Jim Harbaugh isn’t pretending the Chargers can unlock Justin Herbert with speeches alone. The head coach made it clear Thursday that the quarterback needs more help around him - and he pointed directly to the pieces that matter most: playmakers, protection and coaching.
Speaking on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” Harbaugh leaned into the idea that Herbert’s growth is tied to the people around him.
“There are no great coaches without great players,” Harbaugh said (Timestamp: 8:05). “So I appreciate what you said.
But that's a result of great players. And I know great players when I see them.
So what am I going to do? I'm going to surround Justin Herbert with the people that he's counting on.
“Because to me, his only real weakness is those of us on offense that he's counting on: playmakers, protection and coaches. So we have to rise up to his level. So that's something we, as an organization, are doing on a daily basis, is to make sure that we've got guys that Justin Herbert can count on.”
Harbaugh’s comments came one day after former Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko went public with a sharp criticism of the organization’s handling of Herbert. Fehoko blasted the franchise on social media for what he described as years of neglecting offensive line depth and failing to protect the quarterback, adding that he would have no words if Herbert got tired and chose to leave.
The Chargers also made a notable move this offseason by hiring Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator after he was fired as the Miami Dolphins head coach. Harbaugh was asked about what McDaniel brings to the table, and he didn’t hold back his admiration.
“The proof is in the pudding,” Harbaugh said. “It's in the tape.
I've just been a fan of him, watching him from afar, and I'd never met him before, but just what I saw on the tape. And knew I was going to like him.
I was pretty darn sure … I love his enthusiasm. I love his energy.
“But the mind, Stephen A. This is a Yale graduate -- It's the run game, it's the throw game, it's his understanding of defense, and the personality is infectious. It rubs off on everybody.”
Harbaugh’s belief is obvious: Herbert needs the right support, and McDaniel is part of that equation. How that offensive approach meshes with Harbaugh’s own run-game philosophy is still the open question.
In Other News...
Chargers May Have Found Unexpected O-Line Help At The Right Time
An undrafted rookie has quietly become one of the more interesting offensive line storylines in Chargers camp. Jacob Spomer has been getting work at center and, with injuries thinning that part of the depth chart, he has taken on added importance as the team looks for someone who can at least keep the middle stable in a pinch.
Spomers recent outing offered a promising snapshot of why the staff has kept paying attention. He posted an 82.6 percent pass-blocking rate and did not allow a sack or pressure, a solid sign for a player trying to carve out a role in pass protection. With Tyler Biadasz sidelined, the Chargers could use another dependable interior option, and Spomer is giving himself a real chance to stick around the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers May Have Found A Backfield Difference-Maker In Omarion Hampton
During a joint practice against the 49ers, Omarion Hampton gave the Chargers a flash of the kind of backfield presence they have been looking for. The young runner showed off the physicality and burst that have made him such an intriguing piece, even powering through a run that ended with a defender on the turf. It was the sort of practice sequence that can turn heads quickly, especially for a team still sorting out how much punch it can generate on offense.
Justin Herbert also noticed, praising Hampton for his toughness and leadership as the back enters his second season healthy after an injury-shortened rookie year. For the Chargers, the appeal is obvious: Hampton looks like a player who could matter right away in an offense that needs reliable difference-makers under coach Mike McDaniel. The bigger question now is whether this training-camp momentum carries into a role that matches the promise he showed on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers O-Line Plans Just Took A Brutal Hit Before Week 1
A few days before Week 1, the Chargers were forced to scramble along the offensive line after Tyler Biadasz suffered a severe ACL injury and additional knee damage during joint practices. Los Angeles placed him on injured reserve, ending his season, and the blow landed at a time when the team was still trying to settle its protection plans in front of Jim Harbaugh's first roster.
Harbaugh called it a freak accident, but the real challenge now is practical: the Chargers need to sort through replacement options quickly and keep the line from becoming a weak spot before the games start counting. The team did make a roster addition in wide receiver Gary Jennings, yet the bigger question remains how Los Angeles fills the void created by Biadasz's absence. [Read more 🡒]