New Chargers OC Kellen Moore says he desires to construct off Justin Herbert’s success, not begin from scratch

Few quarterbacks have skilled as a lot particular person success by way of their first three seasons as Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. Herbert set rookie data for completions and touchdowns, in addition to passing yards per sport and was named Offensive Rookie of the Yr. He took a step ahead in Yr 2, growing his landing price and yards per try common whereas slicing his sack price. His progress stalled a bit in Yr 3, although, because the Chargers labored by way of a cavalcade of skill-position and offensive line accidents and their system retreated right into a shell. 

That Yr 3 efficiency is why the Chargers moved on from offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and employed Kellen Moore, beforehand of the Dallas Cowboys. Within the two years Moore had a wholesome Dak Prescott, his offense led the NFL in complete yards, and the Cowboys completed top-six in scoring in every season the place Prescott performed a minimum of six video games. Moore is aware of he has a basis on which to construct with Herbert, and he is not seeking to reinvent the wheel. 

“I feel that is one huge a part of this factor, is that there is been lots of success,” Moore mentioned, per the Chargers’ official web site. “Justin has had lots of success his first few years. We need to ensure that we construct off of that and never begin from scratch.”

To help Moore in constructing on what Herbert has executed to this point, the Chargers used their first-round choose on former TCU large receiver Quentin Johnston, a 6-4, 215-pound receiver who’s at his greatest with the ball in his palms. For that, Moore is appreciative of head coach Brandon Staley’s willingness to make use of draft picks on the other facet of the ball from the one he coaches. 

“Brandon [Staley] is that this defensive man and he is drafting these offensive guys, I like this,” Moore mentioned. “It is lots of enjoyable. Q [Johnston] actually stood out for us as we went by way of the method. Everybody form of sees the measurables, the dimensions so far as the peak and the burden. What he did for TCU from his versatility, I assumed, was actually, actually particular. His means to form of catch-and-run, he was a fly-sweep man. He received the ball in lots of other ways. You noticed lots of versatility in his sport that perhaps, initially, somebody could not have essentially anticipated. We had been actually excited that he was there and out there for us.”

Maybe most encouragingly, Moore particularly famous how Johnston and fourth-round choose Derius Davis may help the Chargers stretch the sector. 

“There is a vertical aspect of it that we’re actually enthusiastic about,” he mentioned. “With Q [Johnston], simply the dimensions, catch radius. He goes up and will get the ball downfield. You are able to do it nevertheless you could do it, whether or not it is measurement, catch radius, pace. He undoubtedly brings a vertical aspect to us. Derius [Davis], clearly, the kick return and punt return part of it, after which he simply has straight-up pure pace that is very uncommon on this league. Solely a handful of groups have these kind of issues.”

Los Angeles far too usually operated in condensed house the previous two years beneath Lombardi. Herbert has one of many strongest arms in soccer, but he ranked simply thirty first out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in air yards per try final yr, in keeping with Tru Media. Prescott ranked eleventh among the many similar group of gamers, and if Moore can nudge Herbert nearer to that vary (and even greater), that can do an awesome deal to open issues up for the remainder of L.A.’s playmakers beneath.