Emmanuel Acho believes Chargers QB Justin Herbert doesn’t have it in him while drawing comparisons to Tom Brady’s career

Acho feels Herbert can't produce the goods when it's required of him.

Emmanuel Acho believes Chargers QB Justin Herbert doesn’t have it in him while drawing comparisons to Tom Brady’s career

Acho questioned Justin Herbert's ability to win adverse situations (Image via IMAGO)

Emmanuel Acho claimed Justin Herbert does not possess the ‘it’ to go from a good to a great quarterback. With back-to-back defeats against opponents in the upper echelons of the NFL, Herbert’s subpar performance has raised a lot of questions.

First-round drafts always attract a lot of attention, especially quarterbacks. It’s like there’s a bullseye on each and every one of them. If they don’t perform to the standard that’s expected of them, they will get their due criticism.

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Justin Herbert burst onto the scene with three consecutive 4,000-yard seasons and the Pro Bowl. This was enough for the Los Angeles Chargers to give him a five-year, $262 million deal.

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If all you see is what you see, then you don't see what's there to be seen. What is everybody talking about, Herbert? His size gave him arm strength, and his height; the physical ability. Herbert doesn't have it.
Acho on FOX’s Sports The Speak

At the start of the 2023 season, there was renewed optimism when former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore joined the franchise. It was seen as a masterstroke and would help get the best out of Herbert. However, the situation has remained more or less the same. They have failed to make any positive impact, and the only two victories came against the Raiders and the Vikings. Two teams that are on negative margins themselves.

Acho is not satisfied with Justin Herbert’s performances

There are a lot of factors that go into drafting a quarterback. But first and foremost, how tall is the player, and what is his arm strength? But there are several other aspects that separate the great quarterbacks. The most important skill that an elite QB possesses is adaptability. When thrust into adverse situations, elite players find a way to carve out positive results.

Emmanuel Acho believes Chargers QB Justin Herbert doesn’t have it in him while drawing comparisons to Tom Brady’s career
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (Image via ESPN.com)

During his college days, Justin Herbert had more than 10,000 passing yards in four seasons for the Oregon Ducks, hence the high draft value. However, not every player’s transition to the NFL is always smooth. Even with all the physical attributes and positive scout reports, poor results start creating doubts.

On the other hand, even an unknown commodity can sometimes create history. To prove this point, Emmanuel Acho gave the example of Tom Brady. Despite being a sixth-round pick, he went on to win seven Super Bowls. He did not possess the same athletic body as Herbert, yet he dominated every time he played against him. This is where the talk of having ‘it’ returned.

Tom Brady ran a five-second 40-yard dash [in the combine]. His arm was not lively and not wiery. Tom Brady was not going to run away from a defense. But he had 'it' in him in excess.

Some might argue that the Chargers as an organization is not a great place for a young quarterback. But Herbert is not the only one to be drafted into an in-transition franchise. For instance, Joe Burrow was drafted in the same year that as that of Herbert and won back-to-back championship titles for the Bengals.

The ‘it’ Acho is highlighting is the charisma that elite quarterbacks like Brady or Joe Montana had when they were playing. For Herbert to prove that he too can be great, making the Chargers a divisional contender would be a good place to start.

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