Is Justin Herbert A Good QB? Unpacking The Chargers Quarterback's Performance
There's a lot of talk, you know, about Justin Herbert and his place among the top quarterbacks in the NFL. For many, he's a truly great player, or at the very least, a really good one. This discussion, it kind of pops up a lot, especially when we look at how the Los Angeles Chargers are doing on the field. People are always wondering, is he really as good as everyone says, or what's the deal? We're going to explore what makes him stand out, and also, well, some of the questions that still linger about his overall impact on winning games.
So, we often hear folks praise Herbert, calling him one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and that's a pretty big statement. His talent, you see it pretty clearly on Sundays. Yet, there's this persistent question, isn't there, about team success. If he's so good, then why aren't the Chargers always winning? It's a puzzle many fans and analysts try to solve, and it often comes down to more than just one player, obviously.
This article will take a closer look at Justin Herbert's performance, using insights from various analyses, including some from Pro Football Focus. We'll talk about his grades, his impact, and the factors that seem to play into the team's overall record. You know, it's about trying to get a clearer picture of where he stands right now, as things are.
Table of Contents
- Herbert on the Field: A Look at His Play
- The Winning Equation and Team Dynamics
- Franchise Quarterback Potential
- PFF Grades and Rankings: What They Say
- A Different Lens for Evaluation
- Frequently Asked Questions About Justin Herbert
Herbert on the Field: A Look at His Play
Justin Herbert, as a matter of fact, is often described as a great quarterback, or at the very least, a good one. He shows flashes of brilliance, you know, with his arm strength and his ability to make tough throws. Fans and commentators alike frequently point to his individual plays as evidence of his high skill level. It's pretty clear he has a lot of natural talent, and that's something you can't really teach.
He's earned a lot of praise, in fact, as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. This isn't just casual talk, either. People who watch the game closely, they often highlight his poise and his ability to read defenses. You know, he just seems to have a feel for the game, which is a pretty big deal for a young player.
Just recently, the Los Angeles Chargers, with Herbert at the helm, started to really find their groove. They picked up their third win in a row, beating the Titans in Week 10, which was a pretty good sign. This kind of winning streak, it tends to make people feel a bit more confident about the team's direction, and of course, about Herbert's leadership on the field. It shows that, well, things can turn around, and he can be a part of that turnaround.
The Winning Equation and Team Dynamics
So, if Herbert is such a great quarterback, a really good one, then why aren't the Chargers winning more often? This is a question that, you know, comes up a lot. The thinking often goes that the equation for success in football is pretty simple: a great coach plus a great quarterback usually leads to wins. It's a widely held belief, and it makes a lot of sense, too, in some respects.
A great coach, for instance, brings strategy, leadership, and a way of getting the best out of every player. A great quarterback, on the other hand, brings execution, clutch plays, and the ability to elevate the offense. When you have both of those pieces, it really should, in theory, lead to a lot of victories. Yet, with Herbert, it hasn't always been that straightforward, has it?
This suggests that, well, maybe there are other factors at play. Football is a team sport, obviously, and the performance of the entire roster, the defense, the special teams, and even the coaching staff's decisions, they all contribute to the final score. It's not just about one person, even if that person is a truly good quarterback. You know, it's a whole system working together, or sometimes, not quite working together.
Franchise Quarterback Potential
Herbert, it's pretty clear, is definitely a franchise quarterback. That's a label, you know, that means a lot in the NFL. It means he's the kind of player you build your team around for years to come. He's got the skills, the demeanor, and the potential to be the face of a team, and that's a rare thing to find. Most teams would, quite frankly, be thrilled to have someone like him leading their offense.
And at some point, it's almost certain, he will deliver when it truly counts. This means in those big moments, those crucial games, he's expected to step up and make the plays that secure a win. That's what franchise quarterbacks do, right? They rise to the occasion, and there's a strong belief that Herbert has that in him, too. It's just a matter of time, many people feel.
This delivery, though, it particularly depends on his supporting cast being adequate enough. A quarterback, even a great one, can only do so much by himself. He needs reliable receivers, a solid offensive line, and a running game that can take some pressure off. If the pieces around him are, well, just good enough, then his chances of delivering in those key moments go up significantly. It's a team sport, after all, and he needs help to really shine when it matters most, you know.
PFF Grades and Rankings: What They Say
When you look at the numbers, Justin Herbert's performance really stands out. His 91.0 overall grade over the past three seasons, for instance, ranks him sixth among quarterbacks. That's a pretty impressive spot to be in, especially when you consider all the talented players in the league. This grade, by the way, excludes playoff games, so it's a measure of his regular season consistency, which is, you know, pretty important.
This kind of high grade from a reputable source like Pro Football Focus (PFF) really backs up the idea that he's a very good, if not great, quarterback. It shows he's performing at a high level consistently, making good decisions, and executing plays effectively. It's not just a one-off thing; it's sustained excellence, more or less, over several years.
However, there's an interesting point from PFF, too. While they recognize Herbert as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, they don't quite believe he's good enough to earn a spot among the league's elite. This is a subtle but important distinction, you know. Being "one of the best" is great, but "elite" suggests a different level, perhaps consistent deep playoff runs or MVP-caliber seasons year after year.
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus, for example, recently put together his list of all 32 starting quarterbacks in the league. And Iver, another analyst, apparently had something to say about placing Herbert 19th on that list. This kind of ranking, you know, at 19th, it tends to fuel the debate about his "elite" status. It suggests that while he's good, there are still a fair number of quarterbacks seen as being ahead of him, which is, well, something to think about.
A Different Lens for Evaluation
Herbert's season, in a way, should be looked at through a different lens than his previous campaigns. Every year is different in the NFL, and a quarterback's performance can be influenced by so many things. Maybe injuries to teammates, changes in coaching staff, or even just the strength of the schedule can play a part. It's not always just about the raw numbers, you know.
While his numbers this season were good and efficient all around, they, apparently, pale in comparison to his previous outings. This doesn't necessarily mean he's playing worse, though. It might mean he's being asked to do different things, or the team's strategy has changed. Sometimes, a quarterback can be just as effective, or even more so, by being efficient and making fewer mistakes, rather than putting up huge statistical totals.
This idea of using a "different lens" is really important for evaluating any player, actually. It means looking beyond just the box score and considering the context of the entire season. What challenges did he face? How did he adapt? What was the team's overall situation? All these things, they contribute to a more complete picture of a quarterback's performance, and that's, you know, what we're trying to get at here. You can learn more about quarterback analysis on our site, and link to this page here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Justin Herbert
Is Justin Herbert considered a franchise quarterback?
Yes, absolutely. He is definitely a franchise quarterback, someone a team can build around for the long term. He has the skills and the potential to be a cornerstone player for any NFL team, and that's a pretty big deal for a player of his age. It's a label that carries a lot of weight, you know, and he seems to fit it very well.
Why aren't the Chargers winning more with Justin Herbert?
Well, the thinking often is that winning requires more than just a great quarterback. The equation, as some see it, is a great coach plus a great quarterback for consistent wins. So, if the team isn't winning enough, it might suggest other factors are at play, like the overall supporting cast, coaching decisions, or even just team execution in general. It's a complex thing, basically, not just about one player.
How does Justin Herbert's PFF grade compare to other quarterbacks?
His 91.0 overall grade over the past three seasons, for instance, ranks him sixth among quarterbacks, when you exclude playoff games. This shows he's performing at a very high level, consistently. However, PFF also, you know, doesn't quite put him in the "elite" category, even with that strong grade, which is an interesting point of discussion.
So, looking at Justin Herbert's career so far, it's pretty clear he's a highly talented quarterback, often praised as one of the best in the league. His high PFF grades certainly back that up, showing consistent high-level play. The question of team wins, however, often brings up the idea that football success is a shared effort, needing a strong supporting cast and good coaching alongside a great quarterback. He's definitely seen as a franchise player, someone who will, in time, deliver when it counts, especially if the team around him is good enough. The conversation about his place among the very top, the "elite" quarterbacks, is still ongoing, with different analyses offering different perspectives on that. It's a discussion that, you know, will probably continue as his career unfolds.
NFL Network analyst says Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert is the fourth-best quarterback
Justin Herbert's Stats: A Closer Look at the Rising Star Quarterback
Justin Herbert: The Social Media QB | Justin Herbert, quarterback, ESPN | Pretty good for a
