Justin Herbert’s passer rating has absolutely cratered to a dismal 71.6 early this season, a shocking 20 points lower than his career low of 93.2 from just last year. This is not the top-five quarterback we know, not even close. Two games into the NFL season, and something is seriously off with the seventh-year pro, forcing coaches, scouts, and execs across the league to dive deep into the All-22 tape and figure out what in the world is happening.
The “Guru” Scheme That Broke a Gunslinger
Everyone expected the Chargers’ offense to explode under “play-design guru” Mike McDaniel, right? They revamped the playbook, brought in all these “snazzy pre-snap motions and exotic formations,” but it has backfired spectacularly. Herbert is playing the worst football of his career, plain and simple. We’re seeing a sub-60% completion rate for the first time ever from him. The tape shows the increased use of Pistol formations isn’t blending Jim Harbaugh’s desired “smash-mouth offense” with McDaniel’s “spread and shred” system like it was supposed to. Herbert, bless his heart, just doesn’t have the ball-handling skills of a Tua Tagovailoa, and his “slow trigger finder” is leading to way more off-target throws than we’re used to seeing from this ultra-talented gunslinger. He’s gotta improve his pocket efficiency if he wants to capitalize on all that misdirection.
Pressure, Picks, and a Playmaker Problem
The struggles aren’t just in the scheme, though. Herbert’s supporting cast needs to step up big time. His receivers aren’t getting separation on the perimeter, and the pocket protection is just not there. Against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday, Herbert was under pressure on a brutal 54.8% of his dropbacks! He completed 15 of 27 passes for 253 yards, one touchdown, and two back-breaking interceptions. His slump on “tight-window throws” is glaring: he’s 0-for-7 with two picks this season when he tries to squeeze the ball in. While the Chargers’ “inconsistent receiving corps” is definitely part of the problem, you expect elite quarterbacks to make those pinpoint passes and throw guys open. It just hasn’t happened. They’re also pushing the ball downfield more, with Herbert averaging 10.2 air yards per attempt. He’s found some success with Ladd McConkey, who has an 87.5% completion rate for 113 yards and a score on deep throws, but the Chargers’ offense is bogged down by a serious lack of playmakers around McConkey.
This offense has way more big-play potential than it’s shown, and it’s on everyone to fix it. More reps *could* boost his efficiency, but it’s clear the Chargers need to get back to basics. Expect them to “scale back the exotics and emphasize the quarterback’s favorite plays” if they want to turn this dismal early season around. Getting Herbert back to his Pro Bowl form is the absolute key to their entire season, and it needs to happen fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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