EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Our second stop is at The Bolt, the Los Angeles Chargers’ brand-new (and not yet completely finished) quarter-billion-dollar home just a Justin Herbert throw away from LAX. And we happened to be there on the first day of Jim Harbaugh’s first training camp back in the NFL after nine years away …
• Let’s get the easy part out of the way first—Justin Herbert has blown away the new regime in Los Angeles. The size, arm strength and ability to move, of course, they knew about. What they’ve seen for themselves, though, is more than just that. First, it’s Herbert’s aptitude. The speed with which he’s picked up Greg Roman’s offense has reflected a very fast study, a maniacal worker or (and most likely) both. Second, his athleticism, and specifically ability to run and pull away from other great athletes in the open field, has been eye-opening—and tantalizing for a staff that knows how to threaten a defense with a mobile quarterback.
I’ve said over the past few months that Harbaugh’s excellent at getting more out of his quarterbacks by asking less of them (in having balanced teams that don’t need to be carried by the quarterback), and I see Herbert having a big year as a result. But by asking less of him, I’m not saying Herbert isn’t capable. Because the staff here can already see what the fifth-year veteran can do.
