Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh Believes QB Justin Herbert Is 'An Expert At Football'

It's early in the relationship, but it's fair to say Jim Harbaugh has a love affair going on as coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. The only problem is it's a love triangle.

Harbaugh guided Michigan to the national title last year, put the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl during the 2012 season and lifted Stanford football back to prominence before that.

And he did all that as an avowed proponent of running the football.

Coach Jim Harbaugh is introduced as coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. (Credit: Getty Images)

Harbaugh's Chargers Will Run The Ball

When he arrived as the Chargers new coach, Harbaugh clearly was bringing that same philosophy with him. He hired Greg Roman, another avowed proponent of running the ball, as the Bolts' offensive coordinator. 

Harbaugh also drafted offensive lineman Joe Alt with his first-round pick in April and signed running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency.

So this coach clearly loves running the ball.

But a funny thing happened to how Harbaugh sees his Chargers offense going forward: He got a closer, better understanding of quarterback Justin Herbert.

Who is a physical freak.

And it's fair to now believe Harbaugh is going to love the idea of throwing the ball because he simply seems in awe of his new quarterback. 

"He's been incredible," Harbaugh said of Herbert during a 26-minute Tuesday press conference in which he devoted the first 13 minutes or so to the quarterback.

"From my standpoint, I knew he was really good. But when you're right up next to him watching, where you can feel the way the ball comes out of his hand. When it comes out, it's going a lot faster than you think, than it looks on tape."

Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert elevates for the throw against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Herbert Crushes Conditioning Test

Herbert attended the entire offseason program with the Chargers to immerse himself in Harbaugh's system. And Harbaugh has been studying his starter.

"He's bigger, taller than you'd think watching TV," Harbaugh said. "It's incredible the way he picks things up and masters things. Every detail, every small detail. 

"The conditioning test was another eye-opener. Just when you think he can't go another rung on the ladder of my esteem, anyway, he finds another one. He smashed the conditioning test last Thursday. I mean, crushed it, like out in front, people trying to keep up with him." 

And now get ready for some statements bordering on hyperbole.

"The athleticism and strength, really," Harbaugh said with a straight face, "he could play tight end here. He could play edge rusher here." 

Harbaugh isn't done. He actually goes through a list of items that have impressed him most about Herbert since becoming the Chargers' coach in late January:

Harbaugh mentions the conditioning test, saying it was "like child's play," for Herbert.

He mentions the speed with which Herbert learned the new system, including cadence, motions, landmarks and protections. 

Then this:

"And I'd say the top of the list is the way he elevates teammates," Harbaugh said. "He lifts them up, kind of makes himself smaller and them bigger. As opposed to the guy who pushes others down and says, look at me … There's never any shameless self-promotion. He's just been willing to do anything and everything for the team.

"He's an expert at football"

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh shows reporters how he privately celebrates the fact Justin Herbert is his QB

(OutKick)

Herbert ‘On Our Team!’

Harbaugh is clearly thrilled he's the coach of an NFL team with a high-caliber quarterback. It's impossible to win big without one.

The coach is so pleased with his situation, he shared how he celebrates in private moments.

"I found myself just sitting at my desk at times, going, 'He's on our team!' " Harbaugh said.

The coach motioned, dropping a clenched fist from eye-level to his torso, as if he's blowing a train horn.

That all, of course, is Harbaugh telling everyone how he feels. But there's no better way to understand how Harbaugh values Herbert than how the coach is showing it. 

Herbert struggled with injuries the past couple of years. And Harbaugh, a former quarterback, knows the importance of keeping his star healthy.

So he has all the quarterbacks wear jerseys that are a different color than the rest of the team to signal that the quarterback is not to be touched.

Herbert always wears the gold jersey because it signals he's the most prized quarterback.

"He did not want that. He didn't," Harbaugh said. "And I get that. I understand that. As a quarterback, I didn't like a different color jersey as anybody else on team. I understand that's not ideal for Justin, as it wouldn't have been for me.

"But quarterbacks, we try to have a two-yard halo around them. Stay away from the quarterback. The gold jersey is just a reminder that two yards is for all the quarterbacks, but the guy that's wearing the gold jersey, let's make that two-and-half or three yards."