Chargers News: Jim Harbaugh-J.J. McCarthy Bond Could Bode Well For Justin Herbert

During the final season of his stint coaching the University of Michigan Wolverines, now-Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh developed a mutually beneficial partnership with his final starting quarterback at the program, top-10 NFL draft prospect J.J. McCarthy.

Scouts now believe that Harbaugh cultivated an environment where McCarthy essentially was handled with kid gloves, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

“I don't see consistent accuracy, his ability to get it done inside the white lines, and [the Michigan staff] didn't call games or play offensively like they trusted him,” an AFC scout said.

“Harbaugh didn't trust him like he did Andrew Luck,” an anonymous AFC coach told Fowler. “When he makes a mistake, Harbaugh leans into the running game even more so during the flow of the game.”

A scout kvetched to Fowler that McCarthy wasn't a particularly frequent passer relative to other elite signal callers in college, noting that he “has never been asked to throw 30-plus times a game.”

This could all actually bode well for Harbaugh's relationship with his newest quarterback, Pro Bowl Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert has a rocket arm, but it does seem to wear down near the end of games. Perhaps a more running-focused offensive approach to the offense could help preserve him. We'll have to see...