In his first four NFL seasons, Justin Herbert had 13 games where he attempted at least 47 passes.
Things have changed for the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman.
With a strong running game, Herbert has thrown the ball only 46 times in the first two games. This approach has worked well, as Sunday’s 26-3 win over the Carolina Panthers gave the Chargers their first 2-0 start since 2012.
“I think my job as a quarterback is just to be a point guard, to get them the ball, to get us in the right looks,” said Herbert, who completed 14 of 20 passes for 130 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.
“To be able to run the ball like that and give our ball to the playmakers and let them go make the plays. As long as I’m doing that, I’m doing my job.”
The success of the running game has been crucial since wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams left during the offseason.
Herbert also missed two weeks of training camp due to an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot, which delayed his work with wide receivers Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, and Ladd McConkey. The injury concerns came up again when Herbert had his lower right leg rolled up on during the third quarter.
The running game has more than made up for a passing game that is still finding its rhythm. As of Monday, J.K. Dobbins leads the league in rushing, marking the first time a Chargers running back has done so after two weeks since the merger. He is also the first back in team history to have two 100-yard games to start the season.
Left tackle Rashaun Slater and guard Zion Johnson were chosen in the first round for their pass protection skills, but both have also shown to be excellent run blockers.
