The Los Angeles Chargers announced recently that the team’s new offensive coordinator under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will be Greg Roman. Roman, 51, is no stranger to being an offensive coach in the National Football League and brings nearly 30 years of experience to Los Angeles.

Roman wasn’t a part of any coaching staff in the 2023 season, after being the offensive coordinator for John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens from 2019-2022. His offense boasted the NFL MVP in Lamar Jackson in the 2019 season and ranked first in several categories that season, including points scored and passing touchdowns. Roman was named the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year following that season.

After that 2019 season, Roman’s offense dropped in production in passing, but stayed near the top of the league from a rushing standpoint, with a big factor in that being Jackson, who is arguably the greatest running quarterback of all time.

Now, under a different Harbaugh, Roman is tasked with leading an offense highlighted by another young, star quarterback. However, Justin Herbert and this Chargers personnel group is far different than what Roman had in Baltimore.

Roman’s scheme in that 2019 was a West Coast scheme and morphed into an option scheme throughout his final three years in Baltimore. Look for him to utilize a West Coast/Power Run hybrid offense with Los Angeles. The power run is something Roman has always run, and blending it with the West Coast can unlock Herbert’s superstar ability.

In Baltimore, Roman used a lot of heavy sets with multiple running backs and/or tight ends to enhance the run game. That’s one of his identities, so he will find ways to still incorporate that power run game. The big question there is if the head of Roman’s running game will be Austin Ekeler or a different running back such as Saquon Barkley, who has been rumored as a target for the Chargers.

For the West Coast side of Roman’s game, this is where Justin Herbert will thrive. West Coast offenses prioritize short and intermediate passing concepts that stretch the defense horizontally.

Since Herbert came into the league in 2020, he has shown proficiency in short and intermediate passing according to Next Gen Stats. He has been above the league average in terms of passer rating on all throws between 0–10 yards and throws between 10–20 yards. Here’s him showcasing his ability to throw the intermediate ball in his rookie season.

 Everyone knows how talented Herbert’s arm is. He is one of the game’s great young stars, but nobody can win a football game by themselves. This Chargers team showed that they have a lot of flaws in the 2023 season and need to repair this roster around Herbert in order to unlock him.

The team needs more production from its running back group, the offensive line needs tending to after Corey Linsley’s retirement, and Quentin Johnston needs to step up after his poor rookie campaign. If those three can improve and if this team drafts Brock Bowers, one of the best tight ends coming out of college in recent memory, the offense can start to take off under Roman’s west coast playbook.

This offense most likely won’t be the best in the league in 2024 as this new Chargers team finds its feet. If a good step in the right direction is taken in 2024, then 2025 is the year when this offense can be scary good.