The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Justin Herbert. Nevertheless, new offensive coordinator Greg Roman wants to focus on the run game.

Despite the qualities of quarterback Justin Herbert, the new offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers is focusing on a strong running game in the coming season. This should also suit Herbert.

“Can you imagine Justin Herbert with a great running game?” asked Greg Roman in a roundtable discussion with reporters: “We don’t know yet, but I can imagine it. That’s the vision.”

The plan: A dominant running game should give Herbert more freedom and opportunities in the passing game, as opposing defenses will have to focus primarily on stopping the Chargers’ run.

“I think in this league you can really dictate the defense if you have a strong running attack,” Roman said. That would also make life more difficult for opposing defensive coordinators. “When they play against a really good running team, they get a little sweaty. They sleep a little less during the week,” Roman continued.

The 51-year-old is known as an advocate of a strong running game, having established one of the league’s strongest offenses on the ground as offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens between 2019 and 2022. Back then, he actively involved quarterback Lamar Jackson in the running game, and Jackson was voted MVP for the first time in 2019.

Justin Herbert not like Lamar Jackson

However, this is not to be expected with Herbert, the 25-year-old clearly has his strengths in the passing game. He had his best NFL season as a runner in 2021 with just 302 rushing yards.

Roman is aware that he can’t completely transfer the formula from his time in Baltimore to the Chargers. “It’s going to be a little different,” he looks ahead. “We’ll see a diverse running game, with motions and shifts. And then you’ll also see a diverse passing game,” Roman is convinced.

However, Roman has a lot of work to do to improve the Chargers’ running game. The team has ranked outside the top 10 in rushing yards per game every season since 2007, and the Chargers ranked 24th in that category in 2023. Running back Austin Ekeler is also coming off the worst season of his career and is set to become a free agent.