Nobody should be surprised that the Los Angeles Chargers look like an improved team.
Jim Harbaugh turn Stanford into a Pac-10 power, the San Francisco 49ers into Super Bowl contenders and made Michigan a national champion. He’s now coached the Los Angeles Chargers to their first 2-0 start since 2012 after a 26-3 rout over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.
“Great team play. Great effort again. By the talent and by the effort you will be known as a football player. I always thought that. That’s biblical to me,” Harbaugh said postgame. “A football player should be known by his talent and effort. Our guys continue to be really good at both. All three phases just came out ready and came out hitting on all cylinders. Very impressive.”
The Chargers look more polished on both sides of the football at the start of the season. The defense has only allowed one touchdown through two games and the rushing offense amassed 395 yards. Running back J.K. Dobbins is playing healthy and revitalized. But one player that epitomizes the Chargers’ early season improvement under Harbaugh is second-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
The Chargers drafted Johnston No. 21 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, but the wideout had a subpar first year under ex-coach Brandon Staley. Johnston had a 56.7% catch rate, which ranked 171st out of 197 qualifying receivers and had three drops during his rookie campaign.
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This year, Johnston’s role increased after the Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen. He expressed to USA TODAY Sports that he was entering the season a more confident wide receiver.
“I feel good,” Johnston said to USA TODAY Sports early this month. “Coming off of last season was a lot of curves, ups and downs, and a lot of learning experiences for me. So, just taking all that from last year and kind of correcting a lot of stuff.
“All of my drop balls, was just me looking off before I actually caught the ball. I don’t have a problem catching. I just got to be more focused at the catch point. …A lot of my drops were me trying to hurry up and have some run after catch — just working on the details.”
While the head coach at Michigan, Harbaugh witnessed Johnston at TCU torch the Wolverines for six catches, 163 yards and a touchdown as the Horned Frogs won the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.
Johnston had plays reminiscent of his TCU’s days in Charlotte on Sunday. He compiled five catches, 51 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ Week 2 victory. He had two touchdowns all of last season.
“It was awesome to see. We believe in him so much and we’ve seen that from him in camp and OTAs. He’s gone up and made plays. It was only a matter of time before we saw it on the big stage,” Chargers QB Justin Herbert said. “I’m happy for him, really excited for him and I know it’s only the beginning for him.”
Johnston routes are crisper and he’s playing with more confidence. It’s all part of the Harbaugh effect. The 60-year-old coach is a proven winner, and he puts his players in the best position to succeed. Johnston and the Chargers are the latest examples.
“Nobody more excited for than Quentin Johnston. Everybody on the team really likes Q. Loves him and respects him,” Harbaugh said. “Probably most of all because he’s kind of been picked on by a lot of people. It doesn’t faze him. He just keeps doing him. He works on stuff that he needs to get better at and most important part he doesn’t ever get a big head. Just keep doing you, Q. It’s working.”
It is for “Q” and the rest of the Chargers through two weeks.