Justin Herbert Revamps Footwork to Accelerate Passing Release

Justin Herbert is making significant changes to his footwork as he works with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to quicken his throwing release. During Tuesday's OTA practice, Herbert did not throw a football; instead, he focused on footwork drills using a weighted free ball to refine his throwing motion. He mentioned that he plans to incorporate this practice into his routine once a week throughout the season.

“I thought it was helpful for my footwork just to be able . . . not to have to worry about throwing the ball right now,” Herbert stated, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. He explained that the mechanical adjustments he’s making involve a shift in timing, emphasizing McDaniel's directive to release the ball earlier. “We feel like that is going to help us get the ball out quicker,” he added.

McDaniel’s offensive strategy places a strong emphasis on anticipation, and Herbert is committed to enhancing this skill. “We really emphasized the first couple of weeks of just getting the ball out as quick as possible,” he explained. “Almost getting to a point where the receivers haven't looked back for it yet, and that just allows them to catch the ball with maximum ability to turn upfield and have time before a defender gets to them.”

Last season, Herbert faced the highest number of hits and pressures among quarterbacks, largely due to Pro Bowl tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt playing only six games combined. Herbert acknowledged that he also contributed to this issue by holding onto the ball too long at times. However, he is optimistic about improving his release speed this upcoming season thanks to McDaniel's guidance.

“I think he's just got a great feel for the game and I think he understands how defenses are ever changing,” Herbert remarked. “It’s his goal to be able to take away the pass rush. If you're getting the ball out quickly, there's really nothing they can do about it.”