Having played as a quarterback himself, it’s now clear that the Los Angeles Chargers new head coach is focused on maintaining the health of his man under center. To that end, there have been a number of unique tweaks to how things work, but as is always the case with any change, the proof will be in the pudding.
Joey Bosa explains Jim Harbaugh’s alterations
As mentioned before, new Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is himself a former quarterback and with that in mind, it’s safe to assume that he knows all too well the relationship between a quarterback’s health and his team’s success. Indeed, that is clearly evidenced by the curious set of rules that Harbaugh has implemented in what we can assume is an effort to keep the team’s quarterback, Justin Herbert, free from injury and above all, to protect his hands.
What exactly does that look like? Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa gave some insight about his coach’s tweaks, explaining for example that Herbert has been instructed to avoid giving high gives when he’s coming off the field, a choice that is apparently based on the idea of preserving his hands.
Needless to say, Harbaugh’s request has been met with mixed reactions but when one considers how high the stakes are in the NFL, is it too much to ask your signal caller to preserve his hands at all costs? There is also context to consider here in that Herbert broke his index finger last season which resulted in him missing four games during the campaign. Add to that the fact that the 26-year-old had to undergo surgery as a result of the injury and Harbaugh’s extra careful approach begins to make sense.
Ultimately, the Chargers are off to a great start with a 2-0 record in what is Harbaugh’s first season with the franchise i.e., the new head coach has every reason to be as vigilant as possible when it comes to his roster and especially his QB. Where Herbert himself is concerned, the playmaker has completed 67.4% of his passes for three touchdowns and just one interception across the two games that he’s played so far which is to say high fives are a small price to pay if he continues.
