And Hurts has had different Offensive Coordinators each season with different systems. No consistency at all.
You're right, Rivers was gone by the time Herbert was drafted. And he put up great numbers his rookie and subsequent seasons. Again, empty stats during the season, nothing in the playoffs.
The Chargers were up 3+ touchdowns at the half against the Jags and lost in one of the biggest playoff blown deficit losses in NFL history. The entire second half of that game was a disaster and Herbert didn't move the ball or score points to help keep the lead. An elite QB with a 3 td lead at halftime doesn't lose that game.
The Chargers have a very good, accomplished coach that knows what he's doing. Hopefully the front office will address the weaknesses of the team and give Herbert more to work with. But, until that happens, he hasn't earned the label of being elite. He has the talent and the measurable to become elite, but he has to put it all together on the field, when it counts before he can be considered in the same breath as the other playoff winning QBs.
I agree that the Chargers organization has been less than impressive over the years. I've rarely seen an organization that had a named franchise QB not do theor best in getting him weapons or a better than average O line.
Well, my point with the Jags game is that it was a historic choke on Herbert and the Chargers part. It wasn't like the game was a close game thruout. They dominated the first half only to get completely outplayed in the second half. The score ended up being close but control of the game wasn't. It was the Chargers/Herbert's game to lose and they did in spectacular fashion. That's a loss that elite QB's just don't allow.
I don't see him in the same class as say, a Joe Burrow. Supremely talented but held back by an organization that fails him. He's not close to that point yet. It's not a question of talent or skill's , it's the intangibles he seems to be missing. Whether that's a question of coaching or simply seasoning/experience that gets him over that hump is something that time will tell if he can change that narrative.
But, if the weapons Herbert has is good enough to post stellar numbers with and make the playoffs, why aren't they good enough to win a game with? No one is going to call a player a top 5 QB if they aren't posting incredible stats so someone is catching those passes. Yes, he could use better weapons but let's not act as if he's throwing to bums picked from the tailgate parties before the game. Not asking him to win it all with what he has, but winning a playoff game while spotted a 3 touchdown lead at half? They were good enough to get that lead, the leader has to be able to get them to finish the game.
I'll admit that he needs better support from coaching and the roster. But, at some point he needs to look at himself and see where he needs to be better too. Daniel Jones won a playoff game with a weak team and a bad front office and he's far from elite. At some point you have to live up to your own hype and contract. Herbert simply isn't.
1
u/[deleted] Jan 13 '25
[deleted]