Quarterback Justin Herbert was one of many players that should’ve drew the attention of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Day 1 of the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl is officially in the rearview.
This morning kicked off with the annual weigh-ins, which was followed up with media day where analysts, reporters and writers got the opportunity to speak with players before they took the field for the first day of practice.
The South Team made their way out to the big room first, and after about 20 minutes, out came Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. The 6-foot-6 and 227 pound signal-caller was immediately bombarded by the media, where he was hit with a slew of questions.
One of the questions that Herbert was asked really stood out. He was asked what NFL teams told him they wanted to see this week. There was no mention of polishing things when it comes to his play on the field. Instead, Herbert said one word: “Leadership.”
“I think people are worried about leadership and me being a pretty quiet guy. But I would say that I’m not too quiet. Unfortunately, I’ll talk your ear off. There are these things that I want to be transparent with and give a good representation of myself.
I’m not an introvert. I think that’s one of the things that I don’t think people have the right idea about me and I would say that it’s not fairly accurate and when I get into the huddle, when I get around the team it’s a little bit different and the guys would say that, the coaches would say that and I think they’d agree with me on that.
I think I’m somewhere in the middle (of introvert and extrovert) and there’s shades of both in me. That’s something I’ve really worked on and the coaches have done a great job of pulling that out of me,” Herbert told reporters.
Scouts and general managers know that he has all the physical traits, tools and talent to become a successful NFL quarterback, but teams want to see Herbert command a huddle and take charge on the field because many believe that he isn’t capable of leading a team.
When we got into Ladd-Peebles Stadium where the practice took place, it wasn’t long until Herbert flashed. The Eugene native looked phenomenal on Tuesday, displaying all the physical tools and most importantly, the leadership skills that were being desired.
Herbert was right on the money with nearly all of his throws. He made plays in and out of the pocket, showcasing his strong arm and athleticism. His most notable pass was a beautiful vertical toss to wide receiver Austin Mack down the sideline where it landed perfectly in his hands.
After Mack reeled in the pass, Herbert scampered down the field fired up to give his teammate the recognition that he deserved.
Herbert’s incomplete passes were more about drops by receivers rather than missed throws on his part. And when his receivers dropped a pass, they made sure to hear about it from Herbert, showing the vocalness that evaluators are wanting out of him this week.
The Chargers’ biggest draft needs other than quarterback center around the offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback position, and there were a few standouts from those groups.
Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones, who is a candidate for Los Angeles’ second-round pick, had a great day. His previous basketball skills were evident in one-on-ones as he was an easy mover with flexible hips and agile feet to stay between the rusher and quarterback.
There was a small-school standout by the name of Ben Bartch who raised some eyebrows. Bartch, the 6-foot-5 and 308 pound tackle, did a fantastic job in pass protection, moving effortlessly and using his 33-inch arms to slow down speed rushers. He played tackle the entire afternoon, but he has the versatility to play inside, too.
As for interior offensive linemen, Michigan guard Ben Bredeson had himself a solid day. Bredeson was quick to leverage the point of attack and achieve body position, latching with his strong hands, and moving with a coordinated lower body to slide and mirror defenders.
A wideout that should’ve garnered the attention of the Chargers scouts was Ohio State’s K.J. Hill. Hill showed off a plethora of route-running skills and techniques to get open during multiple one-on-one reps.
Across from the wide receivers was Oklahoma State cornerback A.J. Green, who showed off some top-notch technique from zone coverage, ball skills and competitiveness during the seven-on-seven drill.
