Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh called out Justin Herbert to "Be better" after a 24-16 loss to the Bills put Los Angeles at 0-3.
Jim Harbaugh has called Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert a generational talent and predicted he'll go down as the best quarterback ever.
Still, on Monday, after three straight losses, he had a much shorter message for his QB: "Be better."
Harbaugh said it twice when asked about Herbert's decision-making following the 24-16 loss in Buffalo. He then spread the responsibility to himself, the quarterbacks coach, and coordinator Mike McDaniel. That was a fair point, but it didn't hide how unusual the moment was.
Harbaugh Backs Herbert
Harbaugh has been close to unconditional in his public support of Herbert.
When things went wrong earlier this season, the blame landed elsewhere. An interception against the Raiders was put on a receiver. A sack in the opener was blamed on a wrong route, not the protection call. A week before the Buffalo loss, Harbaugh said he wouldn't change anything about his quarterback.
That's what makes Monday stand out. Coaches criticize players all the time. Harbaugh criticizing Herbert almost never happens, and it would only happen once the problem got too big to explain away.
Through three weeks in McDaniel's offense, Herbert has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and is completing under 60 percent of his passes, both career lows.
His passer rating is in the low 70s, a long way from the level he's played at for most of his career.
The Buffalo game summed up the problem. Herbert's lone interception came on a throw into the end zone while the Chargers held a three-point lead and had a chance to put the game away.
Bills defenders dropped two more passes that should have been picks. The Chargers blew a 10-0 lead and lost to a team that committed five turnovers. When the opponent keeps giving you the ball, and you still lose, the quarterback is going to hear about it.
Not All Herbert's Fault
To his credit, Harbaugh didn't make Herbert the only problem. He said the staff is reviewing the scheme, the execution, and the personnel, and that when it comes to simplifying McDaniel's system, "all options are open."
He also said he still trusts McDaniel to fix the offense.
That matters. Herbert is learning a new system with a lot of motion and moving parts, and some of his struggles may come from that fit, not just his reads.
Still, a quarterback with his experience is expected to protect the ball regardless of what's being called.
Herbert didn't make excuses. After the game, he said the turnaround "starts with me."
A winless September doesn't end a season, but it does limit how much slack a team has left. The Chargers face Seattle next, and every read Herbert makes will be scrutinized.
Harbaugh's comment wasn't a sign he's lost faith. The most encouraging part for Los Angeles is that the coach and the quarterback said the same thing: the fix has to start with them.
