Chargers' Jim Harbaugh starting to come under fire for failing Justin Herbert

Chris Roling | 4 Hours Ago

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In this story:

Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers are a perplexing team under Jim Harbaugh so far, with Monday night’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals the best possible example.

Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman want to be a run-first squad that dominates the trenches. Those Cardinals should have been the proof of concept, considering that defense entered the week coughing up nearly 140 rushing yards per game on average

The Chargers rushed for 59 yards on a 2.7 average in the 17-15 loss.

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert, a top-10 passer in the league, went 27-of-39 for 349 yards while targeting names like Will Dissly, Joshua Palmer, Simi Fehoko and Jalen Reagor. On first watch, seven or more of those incompletions were probably drops.

Given the lack of help for Herbert and the inability to bully what was supposed to be an inferior team in the trenches, Harbaugh’s approach is starting to draw the worst type of attention.

Jim Harbaugh's offense is built out of:

55% K Cameron Dicker
25% TE Will Dissly
10% slot WR Ladd McConkey
9% everyone else
1% bubblegum & dirt
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 22, 2024

The Chargers with going from an exciting team that sucks and chokes away games with Brandon Staley to a boring team that sucks and chokes away games with Jim Harbaugh pic.twitter.com/qEmhU0Ki9q
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) October 22, 2024

3 first round picks on the OL, brought in Jim Harbaugh and greg roman and you still rush for 40 yards against one of the league’s worst run defenses lmao I’m over it
— Cam (@GigaLadd) October 22, 2024

When a Jim Harbaugh QB throws for more than 180 yards it’s probably a loss. They’ll learn. https://t.co/pNWjFjsOTE
— Parker (@Park3rC) October 22, 2024

Jim Harbaugh is (imo) easily one of the most overrated coaches in any sport, dude won a NC at Michigan yes I know. He has a very good NFL QB and thinks he is coaching in the 80s!!
— R.C. Kehoe (@RCKehoe) October 22, 2024

Jim Harbaugh told everyone who would listen that he loves Justin Herbert’s game so much, and gives him Greg Roman as an OC and zero receivers.

The irony is staggering, truly a decision!
— Dalton Pence (@dpence_) October 22, 2024

— Enjoy free coverage of the Chargers from Los Angeles Chargers on SI —