The Los Angeles Chargers have made headlines this offseason by hiring Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach, a move that has sparked excitement among fans. However, the choice of offensive coordinator has raised some eyebrows. Harbaugh has brought in Greg Roman, known for his run-heavy offensive schemes, to work alongside talented quarterback Justin Herbert.
Recent evaluations of NFL coaching staffs have placed the Chargers at 17th overall, largely due to Roman's hiring. Analysts believe that if Harbaugh had selected a different offensive coordinator, the team's ranking could have been significantly higher. Roman has a history of working with Harbaugh, but his track record as a coordinator shows a strong preference for the running game, which may not fully utilize Herbert's skills.
“If we’re just ranking head coaches, Jim Harbaugh is probably fringe top 10. But we’re not ranking head coaches — we’re ranking entire staffs," ESPN’s Ben Solak writes. "Ten of the past 12 years of Roman’s NFL employment have been directly under a Harbaugh brother, and he’s back for his third stint as a pro coordinator. I acknowledge he is one of the best run-game designers in professional football, and his ability to graft college trends into offenses is nifty. But the limitations of his passing attack in Baltimore were very apparent, both in design and in detail. I have no reason to believe he has tidied up that toothless chapter of his playbook, and I’ll adjust my rankings only when I see the change.”
In his decade-long career as a coordinator, Roman has only led a top-10 offense a few times. His most notable success came in 2019 with the Baltimore Ravens, where they ranked first in points and second in yards. However, that season appears to be an exception rather than the norm, as subsequent seasons saw a drop in offensive performance.
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The Chargers' ranking reflects concerns about Roman's passing game strategy, which has often been criticized for its limitations. While there is some optimism about the team's defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, his inexperience at the professional level adds another layer of uncertainty.
As the Chargers prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on how the new coaching staff, particularly Roman, adapts to maximize the potential of their star quarterback and improve the team's overall performance.
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