Chargers OC Kellen Moore reveals player who has 'opened' his eyes

New Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore sounds happy he's coaching Justin Herbert after working with Dallas Cowboys starter Dak Prescott. 

"The biggest thing is obviously his arm talent," Moore said about Herbert while speaking with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "But his combination of size, throwing ability, athleticism, I mean, there’s only a few on earth that can have that combination, and play at such a high level. It’s really fun to see. I was a 6-foot, kind of hanging-on quarterback for six years. And I laugh, there’s a few throws sometimes he makes that I say, 'I would never think about trying that throw, but here we are.' It’s opened my eyes to some things." 

Moore revealed nothing specific about those "things," but the implication is he expects to accomplish more with Herbert than he did with Prescott. The combination of Moore, Prescott and head coach Mike McCarthy earned a single playoff win across three games over the past two years before the Cowboys and Moore "mutually agreed" to part ways in January. While Prescott seemed to defend Moore earlier in the offseason, the coordinator clearly isn't looking back with a possible Most Valuable Player candidate running his current offense. 

According to ESPN stats, Herbert finished the 2022 regular season ranked 11th among eligible players with a 58.2 adjusted QBR, 12th with a 93.2 passer rating, third with a 68.2% completion percentage and second with 4,739 passing yards. Across 17 games, the 25-year-old tossed 25 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. 

Retired quarterback and current NFL analyst Chris Simms recently mentioned how important it is that Herbert, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 237 pounds, is one of a handful of quarterbacks who can "throw over the line of scrimmage" and complete throws "not available to most" signal-callers. Moore seems eager to take advantage of Herbert's best physical attributes beginning when the Chargers open the regular season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 10.