‘God he’s tough:’ Lions dealt challenge of Chargers star quarterback after bye
ALLEN PARK — There is no rest for the wicked in the NFL.
The Detroit Lions had the enviable midseason bye last week. And while they’re healthier and better for it. They’re back with a daunting west-coast trip to face one of the NFL’s rising stars, with Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert waiting for them.
The 25-year-old quarterback is on track with is career numbers, settling into new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system in Year 1 together in LA.
And Dan Campbell isn’t sleeping on the challenge ahead. The Lions head coach did say he expected the Chargers to run the ball more, but that it all starts with Herbert, and that’s not changing
“They’re throwing the ball. They are throwing the heck out of the ball,” Campbell said. “They’ve got that quarterback. Look, everything starts with him, it always will. I said this the other day, he’s a very good athlete, he’s an accurate passer, big-time arm, smart and he’s tough.
“God he’s tough. He’ll just sit in there hit after hit and he’ll just continue to throw the ball.”
Aidan Hutchinson echoed his head coach, saying everything runs through Herbert without question. The second-year edge defender noted that the weapons around that quarterback enhances the challenge, noting that they’re going to have to execute to their best.
And defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is looking for his group to get to Herbert and get him down because when the quarterback wiggles free is when he’s most dangerous.
“He’s a big, physical, athletic quarterback with a huge arm that will sit in the pocket and — man, he will take a hit and still deliver the ball,” Glenn said. “And deliver it with accuracy. Usually when you have a guy like that, they’re going to have a good career.
“Man, we have to do a good job of getting to him. And when we get to him, we got to get him down. You see a lot of times, he’s breaking a lot of tackles back there.”
It’s worth noting the Chargers have like passed more due to star running back Austin Ekeler already missing three games. They’ve also had to adjust after losing WR2 Mike Williams for the year.
Ekeler is back, though, and that’s boosted the offense. But first-round rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston hasn’t been able to shake the slow start, even with the increased opportunities. And that’s been masked by another dominating season from veteran wideout Keenan Allen
Allen has caught 62 passes on 83 targets for 720 yards and four touchdowns. He’s had some breakout showings, too. Allen had 18 catches for 215 yards back in Week 3, not to mention a two-touchdown game while topping the century mark in Week 2. He’s even thrown a 49-yard touchdown this season, so he’s doing a bit of everything for the new-look offense.
Glenn said that if he had Allen, he’d “throw to him all the time, too.”
“Look, they’re going to put (Allen) 13 in positions to win by what they think that — the odds say you’re playing this coverage by this situation, they’re going to find a way to get 13 matched up,” Campbell said. “And he’s done a pretty good job of winning those one-on-ones when you give him the right matchup.”
Still, Herbert has stood in the pocket and made plays behind one of the youngest offensive lines in the league, another challenge for this group. The Chargers are averaging 6.3 net yards per passing attempt, ranking just outside of the league’s top 10. And that’s been the bright side, with the rushing attack struggling to find consistency, getting 3.9 yards per attempt.
Pro Football Focus ranks Herbert 14th among quarterbacks. He’s in the bottom 10 with 12 turnover-worthy plays on the season, with two fumbles, so there have been some growing pains.
But the Chargers have two recent first-rounders in the trenches in guard Zion Johnson and tackle Rashawn Slater. They also started 2022 sixth-round pick Jamaree Salyer last week, as well.
And It’s been an up-and-down ride, as expected. Herbert has already been sacked 20 times in eight games this season, on track for the most he’s taken through four seasons. Per PFF, they also rank among the worst run-blocking teams.
“They’re trying to build it the right way, you see that, how you’re building it inside out,” Glenn said. “And when you go get guys like Zion (Johnson), you get Slater, a first round pick, man, those guys are — they’re tough. They’re athletic, really athletic.
“And man, you just see those guys getting in tune with the quarterback, and that’s one of the things that it always takes time, is that O-line to work together for the most part. And I think those guys are doing a pretty good job.”
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