{"id":15647,"date":"2026-06-17T04:03:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T04:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=15647"},"modified":"2026-06-17T04:03:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T04:03:35","slug":"chargers-qb-justin-herbert-working-harder-and-smarter-this-offseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=15647","title":{"rendered":"Chargers QB Justin Herbert working harder and smarter this offseason"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

EL SEGUNDO \u2014 In the past, during the grind of spring practices, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was throwing as if it were midseason, as if something more was at stake than a simple offseason workout. Throw after throw. Short ones. Medium ones. Long ones. Hundreds of them.<\/p>\n

Read more Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani will make scheduled start on Wednesday<\/a><\/p>\n

All on the money. Or almost all of them, anyway.<\/p>\n

This spring has featured a new and different approach, a \u201cteam effort,\u201d as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh referred to it Tuesday, on the first day of minicamp. Herbert has focused more on his footwork and less on actually winding up and throwing a football to his teammates.<\/p>\n

Actually, until Tuesday\u2019s mandatory practice, he had been doing a great deal of winding up, but he hadn\u2019t been doing as much throwing of a football. Instead, Herbert took quicker-than-usual drop-backs and then whipped a green, weighted ball in a throwing motion without releasing it.<\/p>\n

Herbert\u2019s throwing was limited to one practice per day until this week.<\/p>\n

Harbaugh said the change was in part because the Chargers wanted Herbert to concentrate on his footwork during spring workouts, part of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel\u2019s quick-strike game plan. McDaniel wants Herbert releasing his throws in 2.4 seconds or less.<\/p>\n

It also was a way to save on the wear and tear on Herbert\u2019s arm, with the Chargers more interested in him throwing in midseason form at midseason, according to Harbaugh. After all, the Chargers don\u2019t actually play a game that counts until Sept. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust work harder and smarter, yeah, both of those two things,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cSome guys, you\u2019ve just got to say, \u2018Whoa,\u2019 and some guys you\u2019ve got to say, \u2018Sic \u2019em.\u2019 You\u2019d rather have the guys you\u2019ve got to say, \u2018Whoa.\u2019 Justin throwing in midseason form in April, in May, in June has been the way we\u2019ve done it before, hundreds of balls per practice, so we\u2019re trying a different way this year. I think it\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

PENDING CAMP BATTLE<\/h4>\n

Training camp is more than one month away, but so many starting positions appear to be locked down that it\u2019s pretty easy to pick out the one obvious battle that looms on offense come late July. It\u2019s at left guard, and it could be a real doozy fought among several participants.<\/p>\n

Read more Angels\u2019 Mike Trout knows opposite-field power means he\u2019s \u2018going good\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Rashawn Slater is a mortal lock to start at left tackle. Tyler Biadasz will start at center, flanked by right guard Cole Strange and right tackle Joe Alt. The question is who gets the start at left guard after Zion Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns in the offseason?<\/p>\n

Kayode Awosika, a free agent signee from the Detroit Lions, could be the favorite going into camp, but Harbaugh made it clear the job is open. Trevor Penning, acquired at midseason in 2025, could be in the mix. Jake Slaughter, a second-round draft pick who played center at Florida, could, too. Trey Pipkins III also could shift from tackle to guard.<\/p>\n

The only thing that\u2019s settled is nothing is settled.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cRaging on at left guard,\u201d Harbaugh said when asked about the upcoming camp battle. \u201cVery good competition at that position, for a starting job at that position. When the pads come on, those things will be decided. \u2026 There\u2019s a lot of options.\u201d<\/p>\n

EXTRA POINTS<\/h4>\n

Wide receiver Quentin Johnston smiled broadly when asked about McDaniel\u2019s plan for Herbert to deliver short passes to his targets, allowing them to run with the ball. It was Johnston\u2019s forte while playing at TCU and one of the reasons the Chargers selected him in the first round in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been fun,\u201d Johnston said of learning McDaniel\u2019s system this spring.<\/p>\n

Harbaugh said Penning and wide receiver Ladd McConkey were \u201cworking through something\u201d this spring, which was why their participation was limited during OTAs. Penning was a full participant on Tuesday, but McConkey was limited to individual drills because of a left hamstring strain.<\/p>\n

McConkey said McDaniel has showed him video clips of all sorts of plays from his days as the Miami Dolphins\u2019 head coach. But the one clip he didn\u2019t show was the one of McConkey torching the Dolphins\u2019 secondary, setting up the winning field goal in the Chargers\u2019 victory on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n

Read more Trump administration uses hydrogen peroxide and tiny bubbles against algae in Reflecting Pool<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The focus for the quarterback has been more about footwork and less about throwing a football to his teammates like it was midseason.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-based-on-facts-either-observed-and-verified-directly-by-the-reporter-or-reported-and-verified-from-knowledgeable-sources","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nChargers QB Justin Herbert working harder and smarter this offseason - Silicon Valley Moving Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=15647\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chargers QB Justin Herbert working harder and smarter this offseason - 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