bowl numbers suggest that Herbert is an elite quarterback.
