Highly rated rookie
Chargers QB Justin Herbert, could pose problems for the Broncos’ defense
ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos’ defense faces a rookie quarterback on Sunday afternoon at Empower Field at Mile High. Imagine the possibilities. Blitzes, sacks, interceptions, mayhem.
After hassling Kansas City star quar terback Patrick Mahomes last week and sacking him three times, facing a raw rookie should be a breeze. Right?
Not necessarily. Because the rookie QB in question is the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, the former Oregon Duck who’s already flashing star power early in his NFL career. In the ’Bolts 39-29 victor y over Jacksonville last Sunday, Herber t became the first rookie quarterback in NFL histor y to throw for 300 yards, pass for three touchdowns, run for a TD and throw no interceptions in a victor y.
“Ultimately, this guy is just ver y talented,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Thursday. “It looks like he’s made up of the right stuf f to be a quar terback in the NFL and for tunately for them and unfor tunately for us, I think they’ve found their quar terback for the next 10-15 years.”
Thursday, Herber t was named NFL offensive rookie of the
month for October. In three starts, he posted a 122.2 passer rating, the best in histor y during October by a rookie with at least 50 passing attempts. Herbert threw at least three touchdowns in each game while throwing 10 total TDS vs. only one interception.
Fangio, the man charged with masterminding a game plan to stop Herbert, is impressed with how the Chargers have developed their special talent.
“He throws the deep ball really well, he throws the intermediate stuff well and he’s obviously ver y athletic,” Fangio said. “They’ve done a good job coaching him and adapting their offense to his skill set and he’s really played well these past three weeks.”
In his career as a head coach and defensive coordinator, Fangio has schemed for rookie QBS a number of times, with mixed results.
Last season, in the fourth start of his career, Gardner Minshew led Jacksonville to a 26-24 win at Denver, completing 19-of-33 passes for 213 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Broncos did sack him five times.
In Week 16, the Broncos roughed up Detroit’s David Blough in a 24-12 win at Denver. Blough threw for only 117 yards and was sacked four times.
It will be interesting to see what defensive scheme Fangio concocts for Herbert. All-out blitzing could be risky, because, against the blitz, Justin Herbert has thrown for 456 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions, good enough for a league-best 137.4 passer rating.
“He can for sure make plays with his feet,” Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “He’s a rookie but he’s back there comfortable and confident. He’s throwing the ball like a guy who’s been in the league for years.
He’s running it with confidence. It’s going to be a good challenge for this defense.”
With or without a blitz package, Chubb said the Broncos must generate pressure.
“As a front four, we’ve got to get after him as much as we can and not let him have those escape lanes,” Chubb said. “I know those guys on the back end are going to hold it down for us and we’re going to make it happen for them. I feel like if we have all 11 guys on the same page on the defensive side then we should be good.”
For a 6-foot-6, 236-pound QB, Herbert runs remarkably well and has a strong arm. His 70-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Guyton against the Jaguars was a thing of beauty. But it’s the mental approach to the game where Herbert has improved the most as the season moves along.
“It’s a big jump from college to the NFL,” Herbert said. “The guys on the opposite side of the ball are fast and they can make plays. Adjusting to the speed of the game, seeing it, and experiencing it, has been really helpful.”
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn concurred, saying he’s seen a steady, week-toweek growth from his rookieqb.
“I think he’s done some things to get better ever y single week and even last week, when we weren’t clicking, he found different ways to move the ball, whether it was checking down to the backs or taking of f and getting the first down,” L ynn said. “I thought that was growth. He’s a young quarterback who has a lot to learn. I just like the fact he works his tail off and is continually improving.”