The secret to Justin Herbert's hot start: The Chargers realized that Justin Herbert is their QB

Justin Herbert has always been that dude.

Finally, the Los Angeles Chargers seem to have realized it.

Herbert is off to a brilliant start to this season, with two weeks of prolific performance that have him in the early-season MVP conversation.

And sure, Herbert is more willing to run, which has helped extend a few drives. But that's not the secret here.

Instead, it's this: The Chargers are finally letting their uber-talented quarterback cook.

For the first time in Justin Herberts career the coaches are coaching like they have Justin Herbert at QB

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Herbert is like a quarterback built in a lab. He's 6-foot-6, and athletic and mobile, and possessing a howitzer of a right arm.

But for his entire career, Herbert has never been asked to do too much. Short and intermediate passes have been the norm, sandwiched around the running game.

This season, Herbert's intended air yards per pass are the highest of his career by almost a full yard. The Chargers are telling Herbert to use that big arm of his to carve up opposing defenses.

So far, Herbert has completed 44-of-61 passes (72.1%) for 560 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. 

And he would have more if the Chargers didn't blowout the Raiders on Monday night, allowing Herbert to spend the closing stages just handing the ball off.

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Herbert's first three NFL seasons all saw a substantial amount of pass attempts, in part because those Chargers teams weren't likely to have put a game away early. But those attempts weren't always the push-the-ball-downfield ones that can prove how special Herbert is.

Now, it feels like he's letting it rip every play, and it seems like that should've been the plan all along.

As long as Herbert gets to be his full, best self, the Chargers will be tough to beat.

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