Jim Harbaugh draws strange Justin Herbert comparison as his explosive play continues

As the Los Angeles Chargers came away with a victory, 27-20, over the Tennessee Titans in Week 9, many facets of their game looked messy as usual.

However, the continued excellent play of quarterback Justin Herbert, especially on the run, continued, and he was able to propel the Chargers to yet another win despite the struggles they have faced on their offensive line and in their run defense.

Throughout the course of the game, Herbert led the team in rushing with 49 yards and a touchdown on five attempts, bodying through the Titans' defenders and putting his willingness to take contact on full display.

Accordingly, head coach Jim Harbaugh compared Herbert to Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka in his post-game presser:

While Harbaugh was clearly being somewhat tongue-in-cheek with this comparison, it reveals a crucial truth. Herbert's ability to play through contact and run the ball effectively is not only impressive, it will also be vital to the team's ability to maintain their offensive potency as the season wears on.

Justin Herbert's rushing ability could be an unlikely key to the team's success this season

No matter how accurate the comparison actually is, any sort of parallel with Csonka is high praise. Over 11 NFL seasons between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants, Csonka became known as one of the toughest and most rugged players in the league, reaching five Pro Bowls and establishing himself as Miami's all-time leading rusher.

Herbert, at 6'6" and 236 lbs, is no small specimen, and he has utilized that size throughout his career not only to break free from sacks but also to break tackles and extend plays in the open field when he is forced to scramble.

This season, Herbert has rushed for 297 yards and now, following the Titans game, a touchdown. Moreover, his willingness and ability to carry the ball through contact has made the difference in multiple games this season, allowing the team to earn first downs on plays that had otherwise been blown up.

This skill has become even more important this season with the injuries the team has suffered to their offensive line and their backfield. While Herbert has taken a worrying amount of sacks and hits this season in his dropbacks, he has also been able to evade an impressive amount of contact and extend plays despite the brutal play of his protection.

Moreover, with a run game severely limited by the injuries to Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, any semblance of productivity they can find there, especially when Kimani Vidal is being held back, will be massive for the versatility of their offensive attack.

Therefore, while the comparison to Csonka might be a bit of a stretch, seeing Herbert make plays like he did against the Titans should be a major reason for excitement.