Justin Herbert has been busy for four weeks since the Los Angeles Chargers ended his season, but has already considered what another transition season will be for him.
For the fourth time as a college or NFL defender, Herbert will spend an off-season learning a new game and system. The Chargers hired Brandon Staley as coach on Jan. 17 after firing Anthony Lynn a day after the season ended.
Staley made a point during his introductory press conference to say that he has spoken to Herbert twice since he was named coach. Herbert said the calls had a positive impact.
“To be as busy as he was with everything that happens, he came to me and that meant a lot to me,” said Herbert, who was named Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year on Thursday. based on fan vote. “I kind of talked about what he saw in the future. I know he’s talking about crime and all this stuff that’s going to happen soon.”
Herbert began tracking a New Orleans offense record from previous seasons to better feel what the new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi might be installing. Herbert also believes the transition could be easier because John Beck – with whom Herbert trains in Huntington Beach, California – has worked with Drew Brees in the past.
As for the constant changes, Herbert hopes that this will be the last for a while.
“I’ve been through this before. It would be great to have a playing card throughout your career, but it won’t always be that way,” he said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to learn. You always learn from every playing card. I think you have a great understanding of the game of football the more you go through it. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from so many guys and philosophies and I think that helped me play the game. Hopefully this is the last change I’m going to go through, because I really believe in those two guys. “
Herbert, who was the third defenseman and sixth overall player in last April’s draft, could only become the second player in the franchise’s history to win the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year when he is announced on Saturday in the NFL Honors show. A Charger won it three times on the defensive side. Herbert set passage records for beginners (31) and had the second highest passing grade at 4,336.
With the Chargers facing both Tampa Bay and Kansas City this season, Herbert has a unique view of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“These are two teams that have, without a doubt, the best two defenses in the league and I don’t think they will get enough credit as they deserve,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then [Kansas City safety] Tyrann Mathieu or [Tampa Bay safety] Antoine Winfield, you have a bunch of guys on both sides of the ball that you have to look for and two pretty incredible quarterbacks. So no matter what happens, I know it’s going to be an incredible game. “