Chargers Want a ‘Great Running Game’ to Bolster Justin Herbert, OC Greg Roman Says

Andrew PetersFebruary 23, 2024

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The Los Angeles Chargers will look to bolster quarterback Justin Herbert with a great run game next season, offensive coordinator Greg Roman said.

Per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, Roman is looking for more consistency from the run game in 2024, and he believes it will lead to better production from Herbert.

“Can you imagine Justin Herbert with a great running game?” Roman said. “… We don’t know, but I can imagine what it might look like. So that’s kind of the vision.”

The Chargers run game struggled last year as the team went 5-12. Los Angeles finished 24th in yards per rushing yards and 26th in yards per carry. If the Chargers can improve those numbers next season, Roman believes it will be a recipe for success.

The Chargers have a solid option in the backfield in Austin Ekeler, but the seventh-year running back had the fewest yards per carry of his career last season at 3.5. Getting his production up in 2024 will be a priority for Los Angeles.

“I think in this league, you can really, really help dictate the defenses if you have a strong running attack,” Roman said. “If you really talk to most defensive coordinators in this league and got ’em off to the side when they’re playing a really good running team, they’re sweating a little bit. They’re sleeping a little less that week.”

The redesigned run game likely won’t involve designed runs for Herbert, Roman said.

“We’ll give it to anybody that can gain yards,” Roman said. “And then will Justin run the ball? … It’ll probably be more as a scrambler. Will we have some of that other stuff in our back pocket? Remains to be seen.”

Roman, who will be in his first season as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator next season, helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to the second-most rushing yards in the league when he was the offensive coordinator in 2022. He will be looking to repeat that success with his new team.