Many football players get nicknames and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert just got a new one from his head coach. In his post-game press conference, Jim Harbaugh announced he is changing Justin’s name to Beast Herbert.
“I’m changing his name to Beast. He’s Beast Herbert, said the first-year Chargers coach. “Half man, half beast.”
Chargers QB: Beast Herbert
And what was that inspired this name change? Was it one of the big plays through the air? Sure. Was it one of his big runs? Ok. What Harbaugh was most impressed with was a play that almost went terribly wrong.
“You know the sack, it appeared like it was a sack-fumble, just because of the strength that it took to hold on to the ball while getting hit,” Harbaugh said. “There’s probably nobody else on the planet that could have done that and then he was able to keep it in his hand and finished the throwing motion and you saw the ball, I mean, I don’t know what that is; just wrist. That ball went 10, 15 yards. I mean after seeing the replay you’re like, ‘Okay nobody else could have done.’ That was a huge play in the game.”
Harbaugh was referring to a play that occurred near the end of the half where Herbert was hit attempting to throw the ball, which was initially ruled a fumble that was recovered by the Titans and returned for a touchdown, but after a further review was determined that Hebert’s arm was moving forward and the call was overturned.
Herbert’s stat sheet is less than impressive, but it wasn’t the quantity of work that impressed his coach, but when and how he was able to make the plays he did. Herbert finished with 164 yards passing and 32 yards rushing, but Herbert rushed on a fourth and one and not only picked up the first down but ran it in for the team’s first touchdown. It was a four-yard rush in the books but in an incredibly high-leverage situation.
The next touchdown came late in the third down on a third and eight where Herbert found Quentin Johnston in the end zone. Had he been of on that throw, the drive would have ended then and there. Earlier, Herbert also picked up a first down on a run up the middle on a third and one to keep the drive alive.
He also picked up two first downs with a pair of eight-yard scrambles on the team’s final touchdown drive that salted the game away by increasing the score to 27-10 and taking 7:10 off the clock.
So from now on it is Beast Herbert.
