Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians’ grim textual content might foreshadow Justin Herbert’s best problem in Yr 2

Haircut apart, Justin Herbert’s 2020 season went about in addition to it might. The No. 6 total decide within the 2020 draft, the previous Oregon quarterback gained Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors after placing up numbers many veteran quarterbacks have but to match. In 15 video games, Herbert accomplished 66.6% of his throws for 4,336 yards with 31 touchdowns and simply 10 interceptions. He ended his rookie season by main the Chargers to 4 consecutive victories. 

The sky seems to be the restrict for Herbert and the Chargers, whose over/below for the 2021 season is ready at 9 video games based on William Hill Sportsbook. One impediment which will hinder Herbert, nevertheless, is the Chargers’ turnover within the teaching workers. This offseason, the Chargers changed head coach Anthony Lynn with Brandon Staley, who most just lately was the Rams‘ defensive coordinator. Los Angeles changed former offensive coordinator Shane Steichen with Joe Lombardi, whose two years because the Lions‘ offensive coordinator are sandwiched between two profitable runs because the Saints‘ quarterbacks coach. 

Whereas Herbert might have success inside his new offense, Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians — whose teaching expertise contains time spent with Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, Carson Palmer and Tom Brady — is aware of firsthand the challenges related to younger quarterbacks studying new offensive recreation plans. 

“Worst factor that may occur,” Arians just lately texted NFL.com’s Jim Trotter when requested the impression altering coordinators can have on a quarterback. “Studying NEW is not ever good.”

There are a slew of examples supporting Arians’ textual content. Tim Sofa, who labored with Arians in Cleveland within the early 2000s, was a former No. 1 total decide whose decline was at the least partially as a result of lack of stability within the Browns‘ teaching workers. The identical may very well be mentioned of former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart, who struggled for a number of years in Pittsburgh after Chan Gailey left the Steelers to develop into the Cowboys head coach in 1998. Marcus Mariotta, the No. 2 total decide within the 2015 draft, additionally suffered a decline in play after Matt LaFleur — his third of 4 offensive coordinators in Tennessee — left to develop into the Packers head coach in 2019. 

Even Arians’ present quarterback struggled to study a brand new playbook upon becoming a member of the Buccaneers final spring. Tom Brady, hailed as the best quarterback of all-time, just lately revealed that his struggles studying the Buccaneers’ playbook lasted effectively into the 2020 season. 

“Halfway via the yr, I used to be nonetheless making an attempt to determine easy methods to name the performs,” Brady mentioned on the Hodinkee Radio podcast, by way of JoeBucsFan.com. “I simply learn [the plays] off my wristband and tried to visualise what was going to occur.

“It is like studying a very new language. You’ve got spoken English for 20 years and somebody goes, ‘Hey man, let’s converse some Spanish.’ And you’re like, ‘Huh? That is senseless to my mind.'”

A change in coordinators isn’t all the time a nasty factor. Troy Aikman flourished in Dallas after Jimmy Johnson changed Dave Shula with Norv Turner earlier than the beginning of the 1991 season. Aikman, who posted a 7-19 document throughout his first two seasons with the Cowboys, led Dallas to an 11-5 document in 1991 and back-to-back Tremendous Bowl wins the next two seasons. Ben Roethlisberger, who was considerably thought to be a recreation supervisor throughout his first a number of years in Pittsburgh, reached a brand new degree after Arians turned his offensive coordinator in 2007. 

How effectively a quarterback prepares for his new offenses can assist decide his future success. Herbert has already taken steps in the direction of studying Lombardi’s offense. He has spoken with Drew Brees, who spent a dozen seasons with Lombardi in New Orleans. Herbert has additionally reached out to his new middle, All-Professional Corey Linsley. He has additionally begun throwing passes with Keenan Allen and a number of other different teammates in preparation for the upcoming season. 

It additionally helps that Herbert had totally different offensive coordinators throughout his time at Oregon. Whereas change isn’t simple, it hasn’t hindered Herbert’s efficiency previously, and it should not result in a drastic drop-off in manufacturing now. 

“I feel there will be components [of the game plan] which might be fairly comparable however then different components which might be that are not so comparable,” Herbert mentioned, by way of Sports activities Illustrated. “I feel one of many nice issues that I’ve needed to undergo is I’ve needed to undergo three or 4 totally different offenses, and you’ve got needed to type of discover a approach to study and decide them up shortly. I feel I’ve completed job of that, and hopefully, this yr isn’t any totally different.”