For many years, the Chargers passed on Justin Herbert.

Those days ended in January, when Dean and John Spanos, forced by recurring failures to get over themselves, ceded the money and power to hire Jim Harbaugh.

Herbert won the football lottery once Harbaugh signed his five-year contract worth $80 million.

Harbaugh understands how to win games, how to manage seasons and how to play quarterback. He is the total package. As a bonus, Harbaugh had the power to guarantee that the Spanos would increase their infrastructure investments where they had skimped.

Every Chargers player benefited from Harbaugh’s hiring, but none as much as Herbert. A quarterback carries the greatest burden among players to win a Super Bowl trophy.

Harbaugh is the rare NFL head coach who knows firsthand what quarterbacking involves. From 1987 to 2000, he started 140 games in the NFL, as well as five playoff games.

Herbert is so talented that Harbaugh took the Chargers job rather than stay at Michigan.

What is Harbaugh doing with Herbert?

A picture has emerged through nine matches, including six victories.

Harbaugh implemented the coaching and personnel measures that turned a Chargers weakness into a strength. The defense, a year after finishing 23rd in points allowed per game, ranks first in the NFL. It allows 10 fewer points per game than the ’23 unit.

True to Harbaugh’s square-jawed background, the offense developed a high-volume, more physical ground game.

Harbaugh’s running game accounts for 49.9% of offensive plays, sixth in the NFL.

Previously, the Chargers were a finesse team that required Herbert to often get away with pass protection that was often mediocre or worse. Their offense ranked 27th (2023), 31st (2022) and 28th (2021) in points percentage under Brandon Staley, the third of three consecutive malleable and malleable head coaches hired by the Spanoses.

Harbaugh doesn’t have a great group of pass catchers. But they don’t have to be great for the Chargers to win games. Harbaugh shortens games through two methods: running the ball and snapping it deep into the play clock. The offensive average of 31.7 seconds consumed per play is second in the NFL.

The methodical style assists a defense coordinated by Jesse Minter, who followed Harbaugh from Michigan.

Minter’s unit played just 59 snaps per game. That’s fewer than 26 other NFL defenses.

Successes in the first half also help improve complementary football. Well prepared, the Chargers got off to a fast start in most games. In the first quarter, they were in first place in fewest points allowed and 11th in points scored.

Herbert looks less stressed, evidenced by his refusal to throw interceptions.

With just one interception – a forced throw against Carolina in Week 2 – he leads the NFL with a paltry 0.4 interception rate. Herbert is behind the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson with a career-best 8.56 adjusted yards per pass attempt, a stat that factors in interceptions.

And then?

Not everything has been good since the formation of the JH trio – Harbaugh, Herbert and general manager Joe Hortiz.

Hébert’s dismissal rate reached a career-high 8.2%, 20th in the NFL.

But as the schedule tightened, Harbaugh allowed Herbert to succeed.

In creating game-breaking opportunities for Herbert’s passes, defenses must account for the diverse ground game designed by Greg Roman, the same coordinator under Harbaugh who 12 years ago helped guide quarterback Colin Kaepernick for the 49ers on their way to the Super Bowl.

Herbert’s recovery from a sprained ankle in Week 2 provides additional late-season juice. By applying his good sprint speed, he can harm defenses as the stakes increase.

What did Harbaugh do for Herbert?

Another positive answer applies to Sunday night’s game against the Bengals.

Herbert won’t need to play as well Sunday as Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for the Chargers to win, because of the defensive growth under Harbaugh.

Burrow, who is actually playing better than when he led Cincinnati to the Super Bowl three seasons ago, will have to face Minter’s top-ranked unit. Herbert, meanwhile, will target the Bengals D who are 26th in points and also 26th in DVOA, a better stat.

Although Herbert has the tools to decide games through his individual brilliance, something he may have to try to do more often as the competition gets tougher, Harbaugh has solidified his game by asking less of him.

If Herbert were a stock, it would be a good idea to buy more shares. The longer he stays with Harbaugh, the better he will get.

Originally published: November 11, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. PST