LA Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is undoubtedly one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. However, for reasons that expand far and wide, he has not enjoyed the same level of success as other quarterbacks in his talent pantheon.
This has resulted in unsolicited feedback for Herbert that has come from a variety of places. It's not just analysts who are dissecting his game, as former teammates have gone out on a limb to question if Herbert has the clutch gene.
Kyle Van Noy is the latest former teammate to speak out about Herbert, although his comments are more in the constructive criticism vein than they are the outright criticism vein. The Herbert feedback Van Noy outlined to FOX Sports' Eric Williams all follows the same common thread: relax.
"Part of me says (Justin Herbert) needs to relax a little bit, because he cares so much. He’s a perfectionist. Just go out there and play ball."
Chargers' QB Justin Herbert needs to relax, according to Kyle Van Noy
Chargers fans know Van Noy well enough to know that these comments are made in good spirits and are not take-down efforts similar to other former teammates. Van Noy is not questioning Herbert's ability as a quarterback, he is simply providing feedback for how Herbert can get over the hump.
Van Noy continued and praised Herbert's work ethic and how much he cares about the game. However, as Van Noy put it, Herbert's care served as a double-edged sword. That same level of care may have taken away from other parts of being a quarterback, per Van Noy.
"You’ve already accomplished so much. I know he wants to accomplish even more, but I do feel like he takes the game very seriously," Van Noy added. "The one thing I will say about Justin is he works really hard, and I appreciate that as a teammate. But sometimes you don’t have to work as hard. Let’s take a step back for just a second and diagnose – am I doing other parts of the game like the film study enough?"
It extends beyond just film study, though. Van Noy elaborated on what he meant by doing more, which seems to apply to the extracurricular activities away from the field. According to Van Noy, Herbert would go to things such as team dinners, but he alluded that the Chargers' signal-callers still could have done more to be the leader of men in the locker room.
"He would go to team dinners, but I think he could also do more. And that’s just me from my year of being with him. He’s still young. And I’m sure he’s way better now than since I was there. But that was just something he could do even more," Van Noy said.
Van Noy played for the Chargers in 2022 and a lot has happened since his departure. Hiring Jim Harbaugh may have been the best thing to happen to Herbert as in just one year there has been a noticeable difference in Herbert, at least from the fan perspective.
That being said, fans cannot and should not outright dismiss Van Noy's comments. It's one thing for a random former teammate to offer criticism of Herbert that does not align with reality. It's another thing with a beloved veteran offers this level of constructive criticism with the hope Herbert can absorb it.
Herbert is not a perfect quarterback. Just like any other quarterback in the league, he has areas to grow. Herbert's areas of growth just happen to be off the field as he is a literal quarterback robot when he is on the field.
Will an extra team dinner result in the Chargers winning the Super Bowl? Probably not. But the more Herbert can make these strides, the closer the Bolts get to the ultimate prize.