One of the Los Angeles Chargers' more underrated coaching hires this offseason may have been former Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert.
Herbert, who last worked under new LA head coach Jim Harbaugh with the Wolverines, was a vital part to Michigan's success over the last several years.
Chargers analyst and podcaster Chris Hayre broke down why Herbert was such a critical hire for Los Angeles.
"Ben is a monster. This guy is incredible. When you see him you know he's a strength coach. The other thing is he's very in tune with physical performance and assessing physical performance so he does stuff with stretching and flexibility and measurements when guys first come in. He does things with body composition. He's open to sports science and analytics of any kind. He's very open to anything and then he gets results. Money will tell you every year at the combine, it's Michigan guys who are putting up these incredible numbers. Ben knows how to get the most out of players from a performance standpoint ... He is a guy that players love, they respond to. He is an essential hire."
What Hayre said has been echoed by plenty of people who worked with Herbert. Herbert has regularly been touted as a top-tier strength coach, which was emphasized by Michigan making him one of the highest-paid strength coaches in college football.
Not only does Herbert get a ton out of his players, but he also led one of the healthiest teams in Michigan. With the Chargers having a record of being injury-prone, Herbert's addition could turn around this fate.
Herbert can also turn around the grade the Chargers' strength coaches received on the latest team report cards by the NFL Players' Association. The Chargers strength coaches ranked 27th in the NFL with a C+ grade. With what Herbert brings to the table, the Chargers players will likely be gravitate more towards their new strength coach, which will in turn help their on-field performance.
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