Chargers QBs coach: 'Sky's the limit' for Justin Herbert

For the first time in over a decade, the Los Angeles Chargers don't have a clear answer at quarterback, with Philip Rivers leaving the team to join the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. But Chargers quarterback coach Pep Hamilton believes that Justin Herbert has the potential to be the next great quarterback for the team.

"The combination of size, athletic ability and arm talent (is intriguing), but more importantly, he's had a ton of experience playing in games," Hamilton said on the Chargers official website. "It really helped him staying an extra year at Oregon. He has over 1,200 pass attempts in college and you can't teach experience. When it's time for him to play once he's acclimated to the speed of the NFL game and has a good understanding of what NFL defenses are trying to do, I think the sky's the limit."

Herbert was taken by the Chargers with the sixth pick in April's draft, making it clear that he is the team's quarterback of the future. However, he may not be the quarterback of the present, as head coach Anthony Lynn has indicated that Tyrod Taylor, who played backup to Rivers last season, will have every opportunity to hold onto the starting job. Hamilton says that he has been impressed by Taylor.

"It's helpful, especially under the circumstances," Hamilton said of Taylor. "In a non-traditional offseason, familiarity with all the above is going to be important. We're going to lose a large portion of time that we would have on the grass because we're not able to have a traditional offseason. It's going to be very important that Tyrod's understanding and familiarity with coach Lynn and our system, that that carries over to the rest of the guys in the huddle. His poise impresses me. I've been watching him from afar for quite some time, and I've always been impressed with his ability to go out and make plays and more importantly, help his team win games."