Chargers OC Greg Roman’s plan for Justin Herbert: Run the ball

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman advised reporters Thursday that he’s assured the Chargers will set up a constant operating offense, which he expects to raise quarterback Justin Herbert.

“Are you able to think about Justin Herbert with an awesome operating sport?” Roman mentioned. “… We do not know, however I can think about what it would seem like. In order that’s type of the imaginative and prescient.”

The Chargers final had a feared dashing offense over a decade in the past, rating exterior the highest 10 in dashing yards per sport each season since 2007. The Chargers completed twenty fourth in dashing YPG, and operating again Austin Ekeler averaged the fewest yards per carry (3.5) of his profession.

“I believe on this league, you’ll be able to actually, actually assist dictate the defenses when you have a robust operating assault,” Roman mentioned. “Should you actually speak to most defensive coordinators on this league and obtained ’em off to the facet after they’re taking part in a very good operating staff, they’re sweating slightly bit. They’re sleeping rather less that week.”

Roman, who was most just lately the offensive coordinator with the Ravens in 2022, put collectively a few of the most prolific dashing offenses in sparking quarterback Lamar Jackson to win the second unanimous MVP award in NFL historical past in 2019. That very same season, Roman received the AP Assistant of the Yr award.

Throughout Roman’s 4 seasons with the Ravens (2019-2022), they led the league in dashing yards per sport (175.2) — a 30-yard distinction between the following closest staff — partially due to Jackson’s mobility. Roman led an analogous dashing offense when he final coached with Harbaugh with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, the place the 49ers have been second within the NFL over that span in dashing yards per sport (139.3).

Herbert is not an motionless quarterback; that was evident final season in his 73 dashing yards towards the Packers, the second most of his profession, or when he scrambled and juked Raiders exterior linebacker Maxx Crosby. Herbert, nonetheless, is not the runner that Colin Kaepernick or Jackson is.

Herbert is at his greatest when passing, which Roman acknowledged, saying that his offense would not look the best way it has with Jackson and Kaepernick.

“It should be slightly completely different,” Roman mentioned. “I believe you are going to see most likely a a number of operating sport. You may most likely see using motions and shifting, and then you definitely’ll see a reasonably various passing sport.

“… Proper now, all people’s obtained a clean slate of who we might be or what we will do. Could possibly be something proper now, our ideas and whatnot of what we do offensively will not change, however how they arrive to life on the sphere will.”

Nonetheless, Roman is not dismissing the concept of any designed runs for Herbert subsequent season.

“We’ll give it to anyone that may achieve yards,” Roman mentioned. “After which will Justin run the ball? … It will most likely be extra as a scrambler. Will now we have a few of that different stuff in our again pocket? Stays to be seen.”