Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert took a bit of a step back this past season, but new offensive coordinator Greg Roman knows how to help Herbert improve in 2024.
“Can you imagine Justin Herbert with a great running game?” Roman said, via Kris Rhim of ESPN. “… We don’t know, but I can imagine what it might look like. So that’s kind of the vision.”
Roman would know a thing or two about a great rushing attack, considering he spearheaded some great ground games as Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator from 2019 through 2022.
Of course, having Lamar Jackson helped, but it’s fair to say that Roman knows how to get the most out of his team’s running game.
“I think in this league, you can really, really help dictate the defenses if you have a strong running attack,” Roman said. “If you really talk to most defensive coordinators in this league and got ’em off to the side when they’re playing a really good running team, they’re sweating a little bit. They’re sleeping a little less that week.”
The Chargers ranked just 25th in rushing offense in 2023, so opposing defenses were probably sleeping just fine whenever they prepared to play Los Angeles.
Roman understands that he will certainly have to get a bit more creative to get an elite rushing attack going in LA, as Herbert is not exactly Jackson in terms of athleticism.
“It’s going to be a little different,” Roman said. “I think you’re going to see probably a multiple running game. You’ll probably see the use of motions and shifting, and then you’ll see a pretty diverse passing game.”
Not only that, but the Chargers will have to focus on improving their backfield. Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley are both free agents, leaving the cupboard pretty bare for the Bolts.
It also doesn’t help matters that Los Angeles is well over the salary cap going into the offseason.
We’ll see if Roman and the Chargers can actually carve out a top-flight running game to assist Justin Herbert next season. It is going to be challenging, to say the least.
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