EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned Monday that he and the crew are annoyed by the shortage of roughing the passer calls on Justin Herbert in current weeks and have submitted performs to the NFL for clarification.
Harbaugh in contrast the hits on Herbert to how NBA gamers would foul Corridor of Fame heart Shaquille O’Neal, however he would not obtain calls due to his dimension.
“Does it sound like I am complaining? Perhaps? I may very well be,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I feel he would not get a few of these calls when they need to be known as.”
No opponent has been flagged for roughing the passer on Herbert this season. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields leads the league with six such calls. Since Herbert entered the league in 2020, he has obtained the ninth-most roughing the passer penalties (13).
Herbert was sacked six occasions in Sunday’s 27-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, all coming within the first half. Harbaugh mentioned Herbert bouncing again from important hits is “infectious” and energizes the crew however that he needs to be receiving extra calls. Harbaugh pointed to Herbert’s 38-yard run in opposition to the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, when security Tyrann Mathieu hit Herbert on the finish of the run, which Harbaugh thought certified as a helmet-to-helmet penalty.
He additionally famous one other play in that Saints sport, a fourth-quarter sack on which Saints defensive deal with Bryan Bresee appeared to drag Herbert’s face masks however wasn’t flagged. Harbaugh acknowledged he may perceive referees lacking that penalty due to the angle at which it occurred however mentioned that did not make it any much less irritating.
“I’ve by no means seen him flinch one time, it doesn’t matter what,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He’ll come again the subsequent play prefer it did not occur.”
Harbaugh additionally pointed to a different play in Sunday’s win, when Herbert accomplished a 10-yard move to Ladd McConkey within the second quarter and was pushed into the bottom simply after he launched the ball.
“It is known as most occasions, you understand? Physique weight on high of a quarterback,” Harbaugh mentioned. “It is unbelievable. It is nearly Shaq-like.”
The win over the Browns marked the sixth straight sport the opponent sacked Herbert a number of occasions. The six sacks had been essentially the most in a sport for Herbert in his profession. He has been sacked 21 occasions this season, tied for the eighth most within the NFL. Harbaugh admitted that the quantity of sacks Herbert has taken is regarding.
“I give it some thought in all probability greater than I take into consideration something, and I take into consideration a number of issues,” Harbaugh mentioned. “His safety? His security? There’s in all probability nothing I take into consideration greater than that.”
Herbert sometimes would not complain about flags, and Harbaugh mentioned a “lesser man” would, however he would not anticipate Herbert to. Harbaugh, as a substitute, does it for him. He mentioned he yells towards the officers when he feels that they’ve missed penalties, although he’s uncertain whether or not they ever hear him.
“I do greater than Justin does,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I imply, I am a lesser man. I am not ashamed to confess that.”
Requested concerning the sacks following the Browns sport, Herbert took account of his position within the sacks, saying that he may throw the ball faster and have a greater understanding of the safety.
“We knew that they had an amazing rush, so it is on me to have the ability to get the ball out and perceive the place our hots are, the place our issues are,” he mentioned. “So, I will have to try it and preserve shifting ahead.”
