Herbert, Harbaugh exchange praise during camp

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- What was attractive about the Los Angeles Chargers job opening last January was the chance to work with quarterback Justin Herbert.

In his first four seasons in the NFL, Herbert did not have continuity in the coaching staff. He has had three offensive coordinators in four seasons and two head coaches in four years.

Now that Jim Harbaugh is his new head coach, there could be continuity and winning, something that hasn't happened much in his first four seasons. 

"He's done such a great job taking this team and getting them to where he wants them to go," Herbert said. "He's won wherever he's at. He's a guy that everyone wants to follow and play for."

Harbaugh has won with Josh Johnson, Andrew Luck, Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, and JJ McCarthy. He has never had a quarterback like Herbert in the NFL. 

Since OTA's began, Harbaugh has had a veteran player stand up and speak to the team after practice. On the final day of minicamp, it was Herbert's turn.

"If we're going to be the team we want to be, it starts now," Herbert told reporters later. "It's starts when we're on our own and having that level of loyalty and dedication and integrity."

During his press conference on Tuesday, Harbaugh raved about his quarterback's selflessness.

"The top of the list would be the way he elevates teammates," Harbaugh said. "He lifts them up, kind of makes himself smaller and them bigger as opposed to a guy that pushes the others down and, you know, 'Look at me.'"

He spoke highly about his quarterback's conditioning.

"Just when you think he can't go another rung on the ladder of my esteem, he finds another one," Harbaugh said. "I mean, crushed it, like out in front with people trying to keep up with him."

He even has his head coach fist-pumping while he watches his practice film.

"I've found myself just sitting at my desk at times, going, 'He's on our team!' You know it's not just in shorts because I've seen him do this in 11-on-11 NFL padded football games," Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh is a former NFL quarterback, so he speaks the same language as Herbert and brings a unique view of how to play the position. Something that Herbert appreciates.

"It's really cool. For him to come into the quarterback room and share his thoughts, it's great perspective," Herbert said. "He's done it, and has coached and played at such a high level for so long that any advice like that is great for us.

"It's been an honor to play for him so far and to share that quarterback room with him. He's definitely a very intelligent, committed and competitive guy. He wants to win whatever he's playing."

The Chargers are 30-32 during the Herbert era, but quarterback play isn't the reason; if anything, they have been to the playoffs once because of the play from the quarterback.

When offensive coordinator Greg Roman was hired, there were questions about what the offense would look like, primarily because Roman has been known to lean heavily into the run game in the past.

Why run when you have a quarterback with a howitzer for a right arm?

"I think our offense, the players are very clear with the identity we want to have and how we want to play," Roman said. "I definitely think there's a sweet spot. We're still figuring out, still learning about how this is all going to come together, but we want to create options for ourselves, we want to be great at running the ball, we want to be great at throwing the ball."

So, what does the Chargers quarterback think about possibly being a heavy run offense?

"Selfishly as a quarterback I'd love to throw the ball every time," Herbert said Thursday. "But if we throw it one time or we throw it 100 times, as long as we're winning and finding a way to do that, it's good with me."

Having three offensive coordinators in four years and having success in each is rare. He had to learn Shane Steichen's, Joe Lombardi's, and Kellen Moore's offense, so that is a lot of information.

Now, he is learning Roman's offense. The offensive coordinator said Thursday that he doesn't understand how his quarterback retains all of the information, mainly because, at times, they throw a lot at him at once.

"I don't know if he has a photographic memory, but his ability to almost memorize a game plan to a T, it's impressive," Roman said. "We all knew coming in that Justin is a super talented guy, but then when you see how he works day-in and day-out diligently, he takes everything very seriously. He just empowers everybody around him."

Does he?

"I wish," said a smirking Herbert. "No, I don't. I have just done a good job of getting into the playbook and understanding that as the quarterback you have to understand the in's and out's of the offense. You have to understand every role. You have to know it all."

The minicamp practices were high-level, with pass catchers diving to the ground to make plays and defenders getting into their faces. 

On one play, Herbert threw a pass into the back of the end zone to receiver DJ Chark, who was trying to toe-tap. He argued with the referee, who called him out, while the cornerbacks, led by Asante Samuel Jr., mimicked the "out of bounds" hand signal the referee made.

"We're going to keep fighting," Herbert said. "We've got the guys in here to keep fighting and especially the head coach that wants to make that happen. We're all for it."

That is what Harbaugh brings—intensity. 

He also brings a gold jersey for his $262 million quarterback to wear, which basically tells defenders, "No touching the quarterback."

"Two yards for the all quarterbacks," Harbaugh said. "But the guy wearing the gold jersey, let's make that 2½ or three."

There are about six weeks between this dead period and the start of training camp, so the coaches will continue to install and get their plans ready while players stay in shape and get ready.

Excitement is a word that the coaches have thrown around about their quarterback, and he shares the same word to speak about getting ready to start a new journey with new leaders. Everyone wants to win, and they have anything possible with the quarterback.

"With Justin, the sky's the limit," Roman said. "What's above the sky? The stratosphere? The stratosphere is the limit. It's upon all of us — coaches, players, the line, receivers, the tight ends, the backs — all of us to put it all together into a winning way. We're on that path."