Justin Herbert On Cowboys Prep & Harbaugh | LA Chargers

Justin Herbert On Cowboys Prep & Harbaugh | LA Chargers

Where do you feel like the offense is at right now? >> Uh I think we’re getting better. Um you know, I think each week we’ve uh you know, we’ve watched the film and we’ve uh taken a look of what we’ve done the week before and as long as we’re moving forward and continuing to get the ball out quickly and um you know, I’m going to do a better job of limiting turnovers and um you know, we got to score points in the red zone, but I think for the most part, we’re getting better and um that’s what’s most important. >> Asked Jim about the interceptions earlier today. He compared you to Tiger Woods. So the Tiger puts the ball in the water and he just walks up and reaches into his pocket and the ball drops and continues to let it rip. Um, is that how you view it or do you have sort of a different view of turnovers and interceptions? >> No, I think it’s kind of just how we always talk about them there is like each individual you’re going to take a look at it after and say, you know, I should have done this or this is what you need to do on the play. And you know, sometimes it is bad luck where a ball gets tipped and you don’t really have any control over it once you’ve thrown it. Um but other times as long as you’re not throwing into triple quadruple coverage and and not seeing a guy um those are the ones that you you’d definitely love to have back and be able to go through and you know um you know I think there’s been a few where I’ve you know I could have killed the protection, changed the protection and gotten the ball out quicker. Um so you just have to watch each one and be critical and be honest with yourself with each one. >> What What does it mean when when your head coach kind of has that approach who’s urging you to to stay aggressive? Um, yeah, I I I I think it’s always good. I think over the past couple of years, I I don’t think I’ve changed the way that I’ve played and, you know, I think it’s unfortunate that sometimes, you know, they get you. It’s whether it’s a good defense or whether it’s a good play. Um, you know, sometimes it’s it’s not going to go your way. And and uh just because I’ve thrown one before doesn’t mean that uh you know, I’m I am going to play scared or I can’t throw another one. It’s you got to go out there and play every play like you need to to to win the game and to put your team in a position to win. and you can’t let, you know, a previous play or a mistake um affect any of your plays going forward. >> Eagles game about how you thought you played in the offense. How do you think you guys improved Kansas City after that game? >> Yeah, I mean I I think uh I thought we did a pretty good job on third down. Um you know, there are definitely a couple plays that uh you know, we’d love to have back. Uh a turnover by me that I’d love to have back, but um you know, I thought we ran the ball really well. um you know, those guys up front did a great job moving the line of scrimmage and um you know, giving space for those running backs to to go make plays and you know, I think we we did a good job moving the ball uh for the most part. So, I thought that was a good thing. >> And now from that injury, like where are you at with your hands and >> uh yeah, getting better. Um I mean, that’s the most important part, just still getting the swelling down and getting full range of motion and control with it. Uh just so you get a good grip on the ball. Uh on the intersection, what I guess what could you have done differently on that play because it didn’t look like there was really a shut down option just I guess take the sack or is there something else? >> Yeah. Um I could have changed the protection. So we were in you know a six-man protection and they brought cover zero and so we had goes on the outside so I thought I could get a go ball off in time um and I couldn’t. And so that’s, you know, a situation where you either you bring a tight end down, kill the play, um, or I mean get into a a different protection, you add another blocker. Um, or you change the route concept. If you got deep routes, you got to change them to to quick out breakers or inbreakers or just being able to get the ball off. So, you know, that’s on me for for holding on the ball and and causing something bad to happen like that. >> Coach Harbaugh came when he when he arrived here, he was talking about physicality and attacking and toughness and all the Harbaugh things. I wonder like almost two seasons in, what does that look like from the inside? >> Um, I think it it probably looks the same as it does on the outside. You know, I think he’s so genuine. He’s so authentic and um, you know, what he wants from his players is exactly what uh, we want to give him. You know, the the amount of respect and um, you know, admiration that we have for him as a as a leader and as a coach. Um, you know, we just want to make him proud and uh, he cares so much about this team and everyone in it that uh, you know, it’s definitely fun taking the field every day for him. Do you feel like there’s like a heightened sense of physicality that’s evolved over the last couple years or? >> Um, I think that’s just kind of the way that uh the guys up front have played. Um, you know, I think football is a very physical sport to begin with and um, you know, I think both offense and defensive and special teams have have done a great job being physical this year. >> You’ve been around for two seasons, like is there anything about him particularly that you think makes guys so excited to play for him? Um, I would say just the main things of him, you know, being a competitor, being genuine, um, and just loving football. Just, uh, the way he cares about his players, coaching staff, you know, everyone in this building. Um, you know, he’s he’s a great leader, great, you know, great coach, great friend, and everything he does is centered about around winning. >> What impact Scott Mast? >> Yeah. Uh Scott has done such a great job of, you know, um you know, his first task is always run blocking, but uh you know, I think he’s caught a few passes, caught a touchdown pass, and you know, I think he’s he’s uh severely underrated as an athlete and uh you know, what he’s able to do with the ball. Um so just to have a guy like that who’s, you know, able to do both things and and is such a smart player, too. And to be able to handle offense, defense, and all the things that we ask of him, um you know, we’re very fortunate to have him on our team. numbers would show that uh since the bye-week there’s been more of an emphasis from from coach Roman on running the ball um especially early in games before you know games where might dictate play calling. Just what are your thoughts about the evolution of the offense uh since the by-week and and maybe you know some of the leaning into the running game a little bit more? >> Yeah, that’ probably be maybe a better question to ask him exactly what his mindset is behind that. Um, I would just assume he’s he’s calling it to win the game and and uh you know, however he sees us winning the game, that’s what he’s going to call. Whether he’s going to run the ball a bunch or whether we’re going to set up play action or drop back, um I think that’s what he’s seen on film and and that’s what he’s gone with. And uh you know, I think the game plan is kind of centered around what he wants us to do. And so going into the week, we kind of generally know this is this is where we’re going to try and win. This is what we’re going to try and do. Um and I think the past couple of weeks have just been like that. Has has that concept changed a lot over the course of the season as far as what you guys as a group need to do to win the game just because of you know all the attrition and moving pieces that you had up front? Like has that evolved all over the course? >> Yeah, I think I think it’s part of it. I think uh you take a look at everything as a whole and and understand you know this is where our strengths are, this is where our weaknesses are and you know this is how we need to play to win this game and and uh then you take a look at the defense and say you know what do they do well? What don’t they do well? How are we going to attack them? Um and then you kind of compare that with what you have as an offense. Um and I think the past couple of weeks that’s you know kind of been his mindset and I think he’s done a really good job calling the games and you know establishing the run and when we’re able to run the ball really well I think we’re able to play really well as well. How much do uh do the coaches talk about ball control if at all when you’re when you’re discussing offensive game plans and sort of the importance of extending drives, keeping the defense fresh? Is that something that is talked about at all? >> Time of possession. >> Yeah. Yeah. Time of possession. >> Uh not too much. I think it’s more so of just understanding that, you know, if we’re able to put together these drives, we’re able to keep our defense on the sideline, give them rest, give them time to go back out there and um you know, I think it’s kind of a momentum thing with with football. as long as the offense is out there converting on third down, keeping the ball moving. Um, that’s really tough on a defense and so I think it’s only going to help us. Um, we don’t talk about it a ton, but I think it’s one of those things that, uh, is just generally pretty understood as an offense. >> Like that drive um, in the second half when you guys were backed up on the one, put together an extended drive, you didn’t get any points. Are you were able to flip the field before that final Chiefs drive? as a collective group, do you guys look at that that drive and say, “Okay, that was successful. We held the ball for eight minutes and flipped the field, like is is that viewed like as a successful like possession for you guys?” >> Yeah, I think you’d always love to have points. You’d always love to score uh whether it’s a touchdown or a field goal. Um, but I think in that situation, if you’re backed up on the one, you your first your first mission is to flip the field, is to give the defense a better, you know, position and understand that going 99 yards is really tough in the NFL. And, you know, I think the probability of that is pretty low. And so, I think for the most part, um, teams are either thinking get that first first down, get kind of out of your own shadow. Um, so for us to be able to, you know, flip the field, be able to convert on some third downs. Um, I think it was a good step. you know, obviously we need to keep pushing forward to go convert that final third down. So whether we can get points or whether we, you know, go score a touchdown, that would be the ultimate goal. Um, but uh I think it was a plus. It was um generally, you know, pretty good. >> Can you tell starting to wear down a defense >> just by their body language or >> can you over hear what they’re saying? >> Um sometimes I feel like it’s pretty rare in the NFL. You don’t get too often. uh it’s either you know a super physical game where you get into 80 90 plus plays um you know or a team that’s just really beat down but uh I think it’s pretty rare in the NFL. >> Trey Harris that how have you seen your your truck with him develop the last week? >> Yeah, I think it’s been huge. I think uh you know especially with Q down last week you know we had we needed some of those guys to step up and him and Dre did a great job filling in for him and um you know we we we know how talented and athletic Trey is and um you know I think he’s going to make so many big plays here and he’s already made a ton this year um but for him to go up there and and catch that pass you know I think it was huge for us to be able to go set up that touchdown um and kind of get us back into the

LA Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert speaks to the media at his press conference during Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. Herbert discusses the team’s performance in their Week 15 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, how they plan to prep for their Sunday matchup vs Dak Prescott & the Dallas Cowboys, and the impact the leadership of head coach Jim Harbaugh has had on the Bolts franchise.

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/chargers?sub_confirmation=1
TICKETS: http://chargers.com/tickets

FOLLOW US
Facebook: http://facebook.com/chargers
Instagram: http://instagram.com/chargers
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chargers
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@chargers

#LAChargers #Chargers