EL SEGUNDO — Offensive coordinator Greg Roman on Tuesday referred to Justin Herbert’s touchdown pass this past Thursday to wide receiver Derius Davis as a “zero gravity throw.”
Photos and videos indicate Herbert did not have either foot on the ground when he rolled to his left and delivered a throw across his body to a streaking Davis in the end zone.
“Have I seen a better one? Perhaps, but I don’t know if I have,” Roman said when asked if he had seen a better throw than Herbert’s 19-yard touchdown strike to Davis in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos. “It was incredible. Great reaction by Derius.
“Great throw. Off balance. Basically, a zero-gravity throw, do you know what I mean? Great velocity. Unbelievable accuracy. Huge play in the game. I see these kinds of things from him on a semi-daily basis, though, (but) on a game day, clutch situation, it doesn’t get any better than that, really. That was clutch.”
And to think, there’s more to come from Herbert, according to Roman.
“Let’s be honest, when you come out here and throw for 600 yards in practice and every ball is like an extended handoff, it’s pretty stunning,” Roman said, “That talent he has is special. It’s up to us, offensively, to really tap into it and rally around it and utilize it, as we did the other night.”
Roman said he “did a little research” on Herbert before he accepted the job earlier this year, but not so much that it would sway his initial impressions of the quarterback. What has stood out beyond the obvious talent is how intensely Herbert prepares for each practice, meeting and game.
“I think he’s exceeded (expectations) in every stretch, in every sense, how he shows up every minute of every day and is locked in,” Roman said. “He is locked in from the moment he gets here. He’ll joke around and have fun. But he’s got that button and he can push that button and it’s like, ‘OK, time to focus, time to lock in.’
“So impressive on a daily basis. Everybody leads in different ways. He is the sterling example of leading by example. He really encourages his teammates, too. He doesn’t like to do it publicly, but he’ll do it off to the side when no one is looking. He’ll use his words to help them out, get them in the right spot.”
Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey leads the Chargers with 69 receptions for 960 yards. He also has five touchdown catches, trailing only second-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who has eight. McConkey also is averaging 13.9 yards per reception, second among the regulars behind Joshua Palmer’s average of 15.5.
All of which has come as a mild surprise to the coaching staff after 16 weeks of McConkey’s first NFL season after a standout career at the University of Georgia that resulted in the Chargers trading up with the New England Patriots to select him in the second round of the most recent draft.
“Choppy training camp, as far as availability,” Roman said. “He had some (injuries) he was working through, which usually doesn’t bode well. However, this is a guy who just continues to get better every day. He’s a guy you can count on and trust. He’s a guy who has a really strong will. You can’t measure that, but I can recognize it when I see it. … I’m just glad Joe picked him.”
Roman referred to Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz.
Tight end Hayden Hurst (illness), defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia (pelvis), linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin), left guard Trey Pipkins III (hip) and punter JK Scott (illness) did not participate in practice Tuesday. Tight end Will Dissly (shoulder), running back J.K. Dobbins (knee), running back Gus Edwards (ankle), cornerback Cam Hart (concussion), safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring) and defensive back Elijah Molden (knee) were listed as limited participants.
